By Daria Okruta
Staff Writer

As part of the STEM lecture series, a panel of four of Franciscan’s female professors spoke about what it’s like to work in the scientific fields as women. 

The talk took place Feb. 20, in the new Christ the Teacher building. The speakers included Dr. Valeria Plaus, who primarily teaches physics here at the university, as well as Dr. Angelica Payne, who worked in mechanical and biomedical engineering. Dr. Christina Collins works in chemistry and Dr. Pam Burton’s in microbiology. They teach as well, though less frequently.  

The Women in STEM Club sponsored this talk. Club officers and audience members asked the professors questions, and they responded with their own wisdom. 

“Have you ever experienced imposter syndrome?” 

Dr. Colins started by plainly saying that everyone has imposter syndrome, whether they talk about it or not, and that “if you feel imposter syndrome, you’re actually in the best place you can be … you’re aware of it and of where you need to be.” This gives you a chance, and the ability, to improve. 

Meanwhile Dr. Payne refused to have imposter syndrome, saying she “[is] a bioengineering student just like anybody else.” She may have been the only woman in many classes, but ultimately it has “nothing with being a woman; it has everything with what God gave you,” because everybody moves forward at a different pace. 

“What is the most challenging aspect about being a woman in STEM?” 

Dr. Plaus found navigating other people’s expectations and managing different styles of communication to be the most challenging. She went on to say that that’s how most careers are, and it’s not a problem specific to STEM.  

Managing motherhood and a career was most challenging to Dr. Colins. She recalled only one time in grad school where she was outright discriminated against, but the solution, as with any doubt people may have, was to stand up for herself. 

“People treat you the way they want you to be,” said Dr. Payne. In half of the cases, “it doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that you’re a woman … if there’s something you absolutely want to do — show them.” Her two main points were that “the relationships that you build with people matter,” and that you must “advocate for yourself with your work.”   

“Do you have a female role model or mentor that inspired you?” 

For Dr. Colins, that person was her high school chemistry teacher. Before her, Dr. Colins had “never met a woman that smart,” and seeing her in a scientific role made her realize, “Wait, I can do that?” 

To this, Dr. Burton simply replied, “No.” Her schooling was during a different time, with even fewer women in the field than now. 

Dr. Plaus mentioned one high school teacher who made lessons fun and knew how to explain everything well. Additionally, there was an undergraduate professor who was both a mother and teacher who showed her that that kind of life was possible. 

There were no great ones that stood out to Dr. Payne, since there are about 6 percent of women in her field. During schooling, she had one female mechanical engineering professor. Over all, it’s “little things from people here and there,” she says, that helped her along the way. 

“Any notable instances of having male advocates and impacts of that?” 

“Men and women will have different compensation issues,” said Dr. Plaus. Different people have different ways of communicating and dealing with problems, but people along the way have stepped up. 

Dr. Colins encountered many male bosses who genuinely cared and were willing to help.   

Finally, Dr. Plaus talked about not fighting alone: “You can pull in your colleague or your mentor.” 

STEM talks take place weekly, Thursdays at 5 p.m. in CTT 137.