TU Hill-Lopes Scholars Program hosts trailblazer, advocate for women of color in STEM

By Rebecca Kirkman on April 6, 2022

The Hill-Lopes Scholars Program and the Jess and Mildred Fisher College of Science & Mathematics at Towson University welcome Malika Grayson, founder of STEMinist Empowered and program manager at Northrup Grumman, to speak on the “ABCs of STEM Success” and her book, “Hooded: A Black Girl’s Guide to the Ph.D.,” at the Science Complex Commons April 7 at 6 p.m.

Grayson’s visit is the third in a series of keynote speakers the Hill-Lopes Scholars Program has brought to the university since launching in fall 2019 and will be open to the entire campus community. To RSVP, visit the event page. Previously, the program hosted Yale astrophysicist Meg Urry for a discussion on black holes and galaxies and Rita Colwell, the first woman to helm the National Science Foundation.

In 2016 Grayson was the first Black American woman to graduate with a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Cornell. Her experiences inspired the founding of STEMinist Empowered—an organization focused on supporting women of color who pursue graduate degrees, through consultancy and mentorship. 

“Dr. Grayson's career is a good example for our students,” says Kristin Pinkowski, Hill-Lopes Scholars Program coordinator, noting that after earning her doctorate, Grayson entered industry in addition to becoming an entrepreneur. “It shows that once our students graduate, whether they go on to earn a master’s or Ph.D., they have plenty of options, one of which is working for themselves and lifting others up.”

Bringing in speakers like Grayson supports the Hill-Lopes Scholars Program’s mission of advancing science through research as well as Towson University’s role as a leading scientific institute. It also offers motivation to students embarking on professional careers in STEM. 

“Hearing success stories from speakers like Dr. Grayson or anyone similar to me gives me the motivation to persevere and overcome any challenges that come my way,” says Esther Adelola, a Hill-Lopes Scholar majoring in molecular biology, biochemistry and bioinformatics. “In addition to trusting God and motivating myself, hearing their stories make my ‘impossibles’ seem achievable.”

As part of the program, Hill-Lopes Scholars read Grayson’s book, an account of her experience as a doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering.

“One crucial lesson I learned was to not settle but to be confident and upfront when it comes to our needs,” says Glory Omodia, a Hill-Lopes Scholar double majoring in biology and psychology. “I loved how genuine she was in highlighting the difficulties of not only being in a Ph.D. program but also being a woman of color in the majorly male-dominated field of STEM. She constantly talks about the necessity of a tribe that supports you.”

After the talk, Grayson will sign copies of “Hooded,” which is available for purchase at the Towson UStore.

Upcoming Women in STEM Wednesday Career Chats

The Hill-Lopes Scholars Program will host two additional speakers this spring.

Teal Richards-Dimitrie ’11
Herpetologist and Program Manager, Spatial Informatics Group
Wed., April 13, 1 p.m. | Register for webinar

Teal Richards-Dimitrie graduated from TU with a master’s in biological sciences in 2011. She is a business development specialist and project manager for Spatial Informatics Group. A herpetologist by training with experience working on a wide range of wildlife and habitat projects, she has employed a variety of quantitative skills as well as mapping and technical writing throughout her career, for agency reporting and peer-reviewed publication.

Havala Pye, Ph.D.
Research Scientist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Wed., April 27, 11 a.m. | Science Complex Room 2123

As a research scientist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Havala Pye’s work focuses on fine particles and other airborne pollutants that can impact human health and climate change. In this talk, Pye will describe the personal and professional experiences that shaped her career, examples of how science is used in research at a regulatory agency and what it is like to work for the federal government as a scientist.