Subscribe to our mailing list
Gina Marie Semprebon
Professor of Biology and Founding Director of the Center of Excellence for Women in STEM at Bay Path University
,,
,,
Connect yourselves early on with a female STEM mentor.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
I teach at a women's university and spend my days trying to attract, empower and retain young women in STEM fields.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS FIELD?
I was fortunate enough to have a high school science teacher who believed in me and helped build my confidence toward pursuing a STEM career. I also had parents who gave me microscopes and took me to natural history museums to encourage my love of dinosaurs. Today I am a paleontologist and I have invented a new method to predict the diet of ancient animals using a microscope.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK AT & THINK, "I WISH YOUNGER ME WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS WAS POSSIBLE?"
I wish that I had had the confidence to pursue a Ph.D. sooner. I also wish I knew sooner how important it was to network and get female mentors in STEM early on.
WHY DO YOU LOVE WORKING IN STEM?
I love working in STEM because it is an ever-changing and dynamic field rich with endless possibilities. When I wake up, I look forward to thinking about my next research question and how I will go about testing it. I also think about how I can enrich my students so they can love STEM as much as I do.
BEST ADVICE FOR NEXT GENERATION?
Connect yourselves early on with a female STEM mentor and don't be afraid to reach out to someone you admire in a STEM field and advocate for yourself so you can get the guidance you need to persist in STEM despite the unique challenges that women often face.
INSPO / FUN FACT
You must be the change you wish to see in the world.