TU empowers women in STEM for over two decades

Forum offers avenue to learn more about STEM careers and research

By Megan Bradshaw on March 2, 2019

Petra Tsuji and student in a lab — Professor Petra Tsuji is one of the co-directors of Women in Science Program—along with Cindy Ghent—which hosts the forum.

Towson University’s Jess & Mildred Fisher College of Science and Mathematics hosted its annual Women in Science Forum on Saturday.

Area secondary students, as well as undergraduate and graduate students and their teachers joined STEM faculty from TU and area colleges and universities in the University Union’s Chesapeake rooms to listen to speakers discuss a variety of topics.

Learn more about TU’s Women in Science club and Women in Science program

This year’s speakers were Jenni Buckley, associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Delaware; Min Deng, a professor of actuarial science in TU’s Department of Mathematics; and Tory Johnson, an assistant professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

The forum enables participants to meet, network and learn about the research of nationally known scientists and mathematicians. It also provides an opportunity to hear successful women in science discuss their careers.

Women account for about half of students within the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics. They have the highest representation in:

Forensic chemistry: 80 percent
Biology: 73 percent
Chemistry: 63 percent
Molecular biology, biochemistry & bioinformatics: 55 percent

This story is one of several related to President Kim Schatzel’s priorities for Towson University: Diverse and Inclusive Campus.