Girl’s STEM education advocate and former Miss America Nina Davuluri is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at U.S. Rep. Ed Royce’s eighth annual Women’s Conference Saturday, March 26, on campus.
Davuluri’s talk will focus on her experiences growing up as a second-generation Asian American. Davuluri, who spent most of her childhood in rural Oklahoma and Michigan, realized from a young age, she was culturally different; not part of the stereotypical “American Family.” As the only person of Indian origin in her classes for many years, she saw many forms of prejudice and misconceptions about communities of color. She often found herself in conversations with classmates, correcting stereotypes and media images.
In addition to sharing her personal experiences, Davuluri will discuss her partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Education promoting women in STEM-related fields. She has collaborated with tech companies, such as Google, Facebook, Dell and Texas Instruments, to advance their STEM initiatives. Furthermore, she has worked with many charities/NGOs in the U.S. and India advocating for equality and education.
The conference is a free half-day seminar designed to offer women tools and resources to enrich their lives. The event in the Titan Student Union begins at 9 a.m. and includes breakout sessions on topics suggested by past attendees, such as reaching your financial goals; how to deter, detect and defend against identity theft; and career advice. Perennial favorite, Chef Jamie Gwen will headline the session, “A Celebrity Chef’s Guide to Healthy Cooking.”
To register for the conference or for additional details, visit the Women’s Conference website.