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Careers in STEM are critical in shaping the world we live in as we become increasingly dependent on technology.  Women currently make up only 25% of the STEM workforce and in some areas are still making 20% less than their male counterparts. Though the women in STEM movement has gained momentum in recent years there is still work that needs to be done to close the gender gap in these fields.

Right here in our very own college women are making strides to ensure they are heard and representation continues to grow in STEM. These are inspiring women advocating for equality and representation.

Krystal Horton is a Sophomore in Aerospace Engineering with minors in electrical engineering and leadership studies. Horton’s passion for engineering stems from her childhood; she was always interested in legos and robotics. Krystal says that on her journey in STEM, she has not faced any setbacks related to gender inequality in STEM, “I am very fortunate to have had a pleasant experience and there have not been any limitations,  I am not going to change my course because I am a woman”. Krystal not only is a full-time student but is also currently interning at Lockheed Martin as a Space Systems Intern. She says she is able to manage the demands of her busy schedule because she has a really supportive team that encourages her to prioritize school.   

Krystal also manages a blog and STEM Instagram @krystalhorton, which provides her with an outlet to talk to other women in STEM and to engage with other people in the field. Today she uses her platform to reach out and expose as many people as possible to STEM. Her hope is to engage students who may not have active exposure to STEM and create content that is both exciting and informative. Krystal’s advice to any student pursuing STEM is to “find a good support system. It is a very difficult field and I recommend finding friends or family to talk to about anything not related in engineering and [to] take a break from engineering.”

Yamelit Medina Lopez is a 1st generation student and a third-year E+ Mechanical Engineering Student with an emphasis in STEM education whose parents have always supported her and pushed her to pursue higher education. But her journey in STEM hasn’t always been easy, she said, “In the beginning, I felt like I wasn’t an engineer. Being a minority in the field of engineering is hard and I felt like I was always trying to prove myself, but now I strive to make room for myself in engineering”. Yamelit now spends her time doing outreach to communities, seeking to help students combine their love of math and science. 

She is currently working on an outreach network event for her old high school, giving students the chance to meet some wonderful female academics in STEM fields, and ask questions they have about pursuing their own goals. Yamelit is also the Vice President of SHPE MAES this year and enjoys being able to do outreach in the BOLD society. Yamelit’s advice to young women pursuing STEM is “Don’t talk yourself out of the room you deserve to be in, build relationships with mentors and your friends in STEM.” 

Since interviewing Krystal and Yamelit, I have been spending a lot of time thinking about what needs to change in the world so that more women can reach their full potential. I believe the change starts with    awareness; it’s time to speak up, as Krystal and Yamielit have. We all need to advocate to increase the presence of women in STEM and that means being vulnerable and speaking about our struggles, successes, and hopes for the future. 

One way to mitigate and work on closing the gender gap is to make great mentors and role models, who are willing to talk and give advice, accessible in the field. Students should think about finding a woman, or even a man, whom they admire and can learn from, someone who will share information about how they got to where they are and offer advice about how to face obstacles and struggles.  Another way to close the gap is to actively help others get experience and open doors for the people who follow behind you. We can do this by showing the value of STEM and by creating a non-competitive environment where we encourage one another to succeed.

First photo: courtesy of Krystal Horton 

Second photo: courtesy of Yamelit Medina lopez