About
Sistahs in Science is a student organization with the objective to promote the advancement of ALANA women at Mount Holyoke College. According to S&E Indicators (1993), in 1991 women earned 44% of undergraduate degrees in the sciences, and engineering and women represented only 19% of the science and engineering workforce. To break this trend, Sistahs was designed to help integrate female students into the scientific community at MHC by providing continual dialogue between faculty and students, attending scientific conferences, and sponsoring events such as career and graduate school information sessions.
Sistahs' members belong to majors such as: psychology, biochemistry, chemistry, biology, geology, physics, mathematics, statistics, computer science, engineering, and neuroscience. Also, included are those interested in pre-health careers such as pre-med, pre-dental, and pre-vet. Intersted non-majors are also welcome.
History
Sistahs started in 1994 with four MHC science majors in biochemistry, chemistry, and math as a support study group. It expanded into a database supplying information to women of color. It is funded through financial assistance from a GE grant and Professor Sheila Browne. Sistahs helps women of color in science and engineering to seek summer internships and consider professional careers for the future.