UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Studying in a traditionally male-dominated field, Penn State student Brenda Paull said she found a special sense of belonging through the Women and Gender Diversity in Earth and Mineral Science (WEMS) club.
“I really enjoy the sense of community I got,” said Paull, a third-year student majoring in meteorology and atmospheric science and treasurer of the club. “My major is male-dominated, so a lot of my friends are guys. When I first joined WEMS, it was nice to be able to spend time with women in classes ahead of me in my major who understood some of the things I was going through.”
WEMS was founded in 2019 by Kayla McCauley to address issues around gender disparity in STEM fields. The club, which started with 15 members and has since grown to include more than 55, is open to all students, and has expanded to support those in the LGBTQA+ community.
“It's nice to have a community of like-minded people,” said Shruti Natal, a former president of the group. “You feel like you can actually connect with someone because they see the world through the same lens.”
This semester, WEMS is hosting an inclusivity lounge with the club Minorities in Earth and Mineral Sciences (MEMS) almost every weekday that provides a space for diverse students to study and hang out together.
“It’s a great resource to promote diversity and give support to people within the college,” Paull said. “We hope to make those who are underrepresented feel more in league with their peers and to feel like the tools are there for them to succeed.”
As an events-based organization, WEMS organizes a variety of social, academic and career-related activities. Previous events have included a dinner with the deans of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Through this event, members of WEMS were able to learn about the deans’ career paths and their current involvement with the college.
The club’s professional events are not limited to members of WEMS as they collaborate with other EMS clubs to further develop their network. Benefiting from learning technical skills, WEMS partnerships allow members to get to know people in the college from different walks of life.
Paull said her experience with the group as improved her skills like organization and time-management and helped her find a passion.
“I’m finding myself caring about a mission and working toward the goals to make it happen,” she said. “I am finding myself being more willing to express myself than I used to be. I think it’s important for me and for other people to feel comfortable being who they are.”