Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Education News
Cathy Wurzer, Julia Franz and Lindsay Guentzel

St. Kate is pushing to double number of BIPOC women in STEM fields in next 5 years

The St. Paul university will host a town hall Tuesday evening moderated by MPR News host Kerri Miller.

Women work in a science lab.
Nearly 42 percent of St. Catherine University's population is BIPOC women. The private women's university in St. Paul is working to double the number of BIPOC leaders in science in the next five years.
Courtesy of St. Catherine University

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

While women account for roughly half of the workforce, they make up just over a quarter of people working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics or STEM fields.

That’s according to figures from the Census Bureau, which also shows that women of color are even less well-represented in STEM fields.

According to one study, they make up just 11 percent of people working in science and engineering jobs.

One place trying to get more women of color into STEM jobs, especially leadership positions, is St. Catherine University in St. Paul.

The private women’s college will host a town hall at 7 p.m. Wednesday, moderated by Minnesota Public Radio host Kerri Miller. You can find more information on the event, which is free and open to the public, here.

St. Catherine’s Executive Vice President and Provost Anita Thomas joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer on Morning Edition to talk about what the university is doing to prepare BIPOC women for careers in STEM fields.

“It is still challenging for women as a whole to enter into the STEM fields,” Thomas said. “There's a lot of research that talks about how if womens’ industry or discipline is for men that they under-achieve, even if they have the same ability levels to really be able to perform well. We certainly then also can extend that for BIPOC women who similarly faced stereotypes about performance that really, I think turns into a self-fulfilling prophecy for many who either choose not to enter the field because of competition, or the thoughts that they will be less well-received.”

Thomas said that challenge also extends to BIPOC women who already face stereotypes in the workplace about performance.

Use the player above to listen to their conversation.