SUPPORTING WOMEN IN STEM: A STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

Recruiting and retaining women in STEM majors at a small two-year campus poses unique challenges. We have many first-generation college students whose economic circumstances and family obligations limit their participation in activities outside the classroom. Additionally, few students have access to networks of women working or studying in their chosen discipline.

In order to address some of these obstacles, we started “Empower and Lead: Women in STEM,” a program designed to support female students majoring in mathematics, engineering, and physical sciences. The goals of the program include: creation of informal peer networks, building relationships with mentors and sponsors, meeting and mingling with women working in STEM fields, and offering opportunities to engage in disciplinary-related research. Now in its second year, the program has served approximately 20 students, several of whom are geoscience majors. We hold semi-monthly meetings, many of which feature a female STEM professional who reflects on her own career path and facilitates a discussion with the group on a topic of her expertise. One of the most significant and visible outcomes has been the development of peer-to-peer and student-to-faculty connections.

In this presentation, one of the program participants will share her perspective and experiences as a geoscience student, highlighting some effective and low-cost options for engaging freshman and sophomore students in STEM programs.