Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is a newer club on Elizabethtown College campus. Senior Christina Schnee explained via email that she and a few friends got the idea for the club in fall of 2020, but the club didn’t become official until spring of this year.
Currently the club’s officers are president Celeste Workman, vice president Schnee, treasurer Erin Lewis and secretary Nica McDevitt.
“Celeste [Workman] and I are both pursuing careers in the sciences, [and] we wanted to build a community on campus that would outlast us once we graduate,” Schnee said.
Oftentimes women are underrepresented in STEM workplaces, and in some departments at Etown too.
“We wanted to introduce this club to discuss problems specific to women in STEM and provide support systems on campus,” Schnee said.
Schnee spent winter break reaching out to many people to make the club possible. She had to find professors to support the club, as well as students to run as officers. Advocating for their club, they have achieved 80 members from different science departments at the College.
The club has many values that make its foundation.
“We want to build a supportive community around women in STEM at [Etown], spark interest in younger generations to be involved in STEM and advocate for women’s rights globally,” Schnee said.
The club hopes to create an annual scholarship along with having regular STEM events on and off campus.
Women in STEM has plans for various types of meetings to accomplish their goals.
“We offer a combination of casual bonding events and more structured meetings focusing on introducing support systems to women in STEM [on campus]. Our bonding events help us to grow together as a community while our structured meetings are where we report progress on the various projects we are working on,” Schnee said.
However, not all of the club’s events take place on campus. Part of the club’s goals consist of impacting women locally and globally.
“We have had community members reach out to us to speak with young girls at local schools and libraries to get them interested in STEM. It is important to us that as a part of our service we contribute to younger generations to empower them to pursue whatever they’d like,” Schnee said.
Women in STEM have also reached out to local girl scout troops hoping to have events with them to inspire the girls. Beyond that they hope to leave an impact on women globally through the service of their club. The club is always looking for new projects.
Women in STEM meets every other Monday and Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in Gibble Auditorium.
