2022 Texas Women and Girls in STEM Summit
We welcome high school students (with a chaperone) and college students to join in! The schedule below highlights sessions of most interest to student participants.
Thursday, December 8, 2022
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. CT Summit Sessions (Virtual in Zoom and Gatherly)
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. CT Regional Meet-ups and Socials (Virtual or In-Person)
Join the Texas Girls Collaborative Project (TxGCP) for our 6th Annual Texas Women and Girls in STEM Summit designed to share effective practices, connect organizations and individuals, and showcase outstanding efforts to increase the number of girls in STEM and support the retention of women in STEM careers. STEM professionals and all who are engaged in education, outreach, recruitment, and/or retention of women and girls in STEM are invited to join in.
This event is hosted around Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek), held in recognition of the birthday of computing pioneer and #WomeninSTEM role model Admiral Grace Murray Hopper (December 9, 1906). TxGCP is led by Women in STEM at The University of Texas at Austin in collaboration with TxGCP Regional Leadership Teams and the TxGCP Champions Board.
THANKS to our Partners!
TxGCP Ally: Nomi Health
Summit Sponsor: Cirrus Logic
Agenda with Sessions of Interest to Students (see Summit home page for links to all sessions):
8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Networking, Testing Out the Tech, Exploration of Virtual Spaces, Organization Booth Exploration, Meet-ups (Gatherly)
8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Networking
9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. Welcome, Stand Up for STEM Awards, Sponsor Recognitions (Gatherly)
9:45 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Featured Session: We are our Ancestors' Wildest Dream: Learning from Black Women Leading STEM Nonprofits (Gatherly)
Public school data reveals that Black girls, especially those from underserved communities, experience the brunt of the unequal distribution of and access to quality STEM learning experiences over their schooling. As informal science learning opportunities continue to rise, it is critical to experiment with solutions to engage more Black and Brown girls in STEM outside the school day to advance gender and racial equity in STEM. But, how do we do this in ways meaningful and sustainable? In this panel discussion, you will learn from Black women STEM leaders of nonprofits, as they share insights and strategies for humanizing Black girls in science and math. Panelists include:Saki Milton, Executive Director, The GEMS Camp
Dr. Brittany H. Brady, Ed.M., CAP®️, Chief Executive Officer, National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity
Dr. Toni Harrison-Kelly, Executive Director, The Budd Center
Dr. Jennifer C. Stimpson, Ed.D., Chief Programming Officer, The T.D. Jakes Foundation
Dr. Denise Strickland, Ed.D, Executive Director, Design, Connect, Create
Shane Woods, Executive Director, Girlstart10:45 a.m. - 11:05 a.m. Concurrent Sessions #1 (Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet) - click for session details
A STEMGirls Education Through the Years
For 10 years, Westlake High School’s varsity robotics team, FRC 2468 Team Appreciate, has been fostering an environment to engage young girls in STEM through our STEMGirls initiative. This initiative hosts events throughout the school year to introduce girls in elementary and middle school to STEM and allow them to meet older role models that are pursuing STEM careers. Our method of engagement not only shows young girls the importance of their participation in STEM but also gives girls on our team leadership and volunteering experience. In our presentation, we will share our method—for example, certain STEM activities we’ve done at our events—as well as discuss the impact our efforts have had on our team and community’s diversity.
Presented by Anisha Sheth, High School Student, Westlake High Schoolareer Pathways
11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Concurrent Sessions #2 (Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet) - click for session details
Empowering Girls and Women in STEM by Fostering a Growth Mindset
What is stopping you? The stories we tell ourselves determine what we can accomplish. Are we feeding the imposter syndrome and the fixed mindset or do we push ourselves to grow and learn? Using Dr. Carol Dweck’s research, this workshop will explore paradigm creation, fixed vs. growth mindset, and how your mindset can unlock the tools you need to be your best self both professionally and personally. In fact, when girls and women believe they can develop the skills they need to be successful in STEM fields, rather than believing they have a fixed set of skills, the more likely they are to pursue experiences and careers in STEM. Workshop participants will experience an interactive discussion full of real-life stories and meaningful research.
Presented by
Chloé LaPorte, Senior Program Director, Girls Empowerment Network
Brittany Yelverton, Director of Community Engagement, Girls Empowerment NetworkTake 10: Ten, 10-min Activities for Cultivating Creativity
Creativity is a skill you can practice and improve in a wide variety of ways. Everyone is creative, and although most equate creativity with artistic talent, it’s a process, not a single light bulb moment. The essential first step of creativity is believing you’re creative. That might take practice! That’s why we’ve gathered these 10 great creativity resources for youth and adults.
Presented by Itzel Gutierrez, Program Manager, VentureLabEmpowering Girls and Women in STEM by Fostering a Growth Mindset
12:15 p.m. - 12:35 p.m. Concurrent Sessions #3 (Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet) - click for session details
Transitioning Into Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity has an increasing demand for professionals within the workforce. Today’s youth are our future. Minority students do not have a role model with a similar appearance, this is my solution. Representation matters. Students should be able to interact and learn from a positive professional who's also a peer. My young age not only keeps students' attention but also inspires them along the way. Explore actions that can be taken to overcome some of the most prevalent challenges for newcomers (and experienced employees) in the realm of cybersecurity.
Presented by Bennett Hendrix III, Founder, CyberBennettBecoming an Influential Leader in STEM
Impactful Leadership is all about influence. The main aim of this presentation is to discuss practical tools and strategies you can use to increase your impact on people through the principles of influence. These principles include Navigating for people, connecting with people, empowering people, etc. Creating positive results through influence will not only be a catalyst to your success but will also leave a lasting positive effect in encouraging more girls to pursue STEM careers.
Presented by Obioma Levi Johnson, Leadership Coach, Maxwell LeadershipGender Equity in STEM: The Roadmap of a Latina in Computer Science
In this session, I will share my perspective on how to raise and encourage Latin girls to choose STEM fields, the value of parents and role models through our education path, and how not to compare our journey with others unless it is as inspiration. In addition, I will share my experience growing up in Mexico, attending college in the US as a Computer Science International Student, and the people, circumstances, and organizations that have supported and enlightened my career in STEM along the way.
Presented by Nadia Mankins, Data Warehouse Architect, Data Analytics and Institutional Research, University of North Texas
2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Keynote: STEM Messages that Excite Future STEMinists, presented by DiscoverE (Gatherly)
Learn the results of DiscoverE’s year-long research project -- Messages Matter. Building on earlier projects, Changing the Conversation and Engineer Your Life, DiscoverE has surveyed today’s teens and parents with existing and new engineering messages to understand their motivations, interests, and influences. We’ll share critical insights and lead a discussion on how the engineering community can work together to effectively communicate and position the field to attract a new and more diverse generation of innovators. The official DiscoverE Messages Matter Report will be released in January 2023.
Presented by Thea Sahr, Deputy Executive Director, DiscoverE2:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Presenter Meet-ups, Organization Booth Exploration, Networking (Gatherly)
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. (times may vary) Regional Meet-ups and Socials (in-person or virtual depending on the region of Texas)
Stay tuned for details on regional events.
All times Central Time.
Asynchronous pre-recorded video content will be shared here when available. Recordings of Breakout Sessions and/or session materials will be shared after the event.
Social Media: Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @TXGCP. We'll use hashtag #TXGCPSummit for the event.