Northhampton News

Last week the Pennsylvania Commission for Women held its second annual National STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Day Event at the Pennsylvania State Museum where people could hear from women in STEM careers.

According to a press release by Gov. Tom Wolf’s office, 15 women in STEM submitted videos where they spoke about their careers, the education they went through to get there, and what got them into a STEM career. The videos have been put on the Commission for Women homepage and Youtube. 

“This project allows girls and young women to explore STEM opportunities,” said Commission for Women Executive Director Moriah Hathaway. “We wanted to introduce girls at an early age to STEM opportunities, so they are more likely to enjoy STEM subjects and feel empowered to consider a career in STEM. We are hoping that the girls feel inspired by the videos that were sent in and can envision themselves enjoying similar jobs in their future.”

The Girls Scouts of the Heart of Pennsylvania were involved in the event for the second consecutive year, and the girls were able to take part in activities to earn badges. 

“We are very excited to be a part of National STEM Day for the second year in a row and the activities being held at the State Museum on Nov. 16,” said Janet Donovan, president and CEO of Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania. “As one of the four pillars in Girl Scouting, STEM programs – girl-focused STEM programs — lead to critical thinkers, better grades and the foundation for a successful future. We are so proud to be part of that experience.”

Wolf spoke about the importance of women in STEM and praised the Commission for Women. He said a strategic approach is needed to make sure that students and workers have skills for the jobs they are striving for.

“That’s why, in 2018, I launched the PAsmart initiative, which introduced STEM and computer science programs into hundreds of schools, and helped bridge the gap between the classroom and well-paying jobs by building a new apprenticeship program,” Wolf said.

First Lady Wolf added, “Women in STEM careers continue to move the commonwealth forward, keeping our industries competitive and Pennsylvania a great place to work and live. We know that science, technology, engineering and mathematics are the future, and it is imperative that we keep preparing our young women for these jobs. I commend the Commission for Women for their commitment to promoting the ideas and innovation of Pennsylvania’s women and ensuring our girls know they have a place in these fields.” 

Commissioner and Chief Marketing Office of Chariot Solutions Tracey Welson-Rossman said research from the Brookings Institute shows that Pennsylvania is behind other states in the innovation economy.

“One of the four key items holding our state back is STEM education, from K-12 through higher education, remains significantly unequal by race and gender in Pennsylvania,” said Welson-Rossman. "Inspiring girls to pursue careers in STEM is an economic imperative for our state’s future.”

Video submissions were received from the women listed below:

• Lesli Kunkle, Wolfgang Confectioners, Director of Food Safety and Quality
• Tonya Nye, Wolfgang Confectioners, Vice President of Customer Care
• Michelle Finch, Wolfgang Confectioners, Senior Director of Work Force Development
• Danielle Klein, The ButterBee Foundation, Founder/ Executive Director
• Arianna Sindelar, Lancaster County Dept. of Parks and Recreation, Park Naturalist
• Hannah Smith-Brubaker, Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, Executive Director
• Katrin Hillner, PCN (PC Network Inc.), President & CEO
• Jen Fetter, Penn State Extension, Water Resources
• Joyce Sakamoto, Penn State University, Assistant Research Professor
• Becca Refford, Chariot Solutions, Design and Marketing
• Margarita Uribe-Lopez, Penn State University, Professor
• Johnna Goble, Shippensburg University, Mathematics Professor
• Jodi Gauker, Chester County Economic Development Council, Agriculture Project Director
• Crystal Daughtry, Delta Airlines, Mechanic
• Wendy Jackson-Dowe, Sky Pix Group, President, Engineer, FAA Certified Drone Pilot
• Tracy Langkilde, Penn State Eberly College of Science, Verne M. Willaman Dean
• Kishi Qiang, Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc., Engineer