Women's Commission Grant Supports Rising Leaders

03/15/2018

Olivia Smithhisler, a sophomore in Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology, received a Sister Shirley Kolmer Memorial Grant to attend the Society of Women Engineers’ seventeenth annual conference (WE17) in October 2017.

Sophomore Olivia Smithhisler is studying mechanical engineering at Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology. Submitted photo

WE17 is the world’s largest conference and career fair for women engineers. It focuses on professional development and creating networks for female engineers who are active in their field, returning to engineering, or just getting started.

Smithhisler, who is majoring in mechanical engineering, was part of the inaugural grant awarded in 2016. The endowment began with support from an anonymous Women's Commission member and Woman of the Year award winner in 1994.

Through a competitive grant funding process, the Sister Shirley Kolmer Memorial Grant helps financially support individual leadership development opportunities and community impact projects that advance women. The purpose of the Sister Shirley Kolmer Memorial Grant is to support the mission of the Women's Commission, which is to educate, enrich, and empower the women of Saint Louis University by providing funding to connect women with opportunities that foster their personal and professional development.

Smithhisler applied for a Sister Shirley Kolmer Memorial Grant when Jessica Perolio, Ph.D., former president of the Women’s Commission and Smithhisler’s instructor in one of her Honors classes, encouraged her to consider her career path.

“I was thinking about dropping engineering,” Smithhisler recalled. “I was one of maybe three women in classes full of men. I knew no female engineers.” But finding the Society of Women Engineers, applying for the grant, and attending the conference changed her mind, she said.

WE17 gives both professionals and university students like Smithhisler the opportunity to participate in workshops that build skills like networking and landing internships.

“I had the chance to learn how to network and then use those skills immediately,” Smithhisler explained. On the plane trip back to St. Louis, Smithhisler sat by conference participant who spoke with her about how important the conference has been to women in the field.

“She told me that women engineers can be really isolated at work because they’re often the only women,” Smithhisler said. “She said that she wants to help create a different experience for the next generation of women engineers.”

Sessions at the conference focused on how women can support one another and create balance so that they don’t have to choose between having a career in engineering and having a personal life that includes a family.

“I’m more confident about being a woman engineer now,” Smithhisler said.

GALA TO SUPPORT SLU'S WOMEN LEADERS

To support the grants for students, faculty, and staff alike, the Women’s Commission and the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies will co-host “Women at SLU: A Celebration and Silent Auction,” on Friday, March 23 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Saint Louis University Museum of Art (SLUMA). The celebration and silent auction will honor the accomplishments of the women at SLU.

Part of SLU’s bicentennial celebration, funds raised at the event will benefit the Women’s Commission’s Kolmer memorial grant program and the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies Giving Circle Endowment, which provides support to student research.

All members of the SLU community are invited. Special guests include Ellen Harshman, Ph.D., chair of the Bicentennial Committee, and Fran Pestello, Ph.D.

In addition to the auction, the evening will include heavy hors d'oeuvres and an open bar. The event is dressy casual. Parking will be available in Canisius parking lot, located at the northeast corner of Lindell Boulevard and Spring Avenue.

While the event is complimentary, all registrants are being asked to consider a $20 gift with their RSVP.

Learn more about the Women’s Commission and the Sister Shirley Kolmer Memorial Grant, Society of Women Engineers and WE17.

For more information about “Women at SLU: A Celebration and Silent Auction,” click here.