A science student participates in a lab activity
at Western New Mexico University.Silver City, NM – Western New Mexico University will celebrate women in STEM with nightly demonstrations and presentations from Monday, Feb. 26 through Thursday, March 1. From speakers and roundtable discussions to scholarship giveaways and tours of campus science facilities, the event showcases Western New Mexico University faculty, students and alumni.

All talks begin at 6 p.m. in Miller Library on campus (1000 W. College Ave.). Each is preceded by a 5 o'clock presentation or demonstration by local female scientists and followed by a recruitment event with food and a Women in STEM Spin Trivia game, where attendees are entered for a chance to win a scholarship.

Dr. Manda Jost, Western New Mexico University biology professor, will give public tours of Department of Natural Science labs Monday, Feb. 26. She will also be part of the research showcase, which includes natural scientists Dr. Lynn Haugen, Dr. Jan Frye, Dr. Corrie Neighbors, and Dr. Kathy Whiteman, in Miller Library.

During her talk Monday night, Nature Conservancy biologist Martha Cooper will address the question "Why Women in Science?" Cooper has worked for The Nature Conservancy in Southwest New Mexico since 2006 and manages projects on the Conservancy's Gila and Mimbres River Preserves and watersheds.

The showcase on Tuesday, Feb. 27, is about math and computer science and features Dr. Nancy Livingston Potter, Tanya Rivers and Shannon Mullhousen.

Rafaela Sakellariou, who is an HR Business Partner, will discuss "A Brief History of Women in Math and Computer & Science," drawing on her experience partnering alongside engineering leaders at Google and YouTube to identify talented individuals. Sakellariou empowers team leaders to overcome complex organizational challenges through people-related solutions and will share examples during her talk.

The public can watch the School of Nursing's patient robots in action on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 5 p.m.

Then a National Environmental Policy Act Program Manager at the U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center will speak on the history of women in science. Melissa L. Markell started her career as an environmental consultant in the private sector before moving to the federal government, where for 14 years she managed Army and Air Force environmental restoration and compliance projects.

On Thursday, March 1, people can experience hands-on welding and electrical demonstrations in the university's applied technology lab on the lower floor of the Juan Chacon Building.

The Women in STEM event closes Thursday with a moderated conversation titled "From the Classroom to the Workforce." American Association of University Women member Mikki Jemin will guide Western New Mexico University alumni who focused on STEM in this roundtable.

More information about Women in STEM Week is available at facebook.com/TheCenterWNMU.

The event is made possible through a collaborative grant award to The Center for Gender Equity and Social Justice; the WNMU Departments of Natural Sciences, Math and Computer Science, Social Sciences and Cultural Studies; and the WNMU Schools of Nursing and Business.