Women in Science Speak builds community for fifth straight year

Scientists, students, and community members united for the Women in Science Speak panel in February, marking International Women and Girls in Science Day.

This year also marked the event’s five-year milestone and its growing reach within the regional community. What began in 2022 as a videocast to a small audience has flourished into a hybrid networking event with hundreds of attendees.

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Co-sponsored by Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research; Woman to Woman Mentoring, Inc.; and Hood College, the event recognizes the important contributions women make in male-dominated STEM fields, empowers women and allies to meet today’s challenges, and imparts advice to students and young professionals.

“I thank the dedicated team at our institution and those at Hood College and Woman to Woman Mentoring for their partnership in creating this popular conference," said Ethan Dmitrovsky, M.D., director of the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research. "We built a welcoming venue for the next generation to learn from each other and from accomplished scientists in the field."

Four women scientists participated in a panel discussion moderated by Debbie Ricker, Ph.D., president of Hood College. They discussed their career paths, best practices for building skills, and experiences overcoming personal and professional obstacles. A question-and-answer forum and networking session followed.

“An event like Women in Science Speak is so important because it offers an opportunity to connect with and showcase amazing women in the community doing amazing work in all areas of science,” said Amanda Whitener, executive director of Woman to Woman Mentoring.

Students come away inspired

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Students from several high schools comprised much of the in-person audience. Many came with notebooks and pens, ready to learn from the panelists.

“We hear over and over at the end from the students that this is the one time we get to … talk about what it’s like, not just for women in STEM but also women in the workforce. … It’s just a fabulous day,” said Helen Propheter, director of corporate and government relations at Hood College.

Many of the students said they left inspired, carrying a better understanding of a future career in STEM—and how to get there.

“I really loved hearing about how each of the speakers had a non-linear path in their careers, and that got them to where they are today. It … taught me the importance of not being confined to what I currently think I want to do and instead have a more open mind (especially going into college),” Anvi, a student at Urbana High School, wrote after the event.

Likitha, another student at Urbana High, said she learned “that big ideas often come from small moments and that success is not just about academics but also about soft skills, mentorship, and building personal connections.”

A two-way ‘community lesson’

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The significance of the cross-generational teaching moment wasn’t lost on the panelists, nor was the understanding that the students weren’t the only ones benefiting from attending.

Panelist Wardah Amir, a senior consultant in chemical engineering at General Dynamics Information Technology, remarked that students reverse-mentor their mentors. Experienced professionals gain hope and new perspectives working with younger peers, she said.

“I am more hopeful for the future just to see you all,” she told the audience.

Some students now get to return to their communities and mentor their peers, as well, broadening the event’s impact. Each year, Urbana High’s attendees share their notes with classmates who can’t attend, said Tonya Chubb, Urbana’s career coach. The approach democratizes access to the information and reinforces the lessons the attendees learned.

“Sometimes we teach in a bubble, and students think, ‘It’s just school,’ but when we come together as partners, it’s a community lesson,” Chubb said.

Meet the panelists

Wardah Amir, M.A.

Senior consultant at General Dynamics Information Technology

• Obtained a degree in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University but didn’t feel passionate about being an engineer.
• Took time to evaluate what she wanted to do after graduating, which led her to internships in policy and international law and, eventually, to the Organization for the Nonproliferation of Chemical Weapons at the Hague.
• Found she could leverage her degree for a humanitarian cause and took her career in that direction.
• Obtained her master’s in international affairs at the George Washington University Elliot School of International Affairs.
• Mentors women in STEM fields.
• Excerpted advice: Don’t shy away from being uncomfortable when seeking opportunities. “I believe if you want to make change for yourself and find that, you have to leave that comfort zone.”

Emma Bowers, Ph.D.

Toxicologist consultant, founder of LabPair, Inc.

• Studied biology at Shepherd University and obtained a master’s in environmental biology from Hood College.
• Obtained her Ph.D. in toxicology from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, then completed a postdoctoral fellowship in precision medicine at Texas A&M University.
• Founded LabPair, Inc., to help scientists make use of unused data and samples.
• Grappled with market volatility threatening her consulting work.
• Pivoting to teach college this summer, following her passion for teaching, mentoring, and research.
• Excerpted advice: Stay flexible. When challenges occur, prioritize your mental health, then consider your options; you’ll see the best one. “Find your joy and follow it.”

Erica Pehrsson, Ph.D.

Bioinformatics analyst in Bioinformatics and Computational Science at Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research

• Studied biology at University of Virginia, then obtained her Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis.
• Completed a postdoctoral fellowship in cancer regulation, where she managed a data center.
• Realized that she enjoyed project management and coordination more than the traditional scientific path.
• Has worked hard to balance work and life responsibilities, coordinating with her colleagues and family to do so.
• Currently profiles pediatric cancer tumors and their surrounding tissues to better understand the cancer and potentially find ways to treat it and target it.
• Excerpted advice: “Your career doesn’t have to be your destiny. … It’s okay for it to be something that you like and that you are proud of doing.”

Sylvia Sanni-Thomas, M.P.H.

Quality control manager in the Vaccine Clinical Materials Program at Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research

• Wanted to study art but was encouraged to study science because she excelled at it.
• Felt drawn to be a pharmacist but didn’t get accepted to the program, then chose not to attend medical school, despite family’s hopes, because she knew it wasn’t right for her.
• Struggled to build a study schedule as a student but figured out when and how she studied best: from 1–3 a.m. in a quiet room, when no one was awake to distract her.
• Studied biochemistry at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, then moved to the U.S. to obtain her M.P.H. at University of Maryland, College Park.
• Connected with friends already in the U.S. to help her build strategies for her job search after moving.
• Excerpted advice: Stay connected. “You never know where your help will come from.”