UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Women in Information Sciences and Technology (WIST) student organization will host its annual “Lean In” leadership panel and networking reception from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Monday, March 19, in Alumni Lounge at the Nittany Lion Inn.
The event is free and open to the public, and invites guests to participate in a discussion focused on common challenges faced by women in science, technology, engineering and math career fields.
The panelists include:
- Katie Bevington, class of 2016, Technology Leadership Program, Vanguard
- Mary Jo Ingalls, class of 1994, IT supervisor, Erie Insurance Group
- Peggy Johnson, dean, Penn State Schreyer Honors College
- Skylar Slotter, class of 2016, cyber advisory associate, KPMG
- Lynette (Kvasny) Yarger, associate professor, Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology
After the panel discussion, students will have the opportunity to network and ask additional questions of the panelists in an informal setting.
“WIST has put on this event in an effort to change the culture in IT and STEM for all underrepresented students, particularly within the intersections of gender and race,” said Patrice Morris, a senior security and risk analysis student and the event’s chairwoman. “The only way to accomplish this is to get everyone in our community to participate.”
Added Morris, “Our Lean In panel has been my favorite event at IST since my freshman year, and now that I am graduating I’m excited for it to be the best one yet.”
Founded in 2000 shortly after the College of IST, WIST promotes a sense of unity among female students in the college and provides networking opportunities, career resources, community and academic presentations, and leadership training.
The leadership panel is based on the national “Lean In” movement from best-selling author and Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg. The project aims to empower women to lean into their ambitions and serves as an opportunity to invite men to the conversation in a comfortable and welcoming environment.
For more information, visit the group’s Facebook event.