STEM-UP Network

💜 The words say it all.

We asked attendees to share a word or phrase that captured their experience at our NextGen Women in STEM™ events - and their responses created something pretty special.

From connection and inspiring to confidence, and growth, these words reflect what happens when women come together to share stories, learn from one another, and build meaningful connections across STEM.

This is what NextGen Women in STEM™ is all about: creating space for women to connect, be inspired, support one another, and see what’s possible.

And we’re just getting started.

A seat at the table. 💜

At our first two NextGen Women in STEM™ events, we invited participants to leave their names behind on this chair, a simple reminder that they belong here.

Every name represents a woman with her own story, experience, perspective, and potential.

And this chair is just getting started.

As our NextGen Women in STEM™ series continues across Pennsylvania, we’ll keep adding names, voices, and stories to it. Because sometimes, making space starts with something as simple as pulling up a chair.

📖 Let’s talk books, women in STEM, and the stories that shape us.

Our Fall Book Club is coming up, and we’d love for you to join the conversation!

This season, we’re reading *Women in Steel, Women of Steel: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow* by Karin J. Lund, which explores the experiences, contributions, and stories of women in an industry that shaped our past and continues to influence our future.

Whether you’ve already started reading or this is the push you needed to pick up the book, you have a seat at the table. Come ready to connect, share perspectives, and explore the conversation.

🗓 When: Thursdays, October 15, November 19 & December 17
🕛 Time: 12:00–1:00 PM EST
💻 Where: Virtual
➡️ Register: https://loom.ly/ClSNSGY

💜 Pittsburgh, you showed up!

What a day of connection, conversation, and community with our NextGen Women in STEM™ network. From honest conversations to new connections and shared experiences, we loved bringing women together to learn from one another and celebrate the many ways women are making an impact in STEM.

Huge thanks to our presenters, moderators, mentors, and sponsors for helping make this experience possible. Your time, expertise, stories, and support continue to create space for women to connect, learn, and grow. 👏

🎤 STEM Panel Discussion
Sunnie Fenk, moderator
Raina Sharma
Abby Carlisle
Katie Colella
Andrea Barber

🎤 Group Workshop Presenter
Merilee Smith

🎤 Mentors
Dr. Julianne Baron
Michel Conklin
Emily Harasin
Amanda Santora
Sunnie Fenk
Melissa Fuller
Rebecca Gazda
Abby Gibbons
Marla Litsky
Cheroc Slater
Julie Wulff
Katie Colella
Lindsey Dunmyre
Simona Partinova
Sara Russell
Geeta Tahiliani
Abha Doshi
Andrea Barber
Xu Kang

And to everyone who joined us in Pittsburgh, thank you for bringing your ideas, experiences, questions, and energy to the room. The best part of this community is what happens when we come together. 💜

✨ And we’re not done yet! We’ll see you at our next NextGen Women in STEM™ gathering in Lehigh Valley this November. A new location, new connections, and another opportunity to keep the conversation going.

See you there!

Hey Pittsburgh, we’ll see you tomorrow!

We’re bringing our NextGen Women in STEM™ community together for another day of honest conversations, new connections, shared experiences, and plenty of inspiration- this time, in Pittsburgh. Tomorrow is about showing up, taking up space, learning from one another, and celebrating the women who are shaping what’s next in STEM.

Whether you’re coming to meet someone new, hear a story that sticks with you, or simply leave feeling a little more energized than when you arrived, we’re ready for you!

✨ Come ready to be inspired.
💜 Come ready to connect.
🚀 Come ready to see what’s possible.

See you tomorrow, Pittsburgh!

💜 What an amazing time in Harrisburg!

We’re leaving this experience with incredible stories, inspiration, meaningful conversations, and new connections. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn from one another, share experiences, and celebrate the women making an impact across STEM.

A special thank you to our presenters, moderators, and mentors for sharing your expertise, experiences, and stories with our community. Your voices made this event truly meaningful. 👏

🎤 STEM Panel Discussion
Gladys Kline, moderator
Dr. Raz Abdulqadir
Kayla Underkoffler
Nexa Castro-Murtoff
Mary Syron

🎤 Group Workshop Presenter
Bitsy McCann

🎤Mentors
Dr. Raz Abdulqadir
Nexa Castro-Murtoff
Kate Deveney
Kayla Hughes
Dr. Teray Johnson
Gladys Kline
Stephanie Lake
Christeen Law
Wally Ann McClain
Yumi McClellan
Dr. Marian McKee
Reesy Neff
Dr. Navitha Ramesh
Stacy Rhoads
Natasha Ross
Michelle Shaver
Vivedhini (Vini) Singaravelu
Julie Snyder
Mary Syron
Kayla Underkoffler
Emily Whitaker
Connie Zulick

And a very special thank you to all of our sponsors for supporting this event and helping us create opportunities for women to connect, learn, and grow.

To everyone who joined us, thank you for being part of the conversation and community. We’re grateful for the connections made, ideas shared, and inspiration carried forward.

Next up, Pittsburgh! ✨

Next STEM-UP Network Virtual Networking Session - Show Up as You: The Power of Authenticity, Relationships & Representation.

Join us in November for an honest, practical, and interactive conversation led by Cheroc Slater, Sr. Customer Success Account Manager at Microsoft. Cheroc hated her first programming class. Twenty-five years later, she’s built a career in technology and landed at Microsoft. Along the way, a teacher, a strong network, and trust-building relationships helped shape her path.

✨ Come ready for real conversation, practical takeaways, and an honest look at what career growth can actually look like.

Because you can’t be what you can’t see.

📅 Date: November 10, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:00 - 1:00 PM (EST)
🔗 Register here: https://loom.ly/s870JrE

📚 A reminder that our Fall Book Club is coming up!

Join us as we come together to read and discuss "Women in Steel, Women of Steel: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow" by Karin J. Lund.

This is an opportunity to connect with others, share perspectives, and explore the stories and experiences of women in an industry that has helped shape our past and continues to shape our future.

Whether you’re already reading along or looking for a reason to pick up your next book, we’d love to have you join the conversation!

Add our Fall Book Club to your calendar! 📖✨
🗓 When: Thursdays, October 15, November 19, and December 17
🕡 Time: 12:00 - 1:00 PM EST
📍 Where: Virtual
➡️ Register here: https://loom.ly/ClSNSGY

✨ Tomorrow is the day! ✨

We’re so excited to welcome our NextGen Women in STEM community to Harrisburg tomorrow!

To all of our attendees, we hope you have an incredible, inspiring, and cup-filling day filled with meaningful connections, fresh perspectives, and conversations that leave you feeling connected, empowered, and inspired. 💜

We can’t wait to learn, connect, and grow together, and see what happens when incredible women in STEM come together in one room.

See you tomorrow, Harrisburg! 💜✨

Thank you for joining us! 💜

A huge thank you to Karin J. Lund for facilitating such an engaging and thought-provoking STEM-UP Network Virtual Networking conversation around THE WORKPLACE RESET: Rethinking the Way We Work-and the Way We Work With Each Other. Together, we explored what it means to rethink not only how we work, but how we work with each other.

Thank you to everyone who joined the conversation, shared your perspectives, and helped make the discussion meaningful. We hope you walked away with new ideas, fresh perspectives, and practical takeaways to bring back to your workplace.

Real work. Real talk. Real results. ✨

We’re grateful to have such an incredible community of women and allies who are willing to keep learning, connecting, and growing together. 💜