Women in STEM Career Day (WiSTEM)

Diana Fagan, Professor of Biology, has plans to retire from YSU in the next year. One of the lasting legacies she will leave behind is the development of the Edward W. Powers Women in STEM Career Day (WiSTEM), promoting careers in STEM to area girls in middle and high school for the past 23 years.

Although the number of women pursuing degrees and careers in STEM fields has increased over the decades, there still exists a dramatic gap in the number of women versus men in these fields. Although girls tend to be just as academically qualified to enter these fields, they choose not to for various reasons. Here at YSU, women account for just 33% of enrolled STEM majors even though they make up 52% of total YSU enrollment! WiSTEM attempts to bridge this gap by providing personal interactions with female scientists and engineers and hands-on experiences in YSU labs. By providing young women a glimpse into this professional realm, it is hoped to remove some of the barriers and stereotypes that may keep them from considering a science, math, engineering, health-related careers.

Funded by a grant from the Edward W. Powers Foundation since 2011, WiSTEM provides a motivational keynote speaker each year. This person gives a lecture that is open to the entire community, and then they also present just to WiSTEM attendees on the day of the event. Participants attend small panel discussions with female STEM professionals to learn about various career opportunities and, after lunch, participate in hands-on activities and lab demonstrations to get a first-hand feel for what STEM is all about.

The impact and importance of these types of programs is undeniable, and Dr. Fagan recalls that she often hears from students about how they ended up at YSU in an engineering or science major as a result of their experience at WiSTEM. Although the status of WiSTEM 2021 is unknown due to COVID-19 restrictions, interested parties should check out the WiSTEM website for updates, as well as great resources for young girls interested in STEM fields.