51����, Wed., March, 20th — In celebration of Women’s History Month in March, 51���� further honored women by organizing a Women in STEM Discussion Panel on Wednesday at the SET-B Auditorium.

The panel, organized by TSC Physics instructor Martha Casquete and moderated by TSC Math instructor Brittney Gillespie-Porter as a part of the month-long Women in STEM event, consisted of three women whose personal goals and subsequent educational pathways led them into the STEM field: Dr. Liliana Rivera Sandoval, Dr. Roxana Jimenez, and Diana Orozco.
The three women answered a series of questions to the benefit of their experiences, insights, struggles and triumphs to the gathered audience.
Dr. Rivera Sandoval, an assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UTRGV, shared some of her knowledge regarding the importance of being both a self-motivated and resourceful individual in a highly competitive field inherent with STEM-related careers.

“Be proactive because it’s going to open a lot of doors in your life. Today, we have so much knowledge in our hands because of the internet, so do your own research and educate yourself. You can develop a crucial skill of being able to find ways to solve problems on your own, which is highly appreciated in academia, in STEM industries, and so on,” she said, adding that such a proactive mindset is a must in highly competitive STEM fields.
Dr. Jimenez, a TSC Mathematics instructor, shared a fairly recent experience of her own to illustrate the importance of thinking ahead and keeping pace with technological developments to further diversify one’s set of skills.
“When I was a teaching in high school, I had pushed for the adoption of online books, which was rejected. As this was going on, I created my own Google Classroom and was sending my students their work through it, even though a majority of my co-workers thought it was a strange choice. And then Covid hit, and I found myself with a mastery of a skill that was suddenly in demand everywhere.”
Ms. Orozco, who currently works as a Research Analyst for TSC’s Department of Institutional Effectiveness and Educational Technologies, explained that no matter how rough things may get, one must never give up.
“I had many obstacles to overcome throughout my education. When I first enrolled in college, my parents were migrant workers, and I could only attend in the Spring semesters because I would have to help them out for several months at a time. Over time, I also developed illnesses which required several surgeries, but I never let the setbacks stop me. I kept on going, and I’m going to keep on going as I pursue my graduate degree.
Orozco’s hope is that by sharing her own experiences, she can show students that it is possible to overcome obstacles and find success, and she feels that discussion panels such as this are an effective way to put a human face to those success stories.
“In my personal experience, the importance of these in-person discussion panels is to find a role model or mentors who you can relate to and who will inspire you to move forward. A role model can be found anywhere, whether in school, the workplace, or even at home. Knowing that someone else has already walked your path and made it through can be a motivational milestone to look forward to.”

With March officially being Women’s History Month, TSC is doing its part by hosting events that celebrate the accomplishments of women across the globe. In particular, the Women in STEM event officially kicked off earlier this month. Women in STEM continues with an Online Panel Discussion on March 19 and a Face-to-Face Panel Discussion in the SET-B Lecture Hall on March 20.��

The courtyard between North and South Hall hosted a gathering of various representatives from STEM-based programs at TSC, such as the electrician program, architecture, HVAC, automotive technology, and more. Several Valley elementary and middle school students were also present as part of the Texas ACE (Afterschool Centers on Education) program. Students flocked to the different tables to excitedly take part in a variety of demonstrations that each table had for them to participate in.��

AJ Escobar was one of a handful of TSC students from the Automotive Technology program who put together and helped guide the young ACE students through a simple exercise related to their field of study. “We decided to create an interactive demonstration that teaches people how to change a tire. We thought it would be a good exercise because it’s something that everyone who owns a vehicle should know how to do, and it’s easy enough to teach them how in a few minutes,” said Escobar.��

In addition to programs within TSC, a few outside organizations were welcomed to join, including representatives from Gladys Porter Zoo and the South Texas Astronomical Society (STARS). Victor De los Santos, Executive Director for STARS non-profit organization, has always held a passion for helping young students develop an interest in STEM fields and get the resources they need to hopefully grow their interest into a lifelong endeavor.��

“One of our founding principles is that we want to actively go out into the community and tell more people about who we are and the opportunities that we can provide, and events like these are one of the best ways that we can continue to introduce ourselves to new audiences,” said De los Santos.��

To instructors like Martha Casquete, 51���� Math instructor, it is important to continue making female students aware that careers in STEM fields are very much possibilities that they can pursue.��

“Historically, there has been a significant gender gap in STEM fields,” said Casquete. “According to a report from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2023, women comprised only 28% of the STEM workforce.”��

These are statistics that she hopes to see change as greater awareness continues to spread. “By promoting STEM careers to young females and showcasing our female instructor and students, TSC aims to empower them bridge this gap here in the Valley. Empowering young females with STEM education and opportunities enables them to achieve economic independence and contribute meaningfully to society. Furthermore, highlighting what TSC offers is important not only for young females but also males, as Hispanics are also lagging behind on STEM degrees.”��

With both mission and goals clear, Casquete envisions bigger and better outreach events as time goes on. “Our vision is to continue growing every year,” she stated.  “One of our goals is to invite more organizations to participate in our festival, thus expanding it next year. We recognize that the lack of role models is one of the factors contributing to the gender gap. Therefore, we could organize a Girl’s Day where a group of young women can meet our female students and engage in STEM activities.” ��

Women in STEM continues with an Online Panel Discussion on March 19 and a Face-to-Face Panel Discussion in the SET-B Lecture Hall on March 20.��