Women in STEM empower students at Mt. Hood

From left to right: Dr. Valory Thatcher and Lisa Bartee. Photo by Nick Pelster.

On Jan. 29, five MHCC faculty members held a forum on being a woman in the career field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics – the STEM disciplines. All the panelists spoke about the trials and woes of being a woman in traditionally male-dominated fields of study.

Each had different stories and experiences to share, but all of them seemed to agree it is not exactly an easy path for a woman.

A summary of what they shared:

Valory Thatcher: Anatomy and Physiology/Microbiology

Thatcher spoke briefly about her PI (principal investigator) in college telling her, “I would never hire a pretty girl to work in my lab.” But Thatcher went on to explain that more than hurtful phrases like that, it is the psychological barriers that will hinder a STEM woman the most. She urges young women pursuing these types of degrees to not focus on feeling out-of-place or exposed. Thatcher admitted that when she was younger she had the perception she wasn’t smart enough for grad school or the sciences, but she never let these feelings stop her from continuing to work hard toward the career she dreamed of.

“I never had a mentor through college…it motivates me to be that mentor for my students now,” Thatcher said.

Her advice to women studying in STEM fields: “Women in STEM suffer from impostor syndrome… It’s not real – it’s a social construct. Once you’re on the other side of it, you feel the empowerment.”

Lisa Bartee: Biology

Bartee had a very different experience, with a female PI in college who seemed more supportive and positive toward the women in her lab than the men. And though she didn’t have a mentor per se, she said her mother was her main “motivating force” throughout her education.

Her advice to women studying in STEM fields: “Don’t worry if you don’t know what you want to do.”

Joyce Sherpa: Chemistry

Sherpa spoke briefly about what it’s like to work with men in her field of work. “Men already have trouble communicating with women, but math and science men especially live in their heads,” Sherpa said. She stressed the importance of communication in the sciences, especially with her students. In fact, the Mt. Hood panel was visited by one of Sherpa’s own former students, whom she had mentored for many years and who recently earned a doctorate degree from Pacific University.

Her advice to women studying in STEM fields: “Don’t be afraid to be yourself or be different. Have fun!”

Lisa Hillyard: VESL (vocational English as a second language) Metals

Hillyard teaches welding at MHCC, and welding is an incredibly male-dominated trade. Hillyard encourages her students, and any women in STEM, not to lose their femininity for the job. “It used to be that in order to succeed in these fields, a woman would have to act and behave like men in order to be taken seriously,” she said.

But Hillyard insists that a woman can go out and buy the pink Carhartt’s (gear) and be feminine and still kick ass in any career they aspire to. Her advice for women studying in STEM fields: “Don’t quit if you face male or sexist opposition. Keep going in order to prove them wrong.”

Gina Shankland: Mathematics

The main issue for Shankland was the gender roles in the workplace, which extend out to any workplace in Western society, she said. She stayed home with her son for several years after he was born. She missed teaching math a lot even though she valued her time with her family. This balance between work and family is a tough situation for any working mother.

Her advice to women studying in STEM fields: “Go for it. Take lots of classes. Don’t be afraid of math; don’t be afraid of science.”

Advocate Staff