Women's Professional Development Program in Princeton NJ
https://africanwomeninstem.com/
African Women in STEM started, as a mentorship initiative and progressed to, one-on-one conversations with other African Women in STEM who have had similar experiences in the course of their careers. Through those conversations, I identified the need for a dedicated space that would provide resources, and networking opportunities for women, as well as promote awareness and advocacy for a more inclusive STEM ecosystem.
We are a thriving community, united by our shared passion and the desire to make a difference. Through education, mentoring and networking events, we are making a tangible impact in the lives and careers of the women in our community. I am excited about the future we are building together.
I am Adaeze Iloeje-Udeogalanya, a proud African queen, a daughter, sister, wife, and mother. I am a smart, successful, and highly accomplished woman in STEM, with 20 years’ experience in the energy industry. I impact the world around me by developing creative solutions to complex and everyday problems. Engineering has always been equal parts fun and challenging for me, and the practice of my craft has been extremely rewarding.
As a young girl I have always had an affinity for STEM, not because I tinkered with things, but because of all the things I thought about and wanted to become. I wanted to be an astronaut, I wanted to travel around the world and discover exotic plant life, I wanted to fold space, I wanted to fly, but most importantly I wanted to create a machine that would prep and cook food so I don’t ever have to (if you are African you would understand). I had lots of imaginative ideas, and ingenious solutions, I had all the support I needed and there was nothing stopping me.
I left home for the United States, driven as I was in my youth, and excited for the opportunity to bring my dreams to fruition. I did not anticipate what was in store for me. I have had an interesting experience as an African Woman in STEM, “a cultural other”. There have been highs and lows, dark and depressing times as well as great and amazing times. I wished a lot of things could have been different, but I am here now, a mosaic of all my experiences, and I absolutely love the person I have become.
I know firsthand the unique challenges and barriers we African women in STEM face, such as gender and cultural stereotypes, unconscious biases, and limited access to resources and mentorship. I also know that though they say, “experience is the best teacher”, not all experiences are necessary for learning. It was a lonely road for me, but I want to ensure that it does not have to be so for others like me.
This strong sense of responsibility and my commitment to promoting equity led me to form African Women in STEM, a community that empowers African women in the STEM ecosystem to dismantle the barriers that hinder them from reaching their full potential, aspire higher and succeed.
Join me in breaking down societal misconceptions and biases surrounding gender and ethnicity, and contributing to a more robust and dynamic industry, characterized by a wealth of different perspectives and ideas.