As part ofDeVry University'sNational HerWorld Month, students from Detroit area high schools participated in the educational and confidence-building HerWorld sessions held on March 8, 2012 at theDeVry University Southfield Campus. The program originated and is hosted by DeVry University educators to help young women learn about science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers and hear from women who have excelled in their fields. Participating students representing schools and school programs included:
Breithaupt Career and Technical Center
Detroit International Academy for Young Women
Mumford High School
Northwestern High School
Ford High School
Osborn Upper School of Global Communications and Culture
University High School Academy
Southfield-Lathrup High School
Western International High School
Hyland Park Community High School
The afternoon session included local female leaders LaDonna Duhart, Certified Cisco Engineer and DeVry University Professor, and Dr. Judi Brown Clarke, a U.S. Olympic runner and chair of theMichigan Afterschool Partnership STEM committee.
"I would love to see a better partnership between the community and schools that you had people that are professionals come into the schools and share their profession and those different skill sets, how important they are, and what they look like," stated Dr. Clarke. She also hopes that her participation in the event will provide the students tools for "overcoming the barriers of an under-performing school or being under-prepared for college."
The evening session focused on women empowerment and featured local female leaders Nancy Huber, General Motors Program Engineering Manager, Tammy Jordan, GE Aviation U.S., and Brenda Lawrence, Mayor, City of Southfield. High school students and Girl Scouts were joined by current and prospective DeVry University students.
Lawrence not only described the challenges of working in a male-dominant profession, but the Mayor also gave inspiring advice to the audience. "My grandmother once told me that as a woman, it is very important to have the ability to take care of herself," Lawrence remembered. She outlined three areas of focus: be selfishly in love with yourself, forgive yourself, and have something bigger that you believe in.
To read the full article written by Andrianna Alexander, visitExaminer.com
