Trinity Scientists were out in force on Capitol Hill on July 24 for a Women’s Policy Institute STEM Fair.  (STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)  Trinity’s delegation included Assistant Provost Dr. Shizuka Hsieh, Clare Boothe Luce Professors Dr. Kerry Luse, Dr. Patrice Moss, Dr. Karobi Moitra, Dr. Mia Thompson Ray, as well as Trinity Alumna and former Clare Boothe Luce Scolar Brittni Davis ’14, and Trinity students Asya Tucker, Michelle Jaldin, Sonia Garcia and Charlene Valdez.  Trinity was the only university participating in this event that drew members of Congress, corporate sponsors and advocacy organizations for women in science.

We are very grateful to the Clare Boothe Luce Program at the Henry Luce Foundation for contributing to Trinity’s presence at this event, and for making the amazing Luce professorships and scholarships possible at Trinity.

During the program, Trinity students were able to meet with numerous members of Congress and members of their staffs.  Ambassador Connie Morella, former member of Congress and also a former member of Trinity’s Board of Trustees.

Trinity students also met with Maisha Leek ’03 (second from right, above), chief of staff to Congressman Chakka Fattah and also a member of Trinity’s Board of Trustees.   Members of Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi’s staff also joined the Trinity delegation for a photo, below.  Thanks to Diane Dewhirst (right) and Patricia Ross (third from left).

Since 1988, the Clare Boothe Luce Program has supported distinguished professorships and scholarships to promote women in Math, Science and Engineering at Trinity and universities across the country.  Mrs. Luce was an amazing woman, a writer, a journalist, a playwright, an ambassador, a woman’s rights advocate and so much more.  She saw a great need to support women students and faculty in math and science at the nations’ major universities, and in her will she left a magnificent legacy for this purpose.  Part of her bequest designated a smaller group of 14 schools, colleges and universities for a special endowment, and Trinity is part of that group.

Thanks to the long support of the Luce Program, Trinity’s programs in the sciences are booming, and we are now poised to start construction of the long-awaited academic center that includes 8 new science laboratories as well as labs for the health professions and new classrooms for all disciplines.  Promoting women’s success in Mathematics and Science is a vital dimension of Trinity’s mission in our women’s college, and all units of the university benefit from this very strong focus on developing successful women scientists.

Congratulations to all faculty, students and alumnae who led the way for Trinity on the Hill!