Students in Bryn Mawr’s STEMLA program got the opportunity to take part in four “mentor circles” with members of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Association of Women in Science (AWIS-PHL).
The last of the circles took place earlier this semester. Bryn Mawr students Jownira Sultana '26, Sarabjit Dhillon '26, and Leila Byerly '25 were joined by AWIS mentors Amy Ott, an assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at Drexel University College of Medicine; Emily Black, visiting assistant professor of neuroscience at Haverford College; and Sharon Willis, co-founder of Integral Molecular.
AWIS-PHL’s mentorship circles, which in the past have been aimed at graduate and post-doctoral students, are designed to help students set professional and personal goals and build competence and confidence in attaining those goals in a supportive group setting.
“We are really proud of how this pilot turned out. This AWIS-STEMLA collaboration is the first of its kind and we can’t wait to continue this partnership in future years,” says Kelsey Obringer, assistant director of the STEMLA program. “At the core of this program is mentorship, and it's been incredible to help extend our Fellows’ mentorship networks to the broader Philadelphia community.”
The students and mentors met four times for sessions focused on time management, imposter syndrome, CV building, and the job search and interview process.
“The AWIS Mentor Circles allowed me the incredible opportunity to meet inspiring women in science industry, research, and education,” says Dhillon. “Through this experience, I not only explored my interest to learn about ways in which to prepare to enter these pathways myself but was able to also deeply connect with each member in the circle.”
In addition to the scheduled topics, the circles were formatted to create space for organic discussion and mentors worked to address issues on the top of Fellows' minds each month.
"I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to engage in deep discussions regularly with such thoughtful students,” says Black. “I went into the program as a mentor, hoping that I could provide the mentees with some useful information, and left knowing they taught me just as much."
Bryn Mawr’s STEMLA program and AWIS plan to partner again next year.
“AWIS Philadelphia was delighted to partner with the STEMLA program at Bryn Mawr College to bring its flagship Mentoring Circle Program to undergraduate students interested in STEM and medicine careers,” wrote AWIS-PHL President Ankita Patil and Past-President Roshell Muir in an email. "We are excited to continue the program into the 2025-2026 academic year.”
Bryn Mawr College’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math in the Liberal Arts (STEMLA) program is a free, interdisciplinary, college-transition and mentorship program designed for first-generation, limited-income undergraduate students entering Bryn Mawr College.
The program encompasses all four years of a fellow's time at Bryn Mawr. It includes a summer program prior to a student’s first year, mentorship throughout their time at Bryn Mawr, opportunities to work as lab assistants, and hosts workshops, excursions, social events.