Promoting the Pipeline of Women in STEM
The AWIS-San Diego (AWIS-SD) chapter has established a thriving community dedicated to supporting all women and girls to, through, and beyond their STEM careers. The chapter offers networking events, career development programs, and leadership opportunities to empower our members, and actively engages with the local community through outreach events and scholarship programs that help foster career growth for both members and the broader community.
In 2024, AWIS-SD awarded $7500 in scholarships and awards to help girls and women pursue their passions in STEM. AWIS-SD also supported local outreach events that engaged local San Diego K-12 students, including the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair where volunteers participated as judges and awarded $100 prizes to middle and high school students, and a local Expanding Your Horizons Conference with a crime scene investigation lab where participants used DNA analysis, DNA typing, and liquid identification to solve the case.
Navigating a successful and fulfilling STEM career comes with different challenges at different stages. AWIS-SD held an Academia to Industry (A2I) Transition Panel in May, featuring women who shared their insights successfully transitioning from academia to industry. The event concluded with a happy hour, providing a great opportunity for attendees to network, meet the panelists, and celebrate the collective accomplishments and future ahead of the AWIS community.
AWIS-SD welcomes everyone and brings together members from diverse backgrounds to create supportive networks that foster career development and growth. By collaborating, sharing experiences, and offering mentorship, they empower each other to succeed in STEM fields. Their programs are designed to educate, support, and elevate women no matter where they are in their journey. Through this collective support, they help each other achieve their professional goals and create lasting impact in their fields and in the community.
“A Past-President often said, ‘What you get out of AWIS is what you put in.’ Each of us joined AWIS-SD for different reasons and will make distinct contributions, but together, we can form a strong network that advances science and uplifts everyone.” – Dr. Shanna Lavalle, AWIS San Diego President
The San Diego chapter is one of eight AWIS chapters who received a 2024 ‘Shooting Star’ Chapter Award. The other recipients were Boston, Chicago, Houston, Notre Dame, Philadelphia, Seattle, and St. Louis.