As March arrives, the energy on campus is visible with excitement of warmer weather– bringing us closer to spring break. But March also brings the celebration of Women’s History Month, a time to honor the achievements and contributions of women throughout history. At Fairfield University, the Women in STEM club is a beacon of empowerment, curiosity and collaboration for women all throughout campus.
In a world where STEM fields such as biology, chemistry and engineering, continue to evolve at a rapid pace, women are often overlooked. Despite their incredible talent and dedication to their work, they still encounter barriers that their male counterparts never have to consider. Women in STEM is just one of many women empowerment clubs here on campus. This club serves as a powerful opportunity to bring women in all STEM fields together to show that they can do whatever they put their mind to.
President of Women in STEM is Sophomore Morgan Zickendrath, who is not only balancing academics but contributing her time to such an important club. As a psychology major with a minor in behavioral neuroscience, she is no stranger to rigorous courses and exhausting exams– things that often come with STEM majors.
She first got involved with Women in STEM as a freshman to “create relationships with other women at Fairfield who share similar interests.” Zickendrath also explained that giving back to the community was really important for her and she thought that combining community service and her STEM interests was a great way to do that.
Women in STEM meets bi-weekly on Tuesday nights at 7:30 P.M. in Egan. Zickendrath explained that “The mission of this club is to create a community of women to empower each other through our similar interests, and guide each other through the Fairfield experience.”
The club often partners with organizations as a way to give back to the community. One of their recent partnerships was with The Tiny Miracles Foundation, a non profit organization with a mission to help families of infants in Fairfield County. During their club meeting, the members of Women in STEM created handmade no-sew blankets for premature babies in the NICU. This is one of many ways the club gives back to the community. They also worked with Project Linus to create blankets for children battling cancer in hospitals.
Along with community service projects, the club aims to help their members feel confident in their STEM fields. Last semester, they hosted a Resume Workshop, to teach students the basics of resumes and why they are important.
Sophomore Kate Gerrish is the COSO Representative for Women in STEM, where she works to promote and create a friendly environment in the club. She is a behavioral neuroscience major with a minor in health studies. Gerrish explained that she joined the club, “to be inspired by other women who are following their passions despite societal pressures and doubts.”
To her, the best part of the club is, “the supportive community that is built of women students who share similar experiences.”
Zickendrath agrees with Gerrish in the fact that women are underrepresented in STEM fields all across the United States. She also makes a point that, “we are definitely outnumbered in a popular business-oriented university.”
Her goal is to create a warm and welcoming community where women can feel safe and heard. Zickendrath believes that it’s important for young women to feel confident in their future careers, so creating a space where women can relate to each other is very important.
As Women’s History Month continues, it’s clear that the impact of Women in STEM club is more than just academic. Through community service, collaboration and innovation, the members of Women in STEM are breaking down gender barriers for their fields. This Women’s History Month, we celebrate not only the amazing women that came before our time, but the ones who are currently shaping the future.
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