News about Women in STEM

Haley M. Kalvin-Gold, who earned an associate degree in architectural technology during the spring semester, is profiled in a new video posted to WVIA’s “Careers That Work” playlist. Kalvin-Gold, an architectural technician with Anthony H. Visco Jr. Architects in Williamsport, takes viewers through a day in the life of a drafter – a career that supports architecture, civil engineering, electrical work, manufacturing and construction.

“We do a range of things,” says Kalvin-Gold, who will return to campus in the fall in pursuit of a bachelor’s in building science and sustainable design: architectural technology concentration. “From projects and visits and field measuring to drafting, modeling in 3D and 2D, and creating hand sketches.”

Visco, who also appears in the video, earned his associate degree in architectural technology from Penn College predecessor Williamsport Area Community College and is a member of the School of Engineering Technologies’ Architectural Technology Advisory Committee.

With more than 2 million manufacturing jobs projected to go unfilled by 2030 and women making up just 29% of the field’s workforce, it’s undeniable: There’s untapped potential in the world of manufacturing – especially for women. A new YouTube video lets employers and job-seekers alike discover the advantages of these game-changing apprenticeship programs and gives women a huge step toward higher-level positions in the nation’s fast-paced, technologically advanced manufacturing sector. “I don’t think a lot of women understand what manufacturing is,” says Shannon Bower, quality manager at First Quality Products. “I think they see it as that stereotypical laborer getting dirty working with their hands. But new manufacturing is definitely not that.” The 5½-minute video – produced, photographed and edited by Penn College’s Tom Speicher – premiered at Tuesday’s 2022 Penn College Apprenticeship Summit.

Pennsylvania College of Technology has chosen Neslihan “Nesli” Alp as its vice president for academic affairs and provost, the highest-ranking academic officer at the institution, a special mission affiliate of Penn State.

The Penn College Board of Directors approved the selection of Alp at a special meeting today. Her starting date is expected to be Aug. 1. She succeeds Michael J. Reed, who is set to become the college’s new president on July 1, following the retirement of Davie Jane Gilmour, who retires June 30 after 24 years as president.

Since 2018, Alp has been at Indiana State University, where she has served as dean and professor for the 2,000-student College of Technology. In that role, she led five departments, the Flight Academy, and Air Force and Army ROTC, overseeing 80 faculty and 20 staff.

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Recognition as Penn College’s “Outstanding Program of the Year” among student organizations begs a deeper dive into the resourcefulness that brought the campus IEEE chapter such acclaim.

Advised by Scott D. Neuhard, assistant professor of electronics, the club last month developed and executed a community service initiative that involved teaching a troop of Girl Scouts about robotics and allowed them to earn one badge each in programming, designing and showcasing a robot.

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An administrator in the School of Engineering Technologies drew upon her vastly varied background this week – from two patents for co-inventions in biomedicine to teaching to dressing department-store mannequins – to envision a STEM workforce as diverse as her resume.

“We’re 51% of the population, but there were only three women out of 45 in my college graduating class,” said Kathleen D. Chesmel, assistant dean for materials science and engineering technologies. “There are so many talented women who aren’t considering this. It’s better now, but it’s not yet a lot better.”

Chesmel spoke at the Office of Student Engagement’s third and final “Women’s Wednesday” program, a forum for Penn College women – particularly those in traditionally male-dominated fields – to meet, socialize and encourage one another.

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Penn College has partnered with Mediaplanet USA for an “Empowering Women in Gaming” campaign to share the resources, tools and technology that are helping female gamers and game-design professionals succeed in a male-dominated industry. The college – which offers a four-year degree in Game & Simulation Programming through its School of Engineering Technologies – has a back-page advertisement in a supplement running in USAToday and available online. The bachelor’s program is just one of the many areas in which the college is addressing a historic underrepresentation of women in STEM fields and the skilled trades. Ready to make some noise? Visit the “Turn It Up” page featured in the ad.

Pennsylvania College of Technology’s “Women’s Wednesday” series continued this week with Stacey C. Hampton, assistant dean of industrial and computer technologies, engaging students during a late-afternoon social in College Avenue Labs.

With a background in elementary and early childhood education, as well as experience in 4-H and literacy programs, Hampton joined the college staff in 2006 as a matriculation and retention coordinator. Among the acknowledged keys to her success, both in personal development and institutional outreach, are the connections that she’s made.

