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[Rachael] Women in STEM is a University organization devoted to promoting
and supporting our female scientists.
We represent a diverse group of disciplines on campus, including biology,
chemistry, physics, pharmacy, math, computer science,
business, engineering and the health sciences. Together
we organize a variety of programs to support our female scientists.
These include a mentor program,
a travel award program and community outreach program,
seminar series and scholarships. At Duquesne,
we want all students to feel supported and provided with the tools for success.
[Michelle] Women in STEM has impacted me in so many different ways,
but specifically, I've learned the importance of having a
network of females that can not only lead by example,
but be a support when it's needed.
[Rachael] Women in STEM recognizes that females in the STEM disciplines face particular challenges.
We strive to provide young female scientists with the tools to become successful
leaders in STEM and to mentor the next generation of scientists.
My favorite Women in STEM program is the mentor program.
We have two separate mentor programs,
one for undergraduate females and the other for junior female faculty.
[Asia] My favorite thing about Women in STEM is the mentoring groups,
which are a lot of fun.
It broadens your connections and knowledge on what issues other females and
other departments go through.
This helps me, because I'm a first-generation college student and I will be the
first person in my family to go to graduate school.
So, having these mentor groups and outreach and seminars are so important.
Actually, one of the seminars is the reason why I was informed about the Bayer
School Scholarship, which is really the only reason why I can attend college.
So, I'm just so happy to be a part of
Duquesne, because there's so many women in STEM and they really do encourage us
all the time.
[Cassie] I've been a part of the Women in STEM program since my sophomore year of
college. We've had great discussions about navigating being a woman in STEM
and have also talked about future career goals and grad school.
And, I have gotten really beneficial tips from our faculty mentors.
I'm excited to spend the rest of my time at Duquesne as a member of Women in STEM.
[Ashley] Women in STEM is really important to me because it's an organization that allows
females on campus, both in a faculty position,
graduate or undergraduate student position to come together as a community.
It's really nice to have a group of women who are in the same position as you
and who can share their experiences with you as well as you being able to share
your experiences with them.
Women in STEM is also very important for a lot of our researchers on campus
because they provide funding opportunities for us to be able to go to
conferences and present our research and attend workshops that are really
helpful for our career building.
When it comes to my involvement with Women in STEM,
probably the biggest thing I've participated in is outreach.
We've had kids from local schools,
both come to our campus as well as putting a group together to go to their
schools. It's a really rewarding feeling, getting to see these young kids
experienced science firsthand.
[Michelle] Women in STEM has forever left an impact on me that I'm eternally grateful for.
And I know that they will continue to do so for students in the future.
I'm currently a professor at California University of Pennsylvania,
teaching microbiology and molecular biology.
I also want to take everything that I've learned from Women in STEM
and I want to build a level of support and foundation for my own female
students
as Women in STEM has done for the female students at Duquesne. To empower them
and show them that they can do anything that they believe and really encouraging
the next generation to believe in science and be a part of it.
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