Monday, December 30, 2013

STEM Girls Become FUN Gals at Cedar Crest College

I'm now a Huffington Post Blogger. Check out a recent blog post, "STEM Girls Become FUN Gals at Cedar Crest College."

Highlights include:

Only a few years ago, Jessica Hile, Jenette Stadnik, Natalie Akers and Julia Kelly were STEM girls; now in college they continue to explore their interests. Jessica is in her junior year and is majoring in biodiversity and conservation biology. She's interested in becoming a veterinarian and owning a veterinary business and wildlife rehabilitation center. Jenette is a senior and biology major; her career plans include going for an advanced degree, and she is considering dental school. Natalie, like Jenette, also is a senior and biology major. Her career goal is to become an emergency room physician. Julia, a genetic-engineering major interested in infectious disease research career, is a junior.

Meeting up at Cedar Crest College, these young women joined Dr. Amy Reese's "FUN Gals" research group: a lab where disease-causing fungi are studied. Being part the research group gives Jessica, Jenette, Natalie and Julia an opportunity to conduct valuable research as undergraduates. The good news is that even first-year Cedar Crest College students are guaranteed student-research experience.

Dr. Reese's research involves studying disease-causing, yeast-like encapsulated fungi. She takes her research very seriously, but she also is known for making science fun. Professor Reese incorporates "interpretive dance" into her lectures to reinforce specific scientific concepts -- an effective teaching technique that engages and entertains. Even her license plate, FUNG4L, while a bit zany, is spot-on: Her all-women lab studies fungi while having fun.

In addition to her roles of researcher and associate professor, Dr. Reese also serves as a Health Professions Advisor, advising students who are interested in attending medical, veterinary, dental and other health professional schools (other than nursing). She is committed to providing an atmosphere of encouragement and support to STEM women.

This nurturing environment is what makes women's colleges so successful: colleges for women offer excellent academics while encouraging personal growth. This is t
he main reason I consider women's colleges to be the best-kept secret in higher education today.


Continue reading my blog post on The Huffington Post. Enjoy!

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Everything You Need to Know about the Wonderful World of Women’s Colleges


Blog Post Highlights:

"Alumnae of women’s colleges always seem to mention the amazing educational environment that single-sex education created for them. Valerie Saunders, a 40-year-old Smith graduate told Forbes, ”Women’s colleges tend to attract a very competitive and driven student base, and that’s the group you are surrounding yourself with during these critical years. "As a student of a women’s college, you’re going to be surrounded by hardworking, motivated ladies just like yourself. Tara Roberts of Mount Holyoke College said that “popularity at a women’s college isn’t about clothing or hairstyles. I found you became popular or cool because of your convictions, your passion and your actions.”"

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Women's College Student Wins Prestigious Environmental Studies Fellowship

"Wellesley junior Kate Corcoran has won a prestigious Greater Research Opportunities fellowship from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The fellowship, worth approximately $50,000, is awarded annually to 40 promising American students interested in pursuing careers in environmental studies. It supports two years of undergraduate study and a three-month summer internship with an EPA facility the summer after junior year."

Monday, December 16, 2013

Full College Scholarships Available for Her

In an earlier Huffington Post Blog Post, “How to Afford a Quality College Education for Your Daughter” I blogged about the generous financial aid packages available at women’s colleges.

Today I’m going to share with you a women’s college that has full scholarships available! Stephens College located in Columbia, Missouri.

Below is a photo of Kathryn Moore, a student at Hayden Catholic High School receiving her full scholarship. Anna Feldman and Alicia Lamb also received full
scholarships. How exciting is this?


Might Stephens be right for you? Begin by learning more about Stephens as you read the welcome message from the President of the college,
Dianne Lynch, Ph.D. below. (Dr. Lynch's welcome message is found on the college's Web site.)

“Stephens College was established in 1833. For more than 175 years, we have been educating women to become leaders as well as valuable contributors toward the betterment of our society. I am delighted to be a part of this fine institution, to celebrate her history and to work to create a future of unlimited possibilities. 


Stephens offers a variety of programs at the undergraduate level for women, as well as distance-learning and on-campus programs in our Graduate and Continuing Studies division for both men and women. We take pride in the strong bonds we've developed within our local community of Columbia, Missouri, and within the vast network of Stephens graduates we have across the country.


Our commitment to the performing arts, pre-professional programs and the liberal arts is evident in our mission statement. So is our commitment to each student's success at Stephens. Our campus culture offers a values-driven living and learning environment (check out the Ten Ideals); close interaction with faculty and student peers; hands-on experience in the major beginning the student's first year at Stephens; and resources inside and outside the classroom that build students' skills, knowledge and confidence. Our extensive network of alumnae assists students in finding internships and employment after graduation. You can even bring your pet to campus to live with you in a residence hall.


Whether you are interested in forming ties with Stephens — perhaps as a new student — or whether you seek ways to simply keep in touch with the goings-on at Stephens — perhaps as an alumna — we invite you to explore our web site. Please let us know if we can help!”

Friday, December 13, 2013

Why Mary Ann from Gilligan's Island Attended a Women's College

Who remembers Gilligan's Island? I do! -- For those who do not, it was an American sitcom and aired for three seasons on the CBS network from September 26, 1964, to September 4, 1967.

This is why Dawn Wells aka "Mary Ann" attended Stephens College, a women's college located in Columbia, Missouri as referenced in Esquire Magazine. 


