I have organized the Womxn in STEM Book club at WPI from the fall of 2023 to fall 2024. The Womxn in STEM Book Club at WPI aims to encourage open dialogues between women in higher education STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and facilitate a safe space for professional and personal development amongst other supportive women.

Initiatives that create strong networks that encourage and support women in STEM workforces are crucial. In STEM, women account for only 34 percent of the workforce and are twice as likely to leave their jobs compared to women in other fields. The Womxn in STEM Book Club aims to encourage open dialogues between women in higher education STEM and facilitate a safe space for professional and personal development amongst other supportive women.

With the support of the Women’s Impact Network, the Womxn in STEM Book Club is going into its third year at WPI. In those three years, there have been over 50 members in the book club. These women are graduate students and post-doctoral fellows from departments all over WPI’s campus who would otherwise have not connected with people outside of their department.

Since joining the book club, people have a stronger connection to WPI. “I do feel more connected to other fellow grad students at WPI, especially in this more friendly setting where there is always a discussion topic to start a conversation with others, thanks to the book we read.” Other state, “I have met people and made friends at the book club and definitely feel part of a community that I hadn’t felt before.”

Participants in the Womxn in STEM Book Club report having a stronger network of support since joining the group. When asked “I had a strong network of support,” prior to joining the book club 58% of participants agreed with this statement, compared to 79% agreement since joining the book club.