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The “Women’s Wednesday” program, an Office of Student Engagement-sponsored forum for inspiration from those excelling in traditionally male-dominated fields, kicked off this week with a presentation by the assistant dean of architectural and construction technologies.

Ellyn A. Lester provided the Penn’s Inn audience – which included colleagues from the Clean Energy Center, The Madigan Library and architecture faculty, as well as students  – with a summary of her considerable experience and success.

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Joining in the observance of International Women’s Day (March 8) – an occasion to highlight the social, cultural, political and economic accomplishments of women the world over – PCToday shares a close-to-home look at students raising the bar for their peers and for all of the tomorrow makers yet to come. Alumni mentors will be featured throughout Women’s History Month on Penn College’s social media platforms (#herstoryherpath), and several students in science, technology, engineering and math fields are showcased in conjunction with Tuesday’s global celebration.

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Day after day, and not just on International Women’s Day, Penn College champions the hands-on effort needed to reverse the disproportionately low representation of women in the trades. Visit the college’s Turn It Up website and join the transformational students and their campus mentors – from automotive and aviation to information technology and engineering – who loudly and proudly embody the specialized skills that tomorrow needs most.

International welding artist Rae Ripple, encouraged by a Pennsylvania College of Technology student last fall to drop by campus, honored that invitation Friday with an inspiring daylong visit.

“I absolutely love this school!” she said during a “Live With Rae” morning presentation in the Klump Academic Center, coolly and confidently striding the auditorium stage in an animated and unabashed Q&A.

That session was preceded by a tour and followed by a demonstration in the welding lab, where Ripple put her renowned stamp on a student project – aptly mirroring her enthusiasm for motorcycles – that will be installed outside the Lycoming Engines Metal Trades Center for public display.

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Welding alumna Erin M. Beaver, an intermediate manufacturing engineer for the Harley-Davidson Motor Co. in York, has been chosen as an “Emerging Leader” among the 130 recipients of this year’s STEP Ahead Awards from The Manufacturing Institute.

This is the 10th year for the peer-nominated awards, which honor women for their contributions and impact in both manufacturing and their communities. The Emerging Leader designation represents young women who are the future of the industry and who have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments at the beginning of their careers.

“I am passionate about manufacturing because it’s always evolving and that, in turn, creates opportunity for personal growth – whether it be through gaining different experiences or learning a new technology,” said Beaver, who earned a bachelor’s degree in welding and fabrication engineering technology in 2019. “Continuing to grow is important to me, and a career in manufacturing supports that.”

While at Penn College, Beaver and two classmates formed an all-female team that competed at the SkillsUSA National Championships in Louisville, Kentucky.

She and the other honorees will formally receive their awards at an April 28 gala in Washington, D.C.

Three women majoring in automation and robotics at Penn College attracted the attention Tuesday of WNEP-TV’s Chris Keating, who visited campus to share their story with viewers. Keating prepared a segment that aired during evening newscasts and featured first-year students Ava A. Birotte, Kayla M. Figuereo and Angelica J. Parrocho, as well as Joseph M. Harner, instructor of electronics/automation and robotics. Parrocho and her classmates have a message for girls who may be dissuaded from entering such a male-dominated field: “If you like it,” she told Keating. “I just say, ‘Go for it!'”

“Girl Power,” aimed at helping ninth graders explore potential careers and boost their confidence through encouraging mentorship by professionals, continued over the weekend at Penn College.

The Feb. 27 agenda included hands-on activities in the college’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning lab and its architecture studio; as well as a Q&A with representatives of JEM Group, a woman-owned construction services firm based in Camp Hill.

The program – a mix of virtual meet-ups on Monday evenings and on-campus sessions on Sunday afternoons – runs through April 24.

During his 27 years teaching electronics at Pennsylvania College of Technology, Ken J. Kinley has experienced evolutions of curriculum, equipment and facilities. He hopes to add “student demographics” to the list.

Three female students in the early stages of studying robotics and automation at Penn College offer promise for that wish to be realized.

“I believe this is a first – having three female students enroll in robotics and automation about the same time,’’ said Kinley, assistant professor and department head. “I’m happy to see women branch out in nontraditional fields and do very well in the coursework, like these three young ladies.”

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