SOCIETY OF WOMEN
A TEACHER’S
PERSPECTIVE:
IN SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS
CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY
For the last 10 years, the Society of Women
in Sciences and Mathematics (SWSM), a
COSAM-based organization, has been committed
to increasing awareness of the opportunities
available for women in the fields of sciences and
mathematics.
SWSM Scholarship Recipients
SWSM began in 2006 by benefactor Sandy Logan
and former COSAM dean Stewart Schneller. A
major focus of the college’s strategic plan for the
first decade of the 21st century was placing a high
priority on diversity, including gender. Logan
stepped forward with a leadership vision focusing
on women in sciences and mathematics, and the
organization has since become part of COSAM’s
enrichment program.
2007
Erin Percival
COSAM graduation year: ’07
Major: Biomedical Sciences
SWSM continues to grow and evolve throughout
the years, and the organization has provided more
than $10,000 in scholarships and awards to female
students and faculty.
The annual SWSM Symposium, a one-day
experience that showcases distinguished women
in the fields of sciences and mathematics, has
impacted hundreds of female students from area
high schools. Each year, the symposium allows
these students the opportunity to learn more about
careers in the fields of sciences and mathematics
through panel discussions, breakout seminars, career
corner representation, and a keynote address from
the Marie W. Wooten Distinguished Speaker.
We look forward to the next 10 years of SWSM
and say “thank you” to SWSM supporters and
friends. The impact you have made is substantial,
and we hope to continue assisting young girls
in making a difference through sciences and
mathematics.
To find out more about the Society of Women in
Sciences and Mathematics, contact the COSAM
Office of Development at 334.844.2931
or [email protected].
2006
Amanda Savrda
COSAM graduation year: ’08
Major: Geology
2008
Brittany Barnes
COSAM graduation year: ’13
Major: Pre-Pharmacy
Anne Marie Hodge
COSAM graduation year: ’09
Major: Zoology
2009
Sallie Martin Sells
COSAM graduation year: ’09
Major: Zoology
Jessica Rian Williams
COSAM graduation year: ’10
Major: Biomedical Sciences
2010
Amy Carol Haley
COSAM graduation year: ’09
Major: Zoology
MiShawna Carlisle Dinkins
COSAM graduation year: ’15
Major: Pre-Pharmacy
2012
Maria Campbell
COSAM graduation year: ’14
Major: Pre-Pharmacy
2013
Caley Allen
COSAM graduation year: ’13
Major: Chemistry
Rachel McKinnon
COSAM graduation year: ’14
Major: Biomedical Sciences
2014
Emily Tanner
COSAM graduation year: ’16
Major: Biomedical Sciences
2015
Emily Kennedy
COSAM graduation year: ’16
Major: Biomedical Sciences
SWSM Symposium is an invaluable experience
Marie W. Wooten
Distinguished Speakers
2006 – Rossanne Philen, senior medical officer at the
Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta
2007 – Kathryn C. Thornton, former NASA astronaut
and professor at the University of Virginia
“From my perspective, the SWSM Symposium is a great way
to show my students that there is more to a science career
than what they see in a classroom. I really liked that I could let
the girls explore on their own for a few hours in an educational,
exciting environment, while feeling confident that they are learning
something of more importance than strict content knowledge that
likely will be forgotten soon.
2008 – Katherine Seley-Radtke, professor in the
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
2009 – Kathy Pearson, senior consultant and director
of executive education for Decision Strategies
International and adjunct senior fellow at the Leonard
Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University
of Pennsylvania
2010 – Cynthia Carver DeKlotz, physician,
Washington, D.C., area
2011 – no symposium
2012 – Anda Ray, vice president, environment and chief
sustainability officer, Electric Power Research Institute
2013 – Emily Pauli, director of research, Clearview
Cancer Institute
2014 – Sandra Rattray, vice president - Head Global
Regulatory Affairs Oncology at Johnson & Johnson
2015 – Laura Folse, executive vice president for
response and environmental restoration at BP Gulf
Coast Restoration Organization
2016 – Cary Gannon, board-certified podiatric surgeon,
Nashville, Tennessee, area and founder of AILA
Cosmetics
While talking with three of my students that attended last year,
they told me they had never before seen so many female scientists
in one area, and that was really exciting for them. All three of
the girls were already interested in potentially pursuing a career
in the sciences and medical field, and the SWSM event further
encouraged them to continue on that path. One of my students
pointed out that she rarely hears about historical women in science
and did not realize until the luncheon what a big impact they had.
I look forward to attending the symposium again this year.”
Emily Antoniak is a teacher at Notasulga High School in
Lee County, Alabama.
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Journey/Spring 2016
College of Sciences and Mathematics
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