Empowering women in STEMM fields

Himansh Bhatnagar / IC

Himansh Bhatnagar / IC

Bryce Buyakie, Associate News Editor

Hang on for a minute...we're trying to find some more stories you might like.


Email This Story






image_pdfimage_print

Tonya Matthews, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Michigan Science Center in Detroit, shared her story of empowerment in the white, male-dominated fields of science, technology, engineering, math and medicine in Nitschke Hall Monday.

As part of the University of Toledo’s celebration of Women’s History Month, Matthews spoke about how she overcame these obstacles and how students of every age, race and gender can thrive in the face of difficulty.

The metaphor Matthews used for empowerment was an editorial cartoon depicting a teacher telling a raven, a monkey, an elephant, a fish in a bowl, a seal and a dog to take the same “fair” exam: to climb the tree.

This exam seems fair at first, but there is something wrong in telling these students who have shown up every day to take this test which gives an unfair advantage to the monkey, Matthews said.

“Who would judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree?” Matthews said. “I don’t know, perhaps the type of folks who would look at a college application from someone who works 25 hours a week to support their family and someone who does not have to do that, but they both must go to school every day to make those grades.”

Matthews said the problem with the teacher’s question is the question itself.

“You are the ultimate judge in your life,” Matthews said. “You are the one who ultimately gets to shape the questions and standards by which you judge yourself. Ever since I was a little girl, I have asked myself the same question: ‘How do I save the world?’”

Fourth-year bioengineering major Therese Orsagos attended the event expecting encouragement but didn’t realize how inspiring Matthews’ story would be.

“She was amazing and very inspirational,” Orsagos said. “You could tell just how passionate she was about this stuff. She had a very positive and encouraging vibe.”

According to Matthews, the only way to answer this question is by having friends who will support you through college and life. Find a group of friends who both look like you and look like everyone else, especially in the STEMM field.

“However it is you define yourself, and you are in an environment where you don’t see yourself, that can be scary,” Matthews said. “When I got to Duke University I didn’t see myself, so I raised an army of friends who looked like me.”

However, this army of friends can only do so much. Matthews said we all need someone who will see our potential and propel us to the top of that tree.

“What I have learned is that it’s not who you know, but it’s who knows what about you,” Matthews said. “I worked for a gentleman, Dr. John Fleming, who was succession-oriented. He wanted to find someone to replace him who would be successful in that role. He had been looking for years and he found me, and I never knew I had been found.”

Without Fleming sponsoring Matthews in her career, she said she would not have climbed the tree to CEO and to a thriving career.

“Dr. Matthews is well-known in the STEMM community, and she is very down-to-earth,” said Kelley Webb, a graduate assistant of the African American Initiatives in the Office of Multicultural Student Success. “I believe that she exhibits the qualities that many women, especially black women, desire to develop, and she is doing something positive in a growing field.”

Matthews said there is a lot being done about diversity in the STEMM fields, but there is room for improvement.

“We know mentorships and sponsorships are really important, but we know not everyone has the same access to them. Without a doubt, we are making progress, but we also have a lot of ideas just sitting on the table,” Matthews said.

Print Friendly

Leave a Comment

Serving the University of Toledo community since 1919.
Empowering women in STEMM fields