Thursday, December 12, 2013

Greatest Takeaways of Attending a Women's College

Blog Post Highlights

"One of the greatest takeaways from my Bryn Mawr experience is undoubtedly the friendships and connections I’ve made with other students. Because dorms incorporate all students (there isn’t just a “senior” or “first-year” dorm) and traditions involve cross-campus inclusion, I’ve often found that some of my closest friends at Bryn Mawr aren’t even in my own class. This is especially true of members in my sister class. A sister class is created between every other year (for example, as a dark blue 2014, my sister classes have been light blue 2012 & 2016). Though it’s hard to watch friends graduate, I’m relieved to know our friendships haven’t deteriorated and that I always have someone to visit when traveling, especially in DC, New York, and Boston."

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Myths About Women’s Colleges

In her recent article, Myths about Women’s Colleges, Keyona Hicks identified several myths about women's colleges and concludes by saying. “Don’t let any of these myths keep you from considering a women’s college. You may just miss out on a great experience.”

Monday, December 9, 2013

Women’s College Alumna, Amy Costello Pays Tribute to Nelson Mandela

Last week we learned of the passing of a very great man, Nelson Mandela. It was only fitting to see Amy Costello pay tribute to him.

Amy Costello graduated from Trinity Washington University in 1992. Formerly the Africa correspondent for PRI’s The World she pays tribute to the great Nelson Mandela on the PRI as well as on Tiny Sparks. (Amy is now the host for Tiny Spark, a podcast that investigates the business of doing good.)

Friday, December 6, 2013

The Need for Women's Colleges Today

The President of Brenau University is speaking on the importance of educating women and the need for Women's Colleges at TEDxCentennialParkWomen in Atlanta today.

Learn more about The Brenau University Women’s College located in Gainesville, Georgia (45 miles northeast of Atlanta, Georgia).

Thursday, December 5, 2013

What do Monopoly, the very popular board game and a women’s college have in common?

Answer: A classic game with a MHC twist! (Mount Holyoke College)

"Next time it’s game night at your house, don’t settle for buying and selling Park Place or Marvin Gardens and hoping for a “Get out of jail free” card.  Mount Holyoke-Opoly allows you to buy and sell your favorite college dorms and buildings with Mary Lyon money!  This game is full of fun Mount Holyoke inspired details that will appeal to alumnae, students, faculty and all friends of the college."
Source: Wikipedia -- "Mount Holyoke College is a selective liberal arts college for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts, United States. It was the first member of the Seven Sisters colleges, and served as a model for some of the others."


Sells for $35. Makes a GREAT gift for yourself or others!

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Why You Should Consider a Women’s College

Carrie Wofford is a Democratic strategist and graduated from Bryn Mawr College. She wrote a blog post I very much enjoyed reading, “Why You Should Consider a Women’s College.”

Highlights Include:

"Studies also show that students at women's colleges are much more likely to earn PhDs than are their counterparts at coed colleges. And they are dozens of times more likely to stick with math and hard science studies than women who attend coed colleges. Not twice as likely to stick with it but dozens of times more likely. Nobody knows why, but the vast majority of women who enter coed colleges thinking they will major in math or chemistry or some other hard science drop out of those fields (as compared to the "soft sciences" such as sociology and psychology). In contrast, women stick with those studies in women's colleges, and go on to careers in those fields. Something is going on in the classrooms at coed colleges to discourage women from math and sciences; or something supportive is happening in women's college classrooms that coed schools may need to take a look at.

Women students' success happens outside the classroom as well. The editor of the student newspaper, head of the student government and all the other positions on campus are, by definition, held by women. Such leadership roles offer a terrific learning experience.


The campus communities also tend to be nurturing and supportive. Women's colleges develop very strong community bonds, passed down through generations of female graduates. "Traditions" at women's colleges differ from those at coed, with regular "step sings," "lantern night," "hoop races," special tea parties, and "canoe sings" – not unlike the special songs and traditions a girl might find at an all-girls' summer camp, and many of them common to all women's colleges. My husband said he didn't fully appreciate my college experience until he saw me at a reunion, singing ancient songs in Greek and Latin, in the dark night, with lanterns (colored by class year) swinging from our hands.  The reality is that young men are simply less willing to stand around singing ancient songs in Greek and Latin about wisdom and beauty.

Citing all the studies about how women's colleges succeed so much better at nurturing and educating young women, Smith College offers the perfect tag line: "Of course, the world is coeducational. But Smith women enter it more confidently than women graduates of coed schools." A women's college might just be worth considering when you make your college choice this Fall."

Monday, December 2, 2013

The Power of Sisterhood

Meet Belinda J Wilkerson, a college adviser who started Steps To The Future, LLC. Belinda recently wrote a blog post I think you will enjoy: "The Power of Sisterhood."

Here’s how her blog post started:

“Visiting colleges and universities is a large part of my work as an independent educational consultant. I love walking on campuses and seeing and listening to engaged, passionate, and dedicated students.  Over the past few months, I toured over 20 colleges including four women’s colleges: Agnes Scott College, Converse College, Meredith College, and Spelman College. Eleanor Roosevelt said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams” and each one of these institutions nurtures, supports, and demands that young women move forward and live beyond their dreams.  I want to share a few of my thoughts about women’s colleges because many high school students discount these institutions as an option for them without having stepped on any of their campuses.”

You can read the entire blog post or learn more about Belinda and the services she provides.