Naugatuck Valley Community College has invited six accomplished female scientists to speak with students at the fifth annual Scott Lawrence Pond Memorial Women in Science Seminar on Wed., April 3, from 11 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. The seminar will be held in Room E440 of Ekstrom Hall, 750 Chase Parkway, Waterbury.

Women in Science provides a forum in which local women scientists share about their work and describe their personal and intellectual journey toward joining their respective fields. NVCC students and approximately 75 local middle school girls will attend to learn more about science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) career paths. The public is also invited to register for the free event by calling 203-575-8065.

“We are very pleased to host this event for the fifth time,” said NVCC President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D. “We are particularly glad to do so this year in concert with the very exciting Connecticut State Bio Initiative, which is bringing the Jackson Labs to the UConn Health Center campus. This is an excellent time for women to consider a STEM career in our state and programs like the Women in Science seminar are introducing our students and local middle school students to the fascinating career opportunities available for women in STEM fields.”

A brief luncheon will be provided following the event to encourage one-on-one conversations with the speakers, who include:
• Dr. Ruth Washington, founder and president of Forward Education Consulting, LLC, and former professor of molecular and cell biology at the University of Connecticut (UConn), Storrs
• Keshia Ashe, chemical engineering Ph.D. candidate at UConn Health Center and co-founder of ManyMentors, a nonprofit organization focused on connecting middle and high school students interested in STEM fields with college-aged mentors
• Dr. Carol Rizzolo, professor and researcher with a focus on the psychology and mythology of death
• Dr. Yih-Woei Fridell, assistant professor of molecular biology in the Department of Allied Health Sciences at UConn with a research focus on the aging process
• Mary Angelicola, former NVCC and Waterbury State Tech student with a career focus in industrial and commercial environmental management and manufacturing engineering.
• Rabia Baz, chemical engineer employed at Evonik Industries, chair for the American Institute of Chemical Engineers in New Haven and NVCC graduate

Lawrence and Gloria Pond established the annual Scott Pond Memorial Women in Science Seminar in memory of their son five years ago.  It is with deepest regret that the College mourns the passing of Gloria Pond this past November. In addition to the annual Scott Pond Memorial Women in Science Seminar, the Ponds also established the Scott L. Pond Memorial Scholarship Fund to help women and minority students persist in their science degree pursuits. 

For more information, visit nv.edu or call 203-575-8065.

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Naugatuck Valley Community College serves Beacon Falls, Bethel, Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Cheshire, Danbury, Middlebury, Naugatuck, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Oxford, Prospect, Roxbury, Sherman, Southbury, Thomaston, Washington, Waterbury, Watertown and Woodbury. The College is located on a 110-acre campus at 750 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, Conn., and in Danbury at 183 Main Street. The College is one of 17 institutions governed by the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education. Visit nv.edu for more information.