STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — The State College chapter of Graduate Women in Science will host its 15th annual Voices conference from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, at the Graduate State College Hotel in State College.
Voices is a professional development and networking conference for those in STEM fields at all career stages. The 2020 conference, which has the theme “Embracing the Unexpected,” will include speakers, interactive break-out sessions, and a panel discussion.
Ramona Pierson, head of data innovation and products at PwC, will serve as the conference’s keynote speaker. Pierson currently works with advanced computing and automation to shape new and innovated technologies, and she is a co-founder of Declara Inc.
“Ms. Pierson really embodies our theme of embracing the unexpected because she not only did she overcome a life-changing challenge caused by an accident, but also works in cutting-edge AI (artificial intelligence) for advancements in automated technology,” said Ashlee McGovern, Voices conference co-chair.
Other speakers will include Kim Lopez, senior director of TeenSHARP; Cary Supalo, founder of Independence Science; Chris Golde, career educator at BEAM; and Marc Friedenberg, Penn State professor assistant teaching professor of information sciences and technology, and former congressional candidate.
The conference also will include opportunities for networking and discussion with speakers and other attendees.
“The Voices conference is a great opportunity to have conversations with scientists from outside my own field and at different points in their careers, from undergraduates to professionals,” said Megan Steves, Voices conference co-chair. “I always leave the conference feeling energized and excited about the future of STEM.”
Online registration is open to undergraduate and graduate students, post-docs, faculty and professionals, and community members until Jan. 27. Register now at tiny.cc/voices2020 and additional information can be found at https://sites.psu.edu/gwisstatecollege/events/voices/.