Women's History Month Distinguished Lecture and Graduate Luncheon to Empower Women in STEM

Courtesy of Felecia Nave

Felecia M. Nave

The Society of Women Engineers, Graduate Society of Women Engineers and College of Engineering's Office of Community and Engagement are proud to announce the upcoming Women's History Month Distinguished Lecture, set to take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 28, in White Engineering Hall room 209. The event seeks to inspire and empower students, with a particular focus on women, to pursue careers in STEM fields.

The significance of fostering a diverse workforce, particularly with women represented in engineering, cannot be overstated, said Patrice Storey, assistant director of the college's Office of Community and Engagement.

"Women excelling in engineering function as inspirational figures for aspiring women engineers. Witnessing their success can ignite the ambition of others to embark on similar career trajectories, thereby fostering greater representation within the industry," she said.

Felecia Nave, a distinguished professor, researcher and former president of Alcorn State University, will be the guest speaker. She will provide invaluable insights into navigating the intricacies of engineering and academia.

Nave will also attend a graduate luncheon where students can informally chat and ask Nave questions about academia and industry. This event will be held at noon on March 28 in the Upchurch Conference Room, Bell Engineering Center room 3162.

Nave's experience and leadership within historically Black colleges and universities and corporate America provide a unique perspective. She highlights the significance of diversity and inclusion in STEM fields and advocates for increased participation of women in engineering programs. Nave has spent over 20 years serving the nation's HBCUs. She has served as an administrator and faculty member at Alcorn State University, North Carolina Central University and Prairie View A&M University. She has industry experience working at Proctor & Gamble and CF Industries (formerly MS Chemical Corporation).

Nave has a proven record of achievement focused on governmental relations, increasing strategic partnerships with Fortune 500 corporations, governmental agencies, foundations and philanthropic giving. As president of Alcorn State University, Nave helped the institution garner the most significant gift from a single donor — a $25 million unrestricted donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. In addition, Nave helped to secure a $500,000 donation for scholarships from an alumnus and a $1 million endowment donation from the Bernard Osher Foundation to support students who dropped out of college.

Women's History Month is a crucial time to celebrate the contributions of women in engineering and honor the achievements of women across all fields, said Shantel Romer, president of the Graduate Society of Women Engineers.

"It serves as a powerful reminder of their impact and resilience throughout history. I'm proud that at the University of Arkansas, we have a dedicated space to celebrate the accomplishments of women, emphasizing our commitment to inclusivity and diversity within STEM and in every facet of our community," she said.

The lecture is sponsored by the U of A Associated Student Government. Associate professor Wen Zhang and Storey are the advisers for the Society of Women Engineers and the Graduate Society of Women Engineers.