Media Advisory: Conference for Buffalo parents to focus on creating opportunities for girls in STEM

BUFFALO, N.Y. — A conference for parents of students in Buffalo Public Schools will focus on developing ways to encourage girls to pursue opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23 in the first-floor conference room at UB’s Educational Opportunity Center at 555 Ellicott St. in Buffalo.

Liesl Folks, dean of the University at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, will deliver the keynote speech at 9:15 a.m. that day, discussing how to create opportunities in STEM for girls.

The conference is the third annual social justice conference for parents at 12 Buffalo Public Schools served by the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Partnership (ISEP).

ISEP — led by UB, SUNY Buffalo State, the Buffalo Museum of Science and the Buffalo Public School — seeks to improve STEM education in Buffalo schools. The program promotes hands-on learning in science classes, providing teachers with helpful resources ranging from classroom equipment and professional development to in-class help from corporate scientists and college students majoring in STEM fields.

After Folks’ keynote address, presenters and panelists will discuss the challenges that face girls interested in pursuing STEM opportunities, and how parents, educational institutions and companies can help those girls fulfill their ambitions.

Presenters and panelists include:

• Monika McFoy, executive director of Buffalo-area Engineering Awareness for Minorities (BEAM) at UB;
• Kathleen Murphy, project and portfolio service manager for CIT Network and Classroom Services at UB;
• Heather Rudolph, quality engineer at General Mills;
• Veronica McCullough, retired drafting technician, and designer and distribution design representative at National Grid; and
• Rosa Gonzalez, nuclear engineering scientist, and chair of Emergency Management and Fire Protection Technology at Erie Community College.

At the end of the conference, parents who attend will discuss and map out key action items — steps that they and their schools can potentially take to encourage and create opportunities for girls with an interest STEM.