At AAUW STEM Conference, 500 Inland Empire girls hear a message: You belong here

More than 500 eighth grade girls filled the pews of the University of Redlands’ Memorial Chapel on Wednesday morning as they waited for the 32nd annual AAUW STEM Conference to begin.

For many, it was their first time on a college campus.

By the end of the day, organizers hoped it wouldn’t be their last.

The single-day conference, hosted by the American Association of University Women’s Redlands branch, brought students from the Beaumont, Redlands and Yucaipa-Calimesa unified school districts together to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and math — fields where women remain underrepresented but where job growth and salaries continue to outpace many other professions.

“I’m just hoping they have a day where they feel confident and feel like they can learn to do whatever they want,” said Pam Ford, co-chair of the conference.

That message — you belong here — was repeated throughout the morning.

In her welcome, AAUW Redlands co-president Amy Bisek told students that STEM jobs pay, on average, 71% more than non-STEM careers and are growing at a rate of 24%.

“These are really innovative jobs that solve real world complex issues,” Bisek said.

University of Redlands Provost Adrienne McCormick expanded on that idea.

“STEM is not only about equations, it’s about solving problems, helping people, protecting our planet, building new ideas, and it starts with curiosity,” McCormick said. “We want you to know that you belong in these spaces.”

The keynote speaker, award-winning author Erica Alfaro, drew cheers when she introduced herself.

“I am so proud to be a daughter of immigrant farm workers,” she said.

Alfaro shared how she became the first woman in her family to earn a college degree, telling students that perseverance and mindset can change a life’s trajectory.

“The biggest disability someone can have is a bad attitude,” she said. “You were not meant to fit in. You were meant to stand out.”

After the morning assembly, the girls dispersed across campus to attend two of 24 workshops led by local professional women.

In one classroom, orthopedic sports surgeon Dr. Becky Griffith laid out power tools and artificial joint samples on a table, inviting students to try suturing techniques.

“We are 7, maybe 8% of women practicing orthopedic surgery,” Griffith said. “You don’t need a lot of muscle to do something like this. You just need a little finesse.”

She told the students that skills learned from unexpected places – video games and sewing, for example — can translate into surgical precision.

In another workshop, financial advisor Erin McMullen challenged students to think about the difference between being rich and being wealthy.

“If you want choices and freedom, you want wealth,” McMullen said, encouraging them to think long-term about financial independence.

“I think it’s an incredibly powerful tool to let these children see what they can do from a young age to build wealth,” she said later. “I think it’s part of the thing that can close the wealth gap.”

For eighth grader Emmeline McMullen, the day broadened her sense of possibility.

“A lot of the talks have opened up my mind to a lot of different career opportunities that I have through STEM,” she said.

Others left with more concrete plans. Marley Trost said she is now considering becoming a physical therapist.

“I realized it might be a fun career to do,” she said.

For volunteer Sally Trost, who has helped with the conference for 20 years, watching her granddaughter attend brought the event full circle.

“I was raised in a time when no one ever mentioned to me that I should look at STEM occupations and that was always my strength,” Trost said. “Historically girls have not been included in these kinds of occupations.”

For 32 years, the conference has tried to change that narrative, reaching girls just as they begin choosing high school classes that can shape their futures.

On Wednesday, the message was clear: the doors are open.