For Immediate Release
January 31, 2017

Suffolk's Dr. Candice Foley Invited to International STEM Gender Conference in Berlin

Candice Foley

Suffolk County Community College Professor of Chemistry Dr. Candice Foley has been invited to attend the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Gender Equality Congress in Berlin, Germany on June 8 -9.  Foley is Suffolk’s National Science Foundation S-STEM Chair.

The STEM Gender Equality congress will be attended by policy makers, equality staff, the private sector, academic staff, government representatives and others for two days of thought-provoking addresses, high-level panel discussions, and in-depth case studies and discussions.

“Because there remains a persistent gender gap in college degrees in STEM, Suffolk’s presence at this International Gender Equality Conference will highlight the success of our vast network of collaborations within our college, SUNY, statewide and nationally for connecting underrepresented female STEM students to educational opportunities that prepare them to compete for the highest quality jobs of today and the future,” said Dr. Candice Foley, Professor of Chemistry and the College’s NSF S-STEM PI.   Foley explained that Suffolk County Community College is a crucial entry point enabling underrepresented women in STEM to bridge from the community college to the baccalaureate level, on to graduate school and into the STEM workforce.

“It is no secret that women are underrepresented in STEM fields,” said Suffolk County Community College President Dr. Shaun L. McKay. “In 2014, nationally, only 29% of the bachelor’s degrees awarded to women were in science and engineering, compared with 40% for men, according to the National Student Clearinghouse,” McKay said. “Dr. Foley has been at the forefront of advancing our College’s STEM students and programs.”

Suffolk County Community College Board of Trustees Chair Theresa Sanders explained the college’s commitment to STEM programs and successes:  “Improving America’s STEM education has become a top priority across the nation. At Suffolk, approximately 1,500 students are currently enrolled in STEM majors and the College’s STEM program has been producing award winning students while providing summer research internships at internationally renowned facilities, including Brookhaven National Laboratory, NASA, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory among others,” Sanders said.

STEM Central, a nationwide forum that connects STEM faculty and administrators with others to learn, share ideas, share resources, and work collaboratively on initiatives recently featured  Suffolk County Community College's STEM program on its website: https://goo.gl/mBXXEM.