Come learn about the future of STEM at Thanksgiving Point’s Women in STEM Conference! During this all-day event, you’ll hear from Utah female leaders in various STEM fields. You’ll hear about their pathway to entering college and how they navigate the STEM workforce. Enjoy a keynote presentation, panel discussions, and breakout sessions – while networking with industry experts. Make new friends, connect with mentors, and gain confidence as you prepare to enter the STEM community at the Women in STEM Conference at Thanksgiving Point.
October 26, 2024
Ashton Gardens Visitor Center
9:30 am – 5 pm
FREE
Morning Session: Open to All Ages
Afternoon Session: Ages 15+
Schedule
Morning Session – 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
During the morning session, students will hear from keynote speaker Allison Spencer who will share valuable insights on resilience, diversity, and the future of STEM. Engage directly with Allison during a Q&A session, then hear from a panel of accomplished women in various STEM fields as they talk about the importance of mentorship and connection. After, you’ll learn about Thanksgiving Point’s Inquiry Framework and how it fosters curiosity and character development through hands-on STEM activities, creating lifelong passions.
Keynote speaker: allison spencer
Allison Spencer is the Director of the Utah STEM Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the STEM Action Center. For 15 years, Allison has made it her mission to raise funds and resources for STEM education. Her background is in Social Work and Family Studies and she has worked for various organizations serving youth throughout her career. In her spare time, you’ll find Allison hiking her dog Lola, vacationing with her family, eating good food, reading a book, and laughing with friends.
Panelist: Rachel Torrez
Rachel Torrez is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Utah in the animation lab. She gained her Ph.D. at the University of Michigan where she used cryo-EM and biochemical techniques to study the mechanism of the endoribonuclease III enzyme Dicer. Her passion for 3D visualization and desire to better communicate science drew her to Dr. Iwasa’s animation lab. She’s currently animating studies on the science of HIV, laboratory techniques, and more. Her goal is to create engaging and informative visuals that help capture STEM research.
Panelist: Haley Todd
Hailey Todd is the Clinical Director at Monarch Family Counseling, where she oversees the ethical delivery of services, supports clinicians, and engages in community outreach. She holds an MSW from the University of Utah and a BSW from Utah Valley University. Haley is also a lecturer at UVU, where she taught courses such as Diversity Issues in Social Work Practice and Ethics & Values in Social Work. She is passionate about mental health education and advocacy and serves on multiple boards across Utah.
Panelist: Jeanette BennetT
Jeanette Bennet is the market leader for Colliers Utah. She is a writer, editor, entrepreneur, leader, and media personality. Skilled in journalism, sales, crisis management, and media relations, her strong media and communications professional background has awarded her with an Honorary Doctorate in Business from Utah Valley University. She has been named as a Top Woman Entrepreneur in Media by Folio in New York City, inducted into the Silicon Slopes Hall of Fame, and was on the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations.
Panelist: Melinda Pike
Melinda Pike is the Chief Marketing Officer at Thanksgiving Point and former CMO at Soar AI. With over two decades of experience, she specializes in omni-channel marketing strategies and has led campaigns that significantly drive revenue growth, including a 1000x YoY increase for one of Utah’s top e-commerce companies. She also heads Digital Marketing Strategy for SheTech and Women Tech Council. In addition to her professional achievements, Melinda is a mom of two from Hawaii and enjoys world travel.
Afternoon Session – 1 pm – 5 pm
The afternoon session is all about learning from STEM professionals and participating in hands-on learning. After choosing the breakout session that interests you most, share what you learned in small groups. You’ll be able to network with other women and make new friends before we end the day and send you out into the STEM world!
Garden Room A: Urban Farming and Hydroponics
Learn from Asherah as she teaches about Thanksgiving Point’s new Urban Farm and hydroponic garden. During this workshop, you will reexamine what plants need to survive and learn more about innovations in farm technology that allow us to use freight farms for high-yield production year-round.
Asherah Swinson is Thanksgiving Point’s Urban Farm Assistant Manager at Curiosity Farms. Driven by a deep connection to the natural world, her background is in botany and plant science. She hopes to raise awareness for environmental conservation by participating in plant health, specimen research, and ecosystem restoration.
