Apple and MSU collaborating to launch first U.S. Developer Academy in Detroit

<p>“The work we do in the <a href="https://hub.msu.edu">Hub</a> is around designing for change in higher education,” says <a href="https://twitter.com/sarahgretter">Gretter</a>. “What that means is we focus specifically on learning experience design. Our work can range from helping faculty members or units redesign their curriculum to creating a new learning experience, like the Apple Developer Academy, which encompasses the whole process of building something from zero to launch in a few years.</p><p>“<a href="https://twitter.com/grabill">Dr. Grabill</a> started initial conversations with Apple on the academy about three and a half years ago when we really decided to launch what we call the small bet. The small bet was piloting what we call the <a href="https://iosdesignlab.msu.edu">iOS Design Lab</a> on campus, which was a very small version of what the academies are now. We collaborated with multiple Apple teams to really bring that to life. The iOS Design Lab still exists on campus right now and is really successful in attracting a diversity of backgrounds and interests from students at MSU who are interested in app development and understanding the basics of coding design and entrepreneurship within the Apple ecosystem.”</p><p>Gretter is the first ever female director of an <a href="https://developeracademy.msu.edu">Apple Developer Academy</a>. </p><p>“I'm really excited to be in that position. We know that diversity in the tech industry is a big hurdle. Being the first woman to lead an academy is an honor but also something that I'm really adamant about embedding within the fabric of how we build the academy. So not only are we the first academy in the United States, we're also the very first one that's under Apple's new racial equity and justice initiative, which means that we are looking at this educational opportunity from that very lens of diversity in the tech industry.”</p><p>What is an Apple Developer Academy?</p><p>“Apple has Apple Developer Academies worldwide. I think we are the 15th one