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This is the first part of a continuing series by Carrie Rogers-Whitehead based on her KSL article, “5 ways to advocate for women in STEM”. We will be getting a more in-depth look at each of those points, so check back weekly for the next installment! “The women went and sat in the back of the room," she said. “We need to ask women to come to the front where they are visible.” - Anne Bastien, University of Utah’s Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute Being visible makes you part of the conversation and sends a message that women are needed and wanted. In March 2015 the Salt Lake County Library system put on a large STEM event for young adults called a Hackathon. This interactive program had a variety of partners, including Salt Lake County extension series, which had LEGO Mindstorm robots. The staff at USU extension were teaching the youth to design, build, program and then “fight” the robots. The robot fighting ring was very popular, with youth crowded around shouting and jostling for a better view. But there was one group that stood behind quietly: the teen girls. The Hackathon is a small snapshot of a larger picture: women are less visible in STEM. While women graduate

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” I’ve come to realize, looking back, that I never sincerely asked myself this question. I already knew what to do. I was going to be a mother. I was so excited to go to college, and my excitement really had nothing to do with attending classes. I did not see college as a path to a future career, because I did not intend to have one. So, to me, college seemed more like a summer camp: something that would be a good experience, a fun place where I’d meet new people and learn some interesting things. Getting that piece of paper at the end saying I did it would be nice, but it was definitely not the point. And, let’s be honest here, I was pretty sure College was where I’d meet Mr. Right. THAT was the point. But it turns out that although the thought of attending classes had not inspired excitement in me, once I got there I actually loved it! I loved the interesting lectures and discussions between classmates and got immense satisfaction in getting a good grade on an assignment I’d worked hard on. There was a thrill in

When I was just a young kid, I remember expressing to anyone that would listen what I wanted to be when I grew up. The conversation would always go something like this: “I either wanna be an astronaut, a cowgirl, a singer, a writer, or President. Or maybe a teacher, like my mom. Or an engineer, like my dad.” Every time I told a new listener what I wanted to be, I added preposterous new desires to my list of possible careers. As I grew older, I began to exclude the more unlikely occupations from my list ( I can’t sing, and being a cowgirl doesn’t offer a great benefits package). When I reached high school, I was focused on becoming a chef and local restaurant owner. As I started my first years of college, I wanted to be a social worker, helping young and struggling families. I changed my major five times, exploring nutrition, athletic training, sociology, teaching, and business. After two years of aimlessly registering for classes all over campus, I finally landed on Business Administration. I even added a minor in Human Resources because it only required one extra class. After my first year in the business school, I applied for

In my fairly new public high school situated in a nice suburb, the graduating class of 2016 sits at about one thousand students. About a third of these students are enrolled in AP classes, and I know almost all of their names (or at least faces) from bumping shoulders with them in a freezing testing center or from lending loose leaf paper for the third time that day. You’d think AP students would carry paper, right? Wrong. Never. While preparing for these AP tests throughout the year, more talk of college from the school staff began to float around than ever. An AP course’s general purpose is to prepare one for college: Depending on the score received on the cumulative test in May, a college might accept the grade in place of a college course, allowing students to knock out credits while still drifting through the public education system. That’s why I took AP Language and Composition and AP United States History my junior year -- and enrolled in AP Calc, AP Gov, AP Lit, and AP Bio for next year. It’s June and I’m taking a break from my endless summer homework to type this into a crowded Google Docs

In many ways am a walking billboard for young Utah mother stereotypes. I met my husband in high school, we married when I was 20. I spend my days taking our two daughters, ages 2 and 4, to playdates with friends or storytime at the library. We frequently attend Sunday dinners and group birthday celebrations with our vast extended family. However, in one way our family does not fit the typical mold; I started an Occupational Therapy Master’s program this fall and plan to be an equal income earner for our household. The journey to this moment wasn't always easy. At times, I have felt like I was stumbling around in the dark, blindly trying to make decisions that will hopefully bring me closer to my career goals. But I made it here. Today I'm proud to stand as an example, not of a woman merely surviving school with a family, but as a mother embarking on an adventure toward lifelong learning for my children. And so, for any women contemplating the benefits of college and a career, I'd like to shed a little light on this situation by sharing the three most important lessons I want my young daughters to learn from my experiences