At the
National Panhellenic Conference, we have built solid bridges between
generations. From one generation to the next, women are finding meaningful ways
to provide assistance, support and help. That can translate to direct support
through scholarships or networking help when it comes time for a new college
graduate to land a job.
In many
ways, we find mentors that last a lifetime. Someone we can call in a pinch for
a bit of emotional support during trying times or to assist with a long-range
strategic plan for a business or charity.
The NPC
network is vast and its resources are diverse.
As many
of you review our annual report this fall, we also wanted to share with you a
conversation we had with Jessica Albert, a production engineer with The Dow
Chemical Co. in Texas and an alumnae of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in
Indiana.
Her focus
is STEM – which is a shorthand reference to careers in Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics.
The
U.S. Department of Labor expects that there will be 1.2 million job openings in
STEM related fields by 2018, but there won’t be enough qualified graduates to
fill them.
Jessica
has been featured by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) as one of five “New
Faces of Engineering.” The honor recognizes young engineers who have
demonstrated outstanding technical excellence, and made a significant and
positive impact on the engineering profession. SWE also honored Albert with the
2012 southwest regional Emerging Leader-Professional Award for outstanding
technical and leadership excellence, and involvement in SWE and community
activities.
Q:
How did your sorority experience influence your career path or vice versa?
A: It
did not influence my career path, per se, as I already decided to attend an
engineering college before joining, but being in a sorority was extremely
beneficial considering there were five men to every one woman at Rose-Hulman.
Sorority was a place where I could branch out and really discover my strengths
and weaknesses in a safe zone of support. The sorority also exposed me to many
different types of people that I would never have gotten so close with on my
own. It really expanded my views of the world and it was the perfect place to
unwind with my sisters after a long week at school. They also supported me in
the other activities I did at Rose-Hulman and would show up with signs and
banners at my sporting events! I can say that in the male-dominated world of
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), my sorority was key to
providing the balance needed for success at my university.
Q:
Do you believe now is a good time for women to get more engaged in STEM careers
– or explore STEM careers? If so, why?
A: Of
course! Women have such an advantage when it comes to STEM careers. I don’t
think people, especially women themselves, realize what wonderful problem
solvers we are. That is basically what an engineer is: a glorified problem
solver. I know that all of that math and science curriculum can be
overwhelming, and the thought of being an engineer might not sound “cool” or
“hip” to the junior in high school, but I cannot think of any other career
where I get to save the day so much! I am respected for my knowledge and sought
out specifically to fix a problem no one else can solve. It gives me such a
feeling of accomplishment and frankly, I love the power of being in charge of my
own life, which not a lot of people can say these days. Engineers, especially
women engineers, are ALWAYS needed in the work force, and well paid for it. It
is a given that you will do more work in college than other careers, but it is
well worth the benefits once you get in the work force.
Q:
We often struggle with negative cultural or media references to sorority women.
Did you ever run into such a stereotype after you graduated? And how did you
handle it?
A: Yes,
I think a lot of people have trouble associating sororities with being
“serious” or academically beneficial, but I have told anyone that raised an
eyebrow what a benefit it was to have such a support group in my challenging
college curriculum. People automatically think of a bunch of girls gathered
together to sit around and talk when you mention sorority, but I explained how
my sorority and my sisters were the base of my growth as a student and as a
person.
Q:
What career advice do you have for women seeking STEM careers?
A: Seek
out a mentor in your area. I know that there are members of the Society of
Women Engineers in almost every big city. They would love to talk to you about
what your options are in not just engineering, but all STEM careers. This would
be very beneficial to learn about what all there is to offer!
Thanks
Jessica. We know that sorority women provide one of the best professional
networks in the country. For young women graduating this fall, don’t forget to
stay in touch with the women who blazed trails ahead of you. Their advice could
be life changing.
