Felician University students participated in the recent United Nations conference on Women and Girls in Science, part of the celebration of the annual International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Twenty one students were in attendance, helping in all facets of the day, from registration, distribution of day passes and guiding visitors around the complex.

The students, along with Deans Evans (Business) and Abaunza (Arts and Sciences) and six faculty members spent the day at this important conference, listening to presentations and gaining a greater understanding of the significance of closing the gender divide. “It was a wonderful day for Felician,”said Dr. Mary Norton, professor and executive director for the Center for Global Academic Initiatives at Felician. “Our students were able to understand the global importance of the topic as reflected in presentations by the President of the General Assembly and other ambassadors.”

The highlight of the day for the Felician delegation was witnessing Dr. Prisco’s remarks to the conference in the General Assembly Hall. Invited to address the conference by HRH Princess Dr. Nisreen El-Hashemite, Executive Director of the Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT), the organizer of the conference, Dr. Prisco spoke of her own experience as a woman in STEM and the vital role of education in the realization of the UN’s sustainable development goals.  “Our job as educators is to provide opportunity, support and positive examples to encourage students who demonstrate an aptitude and interest in one of the STEM fields …Education is the great equalizer.”

To read a full transcript of Dr. Prisco’s remarks, please click here.