Everything Nac

When Camille Schrier took the stage at the Miss America competition and performed “the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide” as her onstage talent, she had a specific goal – promote STEM education.

Crowned Miss America 2020, Schrier continues to be a passionate STEM advocate and will serve as the featured speaker at the Women in STEM Luncheon and Style Show hosted by Stephen F. Austin State University’s College of Sciences and Mathematics at noon Tuesday, April 7, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Grand Ballroom.

Schrier graduated from Virginia Tech with dual Bachelor of Science degrees in biochemistry and systems biology and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy at Virginia Commonwealth University. She was awarded the Engineering Champion Award by the Sigma Rho National Sorority for her efforts promoting women in engineering and technical fields.

The luncheon and style show is a scholarship fundraising event benefiting students committed to the advancement of women pursuing STEM degrees at SFA.

“Building a strong foundation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is key to supporting the infrastructure of a successful STEM workforce,” said Dr. Kimberly M. Childs, dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics. “Our keynote speaker for the Women in STEM Luncheon is an outstanding role model who utilizes her national platform and passion for science to promote her social initiative for drug safety. With style and grace, the reigning Miss America, Camille Schrier, encourages and promotes the advancement of women in STEM careers.”

Doors open at 11 a.m. for a gallery walk poster presentation highlighting STEM research accomplishments by SFA students and faculty.

A style show will follow the luncheon with selected men escorting female role models to highlight the importance of having men support women in STEM disciplines. Fashions are provided by The Town House.

The deadline for reservations is April 2. Tickets are $50 each or $350 for a table of eight. For tickets, visit sfasu.edu/womeninSTEM. For more information, email kdcarmona@sfasu.edu.

By Joanna Armstrong, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Students at Stephen F. Austin State University will have the chance to meet with and hear from professionals at STEM Connect, hosted by the College of Sciences and Mathematics from noon to 1 p.m., Friday, Feb. 7, in the Cole STEM Building, Room 402.

Representatives from CK Associates, an environmental consulting firm, and Apache Corporation, an international oil and gas exploration company headquartered in Houston, as well as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas Department of Public Safety, will discuss their careers and how students can prepare for the future during a panel and one-on-one dialogues.

“STEM Connect provides an opportunity for students to interface with STEM professionals and discuss real-world career connections of SFA classroom experiences to key concepts and core principles needed to support innovation, problem-solving and creativity on the job,” said Dr. Kimberly M. Childs, dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics. “SFA students benefit both personally and educationally as they develop a more complete sense of STEM career expectations and satisfaction.”

Students in attendance will also have the opportunity to ask questions and learn from panelists about the opportunities in the STEM fields.

“STEM will always be a part of the earth’s DNA because it gives solutions in a world filled with problems,” said Chikere Ogbonnaya, SFA alumnus and senior geoscientist with the Apache Corporation. “Be open to learning new skills that put you in a better position to offer solutions.”

To learn more about the College of Sciences and Mathematics, visit sfasu.edu/cosm.

By Joanna Armstrong, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Stephen F. Austin State University will host its fifth annual Darwin Day program from 4 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12, in the Kennedy Auditorium with featured speaker Dr. Scott Egan presenting “Natural selection promotes the ‘Origin of the Species’ among populations of herbivorous insects.”

Darwin Day is an annual celebration of science that is held on or around the birthday of evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin to commemorate his contributions to the understanding of the biological sciences.

“Students interested in the sciences, or who simply have questions about the origin of life on Earth, occasionally have existential conflicts between the scientific truths of the natural world and what students have learned through their faith,” said Dr. Stephen Mullin, professor and chair of the Department of Biology. “This presentation provides yet another piece of evidence illustrating what science has taught us about the natural world.”

Egan will present research on three core areas in the field of ecological speciation during the presentation.

“Ecology has always played a pivotal role in the study of speciation, however, within the last three decades, the role of ecology has been the subject of intensified research,” Egan said.

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Mullin at (936) 468-3601 or sjmullin@sfasu.edu.

By Joanna Armstrong, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.