On Friday, March 22, Geneva College student clubs, the Diversity Team and the Society of Women Engineers, hosted Moms in STEM, an event featuring four Geneva faculty and one Geneva board member.
The Moms in STEM panel featured Melinda Stephens, PhD, Emily Work, PhD, Nicole Muckridge, PhD, Angela Johnson, PhD, and Bonnie Weir, PhD. Each of them discussed various topics, with the main question posed to the panel being, How do you balance a calling to STEM and a calling to motherhood?
Pearl Soundron '26, from Geneva’s Diversity Team, says that she hopes this event initiates discussions of how to follow a calling to motherhood alongside a calling to STEM fields.
“Through a conversation with mothers who've pursued this balance in diverse and different ways, we hope to encourage thoughtfulness and hope in our women on campus. Pursuing rigorous academia as women in a Christian context can feel very discouraging. This balance can be discouraging and challenging to strike, but our panelists have sought different God-honoring ways to do it. Our hope is that this panel will give ideas and hope for any women facing this struggle, that the journey looks different for everyone, but it’s beautiful and doable.”
Delaney Winterhalter '25, President of the Society of Women Engineers, says,
“I have seen women on both sides of the spectrum - those with very successful stem careers and those that focus solely on taking care of their children. I have not been given the opportunity to talk to a mother that feels that they can do both. This panel will allow me and other girls to see that! Additionally, with a group of diverse speakers we will be able to learn about the different approaches they each take to make that balance.”
Each of these women, with a successful career in STEM and a life dedicated to their children, shared challenges, successes, and advice on navigating these two callings.
Melinda Stephens '93, PhD, is a mother of four boys, a chemistry professor, and the current Provost for Geneva College. Stephens was excited about this event because she hopes young women can see how their calling as a wife and mother can align with their calling as a scientist.
She shared some of her own experience, saying, “I felt like teaching was my calling, but having the summers to be with my children was very important to me…When I was a full-time faculty member, I had a crib in my office and sometimes taught with a baby sitting in a car seat in my classroom.”
Stephens, along with the others, shared some of the extra work and creative solutions to balance these two callings.
Nicole Muckridge, PhD, has taught mathematics at the collegiate level for over 13 years, is a current Associate Professor of Mathematics at Geneva College., and a mom to three boys. Muckridge sees the importance in having these conversations with young women.
Muckridge says, “I think it is beneficial for young women to hear from various perspectives, realizing that each woman’s story is unique. God calls us to different roles and responsibilities at different points in our life, and these not only vary in our own lives, but also between each other’s lives. One thing I am learning is not to compare my journey to others because everyone’s is different.”
Anglela Johnson '01, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Biology at Geneva College, the Biology Department Chair, and a mom of three. Johnson, similar to Muckridge, stressed the importance of not comparing yourself to others.
She says, “I have had some guilt over using daycare, but you cannot sit in that guilt…There will be a lot of opinions on what you should do, but you should pray and talk to your husband to figure out what will work best for you and your family.”
Emily Work, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry and new mom of one. Work enjoys bringing her son to campus with her often.
She says, “I love watching my son run around and interact with my students. God opened the doors that needed to be opened to make it possible to work and be a present mom at the same time…My #1 advice is to find support and get involved in a local church.”
Bonnie Weir, PhD, is a member of the Board of Trustees, and has had a very successful career in engineering. Weir expresses gratitude for her support systems and the opportunities she had to be able to pursue her career throughout motherhood.
She says, “While I had little kids, I was invited to speak at conferences in Italy, France, and Japan. I had wonderful support to be able to do that…God is sovereign, and He will provide for you through all things. Be open to God’s calling and what He is leading you to do.”
Geneva College is blessed to have such a wide variety of women who display faithfulness through their dedication to their callings to motherhood and STEM.
-Kelsey Ingold '18
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