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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Sent on behalf of Kinsey Brock, Graduate President of W-STEM:</span></i><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Fellow Bobcats,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (W-STEM) group has officially gained student organization status at UCM. This is a great achievement for us as we shift from a largely faculty driven
interest group to a student led community.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">We are an organization dedicated to the advancement and empowerment of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields at UCM. Currently, women are an underrepresented group in STEM*,
holding less than 25% of available STEM jobs. W-STEM is a group of undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, staff and faculty at UC Merced – of all gender identities – who seek to engage and support women in STEM fields. In order
to foster community between those interested in women’s issues in STEM, we hold monthly events, including an annual invited seminar, highlighting challenges for women in academic and non-academic STEM pursuits. We also sponsor a mentorship program for women
at all levels at UC Merced.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">By providing professional development and mentorship opportunities tailored to the specific challenges faced by women in STEM, it is our mission to increase the retention of women in STEM fields, and ultimately
facilitate increases in the representation of women in leadership roles within STEM fields, both at UC Merced and beyond.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">There are myriad ways to get involved. You can join us on CatLife to stay up-to-date with our monthly professional development, social, and awareness events (join/request membership here:
<a href="https://catlife.ucmerced.edu/organization/wstem">https://catlife.ucmerced.edu/organization/wstem</a>). You can join one of our committees (details here:
<a href="https://catlife.ucmerced.edu/organization/wstem/documentlibrary"><b>https://catlife.ucmerced.edu/organization/wstem/documentlibrary</b></a>, message Kinsey Brock or leader of the committee of interest through CatLife to get involved). Individuals seeking
mentorship or to mentor someone can contact me (kbrock [at] <a href="http://ucmerced.edu/">
ucmerced.edu</a>) to be put on the match list. We gladly welcome people of all gender identities interested in being an ally and creating an environment that fosters equality.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">We hope you will join us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">My best,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Kinsey Brock, Graduate President<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">~and~<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Florence Lucey, Undergraduate President<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Lauren Brooks, Post-Doc President<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Dr. Danielle Edwards, Faculty Advisor<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">*Women have outnumbered men as undergraduate and graduate students for the past 20 years. However, the attrition rate for women is higher at every step along the academic path with women making up only ~20%
of available faculty positions. The numbers are worse for women of color who make up 3% of faculty in higher education. A new paper out in
<i>Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution</i> suggests that gaining leadership, mentorship, and other professional skills helps women and minorities advance and stay in their careers (Horner-Devine et al. 2016).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">_____________________________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">KINSEY M. BROCK<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Quantitative & Systems Bio - PhD Student<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">School of Natural Sciences<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">University of California, Merced<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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