The SWE Graduate Community would like to recognize GradSWE Illinois with a GradSWE Established Group Award for their continued commitment to the SWE Core Value of Mutual Support by fostering a supportive environment and opportunities for networking throughout their programming, specifically the Women Empowered in STEM (weSTEM) Conference.
Established in 2012, GradsWE Illinois was started by a group of female graduate students at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign to promote diversity in graduate education in STEM. The group has continued to evolve over the years to meet the changing needs of the graduate student community. Recent innovations have included establishing a dedicated Outreach Coordinator committee position to focus on projects contributing to the campus and community at large as well as establishing a stronger, more strategic social media presence. GradSWE Illinois is a committee integrated within the greater SWE Illinois section. The GradSWE chair is a member of the SWE Illinois board and leads a team of twelve graduate students tasked with coordinating funding, outreach, lunches, social media, and more. A portion of the team is dedicated to the annual weSTEM Conference.
GradSWE Illinois’ flagship event, weSTEM, is a one-day conference designed to provide a forum for women to inspire one another to be leaders and unique contributors throughout their careers. Over 100 graduate and prospective graduate students from across the country attended the conference, now in its eighth year, this February. Accomplished speakers and guests with advanced STEM degrees shared their paths through their professional careers and provided insight into their successes and failures. Keynote, panel, and workshop topics included the importance of recruiting men as allies, non-traditional STEM careers, overcoming imposter syndrome and much more. Due to the intentionally intimate size of the conference, attendees are able to have one-on-one discussions with speakers, as well as network with their peers. WeSTEM is made possible by the dedication of the weSTEM committee, commitment of the volunteers, and financial support from academic and corporate partners.
Other notable programming includes the GradSWE Lunch Series - enriching the graduate learning experience with speakers sharing diverse and relevant topics for professional and personal development. Topics include personal finance, prioritizing your health, emotional intelligence, and salary negotiation. In addition, monthly social events provide a platform for attendees to get to know each other in an informal setting, as well as discuss graduate school related challenges and provide encouragement for each other. Events include happy hours, holiday parties, arts and crafts nights, etc. In an effort to inspire a broader audience next year, GradSWE Illinois is collaborating with other underrepresented graduate STEM student organizations at the University of Illinois to create a semester-long program to educate students who want to develop their skills to be lifelong allies for minorities in STEM.
GradSWE Illinois is an example of the SWE Core Value of Mutual Support by providing opportunities for developing personal and professional relationships and expanding their reach on and beyond their campus. From informal social events to the more structured lunch series, GradSWE Illinois provides multiple opportunities for graduate students across STEM disciplines to share life experiences, develop supportive networks, and prepare for their future careers as innovative and creative problem solvers. Beyond this, GradSWE Illinois encourages mutual support by bringing in speakers and graduate students from around the country for weSTEM, sending an increasing number of members to the annual SWE conference, and developing a stronger presence on social media.
Congratulations to GradSWE Illinois! To learn more about their committee and events, check out their website or find them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn! For more information on the weSTEM Conference, check out the weSTEM website.
If you would like to get involved with GradSWE Illinois, you can sign up for their GradSWEekly newsletter or check out their calendar here.
If you would like to get involved with GradSWE Illinois, you can sign up for their GradSWEekly newsletter or check out their calendar here.
