A Brief History of Palo Alto AWIS
Founded In 1983, the Palo Alto chapter of AWIS was established by Rivka Sherman-Gold, who served as AWIS PA's first president. Rivka is still active in biotechnology in the Bay Area as an investor and entrepreneur. Currently AWIS Palo Alto is one of 57 AWIS chapters nationwide and represents close to 5% of the total AWIS National membership. Now there are even more networking opportunities with four northern California chapters (East Bay 1992, Sacramento Valley 1994, San Francisco 2003) in which to participate.
In 1992, Ellen Weaver, Professor Emeritis of Biology at San Jose State University and member of AWIS Palo Alto, was selected to serve as President of National AWIS. After her two-year term, Ellen was honored by the Palo Alto Chapter as the recipient of the first Judith Pool Award, which honors senior level women who have been successful academic researchers and mentors. A second award, the Ellen Weaver Award, was created in her name to recognize young women early in their scientific careers who are also active in their community. These two awards are among the honors presented at the annual NCC-AWIS Awards Banquet held in April.
Activities
Programs: We gather monthly at Xerox Parc in Palo Alto to network and learn about topics ranging from professional development to basic science.
Mentoring: The program was given its foothold in 1991 by the leadership efforts of three Presidents, Beth Hutchins Ph.D. (3rd), Martha Murari Ph.D. (4th), and Sherrie Wilkins Ph.D. (5th). Currently the mentoring program pairs 75-80 Stanford graduate students (from over 30 departments) with mentors. Each mentee gets a mentor who agrees to meet with her for a year and work on any issues or questions the student may have. Additionally, monthly meetings provide a forum to learn, share, and meet the other mentors and protégées.
Community Outreach: Additionally we take part in outreach activities including judging science fairs, taking part in “Take Flight for Kids” technology extravaganza which has a main goal of attracting girls into STEM (science/technology/engineering/math).
Scholarships: We also award scholarships to at least two women who are currently at a community college but are looking to transfer to a 4-year degree program. These women must be studying science and are chosen by our scholarship committee In recalling the creation of AWIS, I would like to leave you with the thought that it only takes the concerted efforts of a small group of individuals working together to successfully initiate a desired change.
Past Presidents
1st '85-'87 Rivka Sherman-Gold (Founder)
2nd '87-'88 Ruth Moser
3rd '88-'90 Beth Hutchins
4th '91-'93 Martha Murari
5th '93-'95 Sherrie Wilkins
6th '95-'97 Cynthia Soumoff
7th '97-'99 Susan Bernhard
8th '99- '00 Lisa Wang
9th '00-'02 Annette Lewis
10th '02-'04 Michelle Boytim
11th '05-'07 Mirella Bucci
12th '07-'09 Neesha Survani
13th '09-'10 Martina Blank
14th '10-'12 Ashley Fouts
15th '12-'16 Reem Yunis
Brief History of National AWIS
In 1971, a small group of women academics met in a discussion at the FASEB meeting in Chicago about how few women were in science. From these discussions, the organization AWIS was born. Judith Poole and Neena Schwartz were elected the first co-Presidents of National AWIS. This was shortly before Title IX, which among other things, led to the introduction of coeducation at several of the Ivy League schools. The original goals of AWIS were focused on: sharing information through a newsletter, keeping track of professional women through a national registry, and forming a legislative "watchdog" committee to monitor bills for non-compliance with affirmative action. These are goals that National AWIS continues to this day. Advocacy achievements:
AWIS President Joan Herbers Meets First Lady Michelle Obama June 2010
AWIS Letter urging the Senate to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, HR 1519.
Resolution “Expressing the support of the House of Representatives for efforts to increase diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and recognizing the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) for its 40 years of service to broadening the participation of underrepresented groups in STEM." House Resolution 91.
Support Resolution “to provide for fulfilling the potential of women in academic science and engineering, and for other purposes”. HR889.
There are approximately 50 chapters of AWIS throughout the United States. National AWIS supports the local chapters by offering web-based programs to members such as mentor-net and the new STEMiNAR series.
Endowment Drive
In 1992, Ellen Weaver, Professor Emeritis of Biology at San Jose State University and member of AWIS Palo Alto, was selected to serve as President of National AWIS. After her two-year term, Ellen was honored by the Palo Alto Chapter as the recipient of the first Judith Pool Award, which honors senior level women who have been successful academic researchers and mentors. A second award, the Ellen Weaver Award, was created in her name to recognize young women early in their scientific careers who are also active in their community. These two awards are among the honors presented at the annual NCC-AWIS Awards Banquet held in April.
Activities
Programs: We gather monthly at Xerox Parc in Palo Alto to network and learn about topics ranging from professional development to basic science.
Mentoring: The program was given its foothold in 1991 by the leadership efforts of three Presidents, Beth Hutchins Ph.D. (3rd), Martha Murari Ph.D. (4th), and Sherrie Wilkins Ph.D. (5th). Currently the mentoring program pairs 75-80 Stanford graduate students (from over 30 departments) with mentors. Each mentee gets a mentor who agrees to meet with her for a year and work on any issues or questions the student may have. Additionally, monthly meetings provide a forum to learn, share, and meet the other mentors and protégées.
Community Outreach: Additionally we take part in outreach activities including judging science fairs, taking part in “Take Flight for Kids” technology extravaganza which has a main goal of attracting girls into STEM (science/technology/engineering/math).
Scholarships: We also award scholarships to at least two women who are currently at a community college but are looking to transfer to a 4-year degree program. These women must be studying science and are chosen by our scholarship committee In recalling the creation of AWIS, I would like to leave you with the thought that it only takes the concerted efforts of a small group of individuals working together to successfully initiate a desired change.
Past Presidents
1st '85-'87 Rivka Sherman-Gold (Founder)
2nd '87-'88 Ruth Moser
3rd '88-'90 Beth Hutchins
4th '91-'93 Martha Murari
5th '93-'95 Sherrie Wilkins
6th '95-'97 Cynthia Soumoff
7th '97-'99 Susan Bernhard
8th '99- '00 Lisa Wang
9th '00-'02 Annette Lewis
10th '02-'04 Michelle Boytim
11th '05-'07 Mirella Bucci
12th '07-'09 Neesha Survani
13th '09-'10 Martina Blank
14th '10-'12 Ashley Fouts
15th '12-'16 Reem Yunis
Brief History of National AWIS
In 1971, a small group of women academics met in a discussion at the FASEB meeting in Chicago about how few women were in science. From these discussions, the organization AWIS was born. Judith Poole and Neena Schwartz were elected the first co-Presidents of National AWIS. This was shortly before Title IX, which among other things, led to the introduction of coeducation at several of the Ivy League schools. The original goals of AWIS were focused on: sharing information through a newsletter, keeping track of professional women through a national registry, and forming a legislative "watchdog" committee to monitor bills for non-compliance with affirmative action. These are goals that National AWIS continues to this day. Advocacy achievements:
AWIS President Joan Herbers Meets First Lady Michelle Obama June 2010
AWIS Letter urging the Senate to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, HR 1519.
Resolution “Expressing the support of the House of Representatives for efforts to increase diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and recognizing the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) for its 40 years of service to broadening the participation of underrepresented groups in STEM." House Resolution 91.
Support Resolution “to provide for fulfilling the potential of women in academic science and engineering, and for other purposes”. HR889.
There are approximately 50 chapters of AWIS throughout the United States. National AWIS supports the local chapters by offering web-based programs to members such as mentor-net and the new STEMiNAR series.
Endowment Drive