SUNY Research Vice Chancellor Joins Old Westbury for Women in STEM Panel

In celebration of Women's History Month, SUNY Old Westbury was joined by SUNY Senior Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development Dr. Shahedipour-Sandvik for a panel discussion on the experiences of women in STEM. She was joined by two Old Westbury students and an education specialist from South Africa.

Despite advancements in STEM industries, men still vastly outnumber women in science, technology and mathematics fields. According to American Association of University Women data, women make up only 34% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and math.

(From left to right) SUNY Vice Chancellor Dr. Fatemeh Shahedipour-Sandvik with Old Westbury students Melia A. Mirdha, Fatima Bhali and Dominique Crecco.

Of the gender gap, Dr. Sandvik shared: "we have come a long way in terms of representation of women, but we need more representation to become role models. A study showed that for girls with an interest in STEM, they will look for role models, and choose that interest accordingly. SUNY Chancellor John King opened a panel recently on International Women's Day with the quote 'you cannot be what you cannot see,' and that's the right way to think about it." She added: "I encourage all of us to look at diversity as a good thing."

The remaining panelists, Fatima Bhali, a Biological Sciences and Politics, Economic & Law double major, Dominique Crecco, a Special Education Childhood major with a concentration in Mathematics, and Professor Lihle Brightness Madondo from the Department of Education in South Africa, shared their experiences in the field, and why diversifying the STEM pipeline is important.

This event was sponsored by the SUNY Old Westbury Association for Women in Math, the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program, and Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) group.

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