Finding Inspiration Through Community: Reflections on weSTEM 2025

Last week, I attended the 13th annual weSTEM conference, the flagship event hosted by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s (UIUC) chapter of the Graduate Society of Women Engineers (GradSWE).  This conference has long been a space for women and gender minorities with or pursuing graduate degrees in STEM to connect, share experiences, and inspire one another. This year’s theme “Our Space. Our Voice. Our Future.,” felt especially urgent in today’s political climate, where diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are increasingly under scrutiny. The impact of these challenges was felt even at this year’s conference—some invited speakers had to cancel due to changes in federal policy restricting travel and promotion of DEI-related groups like GradSWE. Yet, those who participated made their voices heard, emphasizing the power of community and belonging.

The timing of weSTEM always feels perfect. Early February in Illinois can be bleak—the excitement of the holidays has faded, the cold lingers, and seasonal gloom sets in. Every year around this time, I find myself overwhelmed with work, frustrated by research setbacks, and drained by the winter months. But attending weSTEM never fails to lift my spirits. It’s a space of renewal, where the passion, dedication, and resilience of fellow women in STEM remind me why I chose this path in the first place. The amazing organizers, inspiring speakers, and generous sponsors make this event truly special, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of it.

weSTEM kicked off with a networking dinner on Friday at Papa Del’s, a Champaign favorite pizza joint. We enjoyed pizza, met attendees for the next day’s conference, learned about the conference sponsors (3M, Exponent, Sandia National Laboratory, Mathworks), and heard from keynote speaker Dr. Lydia Villa-Komaroff. Lydia shared her personal and professional journey, sharing how she navigated her career path, and the community she found through the co-founding of SACNAS (Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science). Her career encompassed faculty positions, administrative positions, and business executive roles—she stated she took whatever opportunity sounded the most fun, and it was refreshing to hear someone so accomplished prioritize joy in her work.  

I arrived early at the weSTEM conference on Saturday, ready to volunteer. My role was to greet attendees at the far entrance and direct them to the registration table, where they could pick up their name tag and swag bag. This year’s swag was a fanny pack and women in STEM stickers—very cute! The conference began with remarks from GradSWE faculty advisor Dr. Rebecca Reck, weSTEM director Shivani Kamtikar, and alumna Dr. Anna Oldoni, a former weSTEM committee member. Anna is the Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor for Environment and Energy at the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In her opening remarks, she encouraged attendees to discover their own “resonant frequency”—our unique qualities and passions that allow us to shine. She reminded attendees that we are enough, and we should not push ourselves to be something we are not. She also shared a powerful perspective: if we can find the bad in a situation, we are equally capable of finding the good. She concluded with a quote by Bernard Shaw:

“I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and that as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live, I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me, it is a sort of splendid torch which I've got a hold of for a moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”

As someone who is likewise drawn to a career in public service, it was inspiring to hear her passion and dedication to serving her community.

Next, we heard from the first keynote speaker, Dr. Mona Minkara, who reminded us that vision is more than sight. She shared how her diagnosis with macular degeneration and cone rod dystrophy at a young age did not quell her curious scientific spirit. However, she found other people’s expectations of her future changed when she became blind. Refusing to let these external doubts hold her back however, she pursued advanced classes in high school and excelled in them despite having minimal accommodations. She realized that once she had the proper tools, she was not only capable of high achievement in science, but also that her blindness provided an “unseen advantage”. She had to understand her research topic differently than others, and because of this, she was able to identify unique mathematical characteristics driving protein movement that others overlooked. She emphasized the value of mentors, her passion for making science more accessible, and her commitment to outreach and educational initiatives. She also shared her YouTube “Planes, Trains, and Canes”, which documents her experiences traveling the world. Mona’s story was truly inspirational, illustrating the power of resilience and the influence of expectations—both those placed upon us and those we choose for ourselves.

After Mona’s talk, I attended Dr. Grace Bulltail’s session “Natural Resource Management & Indigenous Environmental Justice.” Grace is a member of the Cow Tribe and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She discussed her research on natural resource management, particularly water in Indigenous communities. She highlighted the lack of stream protections on tribal lands, where oftentimes surface water is the primary water source. Because tribal lands tend to be in arid climates, this lack of protection exacerbates water insecurity. Her work informs policies on restoring Indigenous water rights, assesses the equity of legal settlements, and supports broader federal water protection efforts.

After the oral sessions, attendees reconvened for the conference lunch. I connected with some graduate students from my alma mater, the University of Notre Dame, and met new peers from the University of Illinois. Following lunch, we participated in breakout sessions, with speakers facilitating discussions by across eleven tables. Each session lasted fifteen minutes, allowing us to attend up to six. I joined the following:

1. Balancing Family and Professional Ambitions: Speakers discussed their approaches to work-life balance and strategies for navigating employer conversations about pregnancy, childcare and other family-related topics.

2. Communicating outside Academia: Speakers shared their experiences communicating to diverse audiences, through working in museums, podcasting, and journalism.

3. Harnessing Hobbies: Speakers showed how dedicating time to personal interests can alleviate burnout and enrich both personal and professional life.

4. Bridging STEM & Policy: Speakers discussed the importance of integrating STEM research into policymaking to maximize benefits to the public and minimize harm.  

5. Carees at Sandia: Employees from Sandia National Laboratories shared resources on career paths at Sandia National Laboratories, showcasing the lab’s wide-ranging research.  

6. Boundaries and Self-Advocacy: Speakers shared their advice on how to stand up for yourself in professional settings and navigate difficult or sensitive situations.

After the breakout session, I attended the “Careers in Government Panel.” I gained further insight into Dr. Anna Oldani’s career path, from her start as a general engineer after graduate school to her current work in aviation sustainability. Kendra Zeman, an Agricultural Engineer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), shared her role in providing technical assistance to farmers and landowners on natural resource concerns. Panelists offered application and interview advice, discussed the role of government in setting budget and research priorities, and how their roles connecting science and policy serve the public good.   

Next, I moderated the session “Creating Community,” with Dr. Shaciarra Hamilton and Dr. Eun Jeong Li. Shaciarra challenged us to rethink “Imposter Syndrome” as “Imposter Phenomenon”, shifting the focus from feelings of individual shortcomings to the systemic factors that create these feelings. The reframing encourages us to navigate and improve the system that exists rather than internalizing self-doubt. Eun Jeong shared her research on how cultural and family dynamics influences perceptions of and access to mental health resources. Additionally, she stressed the vital role of community support in cultivating a sense of belonging.

The conference concluded with a keynote from Inaas Daraat, president-elect of the national Society of Women Engineers. She advised us to reframe failures as learning experiences—allowing space for emotions but ultimately moving forward. She shared how these philosophies helped her navigate career pivots and reminded us that graduate school is a microcosm for life: while work is important, so is prioritizing joy and health. She encouraged us to engage with a favorite hobby every day, even for just fifteen minutes. Finally, she encouraged us to embrace who we are, leaving us with a powerful and uplifting message.

GradSWE Director Laura Gray delivered closing remarks, expressing gratitude to the inspiring speakers, generous sponsors, dedicated weSTEM/GradSWE committee and volunteers, and the iHotel staff. After saying my farewells, I departed weSTEM feeling motivated, renewed, and ready to tackle new research challenges.