Garden Room b: Entomology
Entomology is a blanket term that covers many different and diverse fields involving the study of insects. At this breakout session, Tanya will show you how to observe an insect’s morphology, native environment, and natural behaviors. Then, she will help you build an exhibit that meets this insect’s needs and creates a compelling visual for museum visitors, giving you tools many animal scientists learn later in their careers.
Tanya Minott is Thanksgiving Point’s Assistant Director of Entomology at the Butterfly Biosphere. By age 15, she developed a fascination with insects, arachnids, and other invertebrates. This led to a 30+ year career as an animal keeper. She hopes to share the incredible beauty and mystery of invertebrate life with all, regardless of age, and break down insect misconceptions that are held by the general public.
Garden RoOm C: Nature journaling
Nature journaling is a hands-on scientific inquiry method that enhances observation skills. During this breakout session, join Taylor as she explains Leonardo Da Vinci’s nature journals, how those have influenced engineering and biology practices, and how we can practice those skills in our own nature journals.
Taylor Dewey is Thanksgiving Point’s Outdoor Education Specialist. She’s deeply passionate about outdoor STEM education and creating enriching and accessible experiences. Her background is in conservation biology and she wants to cultivate a profound appreciation for the natural world among young leaders.
Maple Room: The Future of Work: How AI Amplifies Human Creativity
As an established advertising photographer and branding expert, Melinda has used tech and AI to amplify a company’s ability to increase the ROI on every project. In turn, she has created efficient teams within any project workflow and ensured the success of her teams. Her tenacity and systematic approach to understanding the future of digital marketing has allowed her to break through glass ceilings and become an executive in the C-suite. Learn how to use AI to create brand identity, increase efficiency, and amplify your ROI on every project you engage with.
Melinda Pike is the Chief Marketing Officer at Thanksgiving Point and former CMO at Soar AI. With over two decades of experience, she specializes in omni-channel marketing strategies and has led campaigns that significantly drive revenue growth, including a 1000x YoY increase for one of Utah’s top e-commerce companies. She also leads Digital Marketing Strategy for SheTech and Women Tech Council and is a mentor and avid supporter of women in tech roles.
Oak Room: Science Communications
What does it take to be an effective science communicator? Learn how to take complex science topics and turn them into engaging presentations and activities for a wide range of audiences. During this breakout session, Paige and Madison will showcase astrobiology activities and give you the chance to create presentations on your topic of choice.
Paige Wheatley has a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Utah and currently facilitates hands-on STEM activities for Clark Planetarium. Her background in microbiology has led her to author multiple peer-reviewed research publications. Her goal is to create fun, engaging, and accessible STEM education opportunities in her community and inspire future STEM enthusiasts.
Madison Mackay moved to Utah for college and received her Bachelor of Science in Physics from Utah State University. Soon after graduating, she joined Clark Planetarium as the Community Programs Presenter, where she gets to engage learners of all ages in interactive STEM activities. She has a special interest in physics and medicine and is currently pursuing a certification in MRI technology.
Pine Room: Veterinary & Aquarium Sciences
Join Jen and Ashlyn in a workshop exploring STEM careers and the veterinary aspects of working at an aquarium. Jen and Ashlyn will share their history in the field and the challenges and opportunities they encountered. Participants will then participate in a hands-on activity that models some of the work faced by professionals in an aquarium setting.
Ashlyn Runyan, BS, PMP, is an Education Manager at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium. She received her degree in Biological Engineering at Utah State University and has worked as a project manager for pharmaceutical research, bioprocessing, and organ donation. Her passion for STEM education has led her to manage and coordinate a team of 48 educators at The Aquarium, providing informal STEM education to thousands of guests each year.
Jennifer Edgel, BS. CVT, is the Hospital Manager and Veterinary Technician at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium. Her background is in zoology with an emphasis on conservation and has worked with domestic small animals, large animals, wildlife, and exotics. She is a Certified Veterinary Technician and currently provides emergency and preventative care to a wide collection of 600 different species at The Aquarium.