WiMSE living learning community

Located in Davis Hall, one of the most influential living learning communities for women in STEM is Women in Science, Math, and Engineering (WiSME). According to Dr. Stacy Fisher, the Director of Residential Education and Deputy Title IX Coordinator, WiSME mainly focuses on aiding first-year women in STEM fields by providing an opportunity for students to connect their academic and co-curricular experiences. WiSME is also supported by faculty such as Faculty Fellow Dr. Kathryn Abel, who is a Teaching Professor and Program Lead for Undergraduate Engineering/Undergraduate Industrial and Systems Engineering Program, and campus partner Liliana Delman, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, as well as the Residential Education staff in Davis Hall. WiSME also has a partnership with the Lore-El Center for Women, an organization at Stevens that raises awareness of issues regarding gender as well as empowers Stevens women to further their co-curricular development.

Over this semester, WiMSE has collaborated multiple times with the Lore-El Center to develop mentor/mentee connections between the returning women residents of the Lore-El Center and the first-year women in WiSME through a variety of social events. One example of one of the events would be multiple dinners with Dr. Abel and Ms. Delman focused on supporting residents’ academic and personal growth. Another event is the creation of floor T-Shirts, aiming to build a broader and stronger identity for the community on campus. Another event held was a community trip to see the Broadway show Wicked. Currently, WiSME is planning multiple events for the coming semester, including a museum bus trip to Philadelphia with the Lore-El Center as well as First Generation Scholars.

There are many reasons why the WiMSE is one of the most influential groups on campus. One reason is that it is an organization that provides support for women that are planning to major in STEM-related fields. Women are a minority in the workforce and are unfortunately not given the same opportunities that men are getting due to the internalized misogyny and patriarchal ideals entrenched in American society. It goes as far as to have women be given a lower minimum wage than men. As Stevens starts to become more inclusive and admit more women on campus, having an organization like WiMSE helps provide a safe and inclusive community for women to help support each other as well as build their own skills. Another important reason why WiMSE is influential is that it provides support to first-year students on campus, who need help navigating the tough Stevens environment. Living learning communities are a great place to make new friends and learn all kinds of new things.