Bios, Fridays Luncheon, Women in MSE at CR

Celebration of Women in Math, Science, and Engineering

Hear from professionals in MSE, from right here in Humboldt County, who will join us Friday afternoon in the CR Cafeteria (1:30-3:30 on Friday, April 8)

Lacey Comer, RN

Mary Glenn, Anthropologist

Teresa Kosmac, DDS

Valency Langtry, Engineer

Ramona Lima, Pharmacist

Christine Manhart, Geologist

Sherri Miller, Wildlife Biologist

Tina Nerat, IT Consultant

Karen Quenell, 'CSI' Evidence Technician

Maralyn Renner, Botanist

Rebecca Stauffer, MD

Talitha Stimson, Engineer

Lesley Ward, Mathematician

Gretchen Ziegler, Zoo Curator/Supervisor

Note: Phyllis Chinn, Mathematician will no longer be joining us.

These are the five women for Friday evening's Panel Discussion in the CR Forum (7-9pm on Friday, April 8):

Eileen Cashman, Engineer

Sue Y. Lee, Biologist

Christine Manhart, Geologist

Patricia Siering, Biologist

Lesley Ward, Mathematician

These are the week's three 11:30-12:30 speakers in PS 113:

Monday, April 4: Patricia Siering, Biologist "Life in Boiling Acid", 11:30-12:30

Wednesday, April 6: Margaret Lang, Engineer "Swimming Against the Flow: Restoring Fish Habitat", 11:30-12:30

Friday, April 8: Lesley Ward, Mathematician "Introduction to Wavelets", 11:30-12:30

Lacey Comer, R.N. -- Urgent Care clinical supervisor at St. Joseph Hospital, Eureka

"I have been a registered nurse for 3 1/2 years now.

This is a very flexible field that I am very glad I went into.  I became interested in being a nurse my junior year in high school because of some volunteer programs I was involved in with St. Joseph Hospital and City Ambulance.  My senior year at Eureka High School I took two distance learning classes through CR:   medical terminology and introduction to health occupations.  These classes further solidified my plans to go into healthcare.

"I started at HSU right away and did two years of pre-requisites and general ed.  I was then accepted into their nursing program which is three years in length.  During my junior year in the nursing program I was fortunate enough to be a part of a transcultural nursing class in which our clinical portion included traveling to Russia for a summer to work in three different hospitals.  That certainly was a learning and life-changing experience.  After graduation with honors from Sigma Theta Tau (International nursing honors society) I started work at St. Joseph hospital as a medical-surgical nurse.  I spent 3 years in 'med-surg' and enjoyed every minute of it, well almost every minute.  I became a relief clinical supervisor after 1 year of working in med-surg and now have been in a new position at St. Joseph hospital's Urgent Care center for the past five months as a full-time clinical supervisor.

"Nursing is one of the MOST flexible jobs you will ever find.  You can work anywhere.  If you don't like hospitals there are many other opportunities such as clinics, schools, doctor's offices, labs, pharmaceuticals, teaching, tons of specialties and the list goes on and on.  At this time an RN is very in demand and can find a job anywhere she wants at the drop of a hat.  How many professions can you say that about?

"One thing I like about my profession is the constant learning.  Continuing education units are required to keep an RN license and you need 30 every two years.  I find this to be incredibly easy.  I have more than I need.  There are always lots of interesting and new things coming up in this field to learn that keep it fun.

"Advice for women thinking about pursuing a field in mathematics, sciences and engineering:  Education is so important......the time you spend in school will fly by and you will be forever grateful that you did it."

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Patricia Siering -- Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Humboldt State University

"I can't remember a time when I wasn't interested in living things and how they function.

One of my earliest memories of excitement about biology happened when I was about 6 years old.  I grew up in upstate NY, and every spring we uncovered our pool to find a stinky, slimy film on the inside of the pool cover.  My sister had an Edmund Scientific microscope (that she never used) - and I wanted to see what the stinky slime looked like.  When I first looked under the scope - it was just like 'Horton Hears a Who,' by Dr. Seuss.  There was an incredibly complex world living in that slime; it just so happened you couldn't see it with your naked eye.

"Though physics was my first major in college, I became increasingly disillusioned with the abstract nature of the discipline.  In my third year of college, I took a class in developmental biology - and it started me back on my path in biology.  I wanted to learn everything known about how gene regulation controlled developmental processes.  I graduated from U.C. Berkeley in 1985 with a B.S. in genetics.

"After working in a Biotechnology company for three years, I continued my education by pursuing a Masters degree in microbiology at San Francisco State University.  Toward the end of this project, I felt I was losing the context of how genes function in a whole organism, and how that organism functions in the context of an entire ecosystem.  I wanted to ask more fundamental questions about the processes occurring in microbial worlds, and how these processes were related to larger ecosystem processes.  I also decided that I wanted to get a Ph.D. in order to teach in a university.  I had so many appalling teachers at Berkeley (and such great teachers at SFSU),that this seemed like something I should try.

"I began a Ph.D. program in microbiology in Cornell University in Fall of 1990 with a broad minded thinker (Bill Ghiorse), who was investigating the role of microorganisms in metal cycling in wetlands.  Bill inspired me to think out of the box; he embodied an excitement and passion about microorganisms in the real world that is rare in the world of academia.  He continues to influence my life in ways I'm just beginning to understand.

"My interest in studying thermophiles was sparked by my first visit to Yellowstone National Park.  As I stared into the pit of boiling pink mud, I felt the same excitement that I experienced as a kid looking at the pool cover slime in the microscope.  I wanted to understand who could live in these environments, how can they do it, and what are they doing in these ecosystems?

"In May 1998, I was given the choice to teach at Humboldt State University (a dream since my first visit in the mid-1980's), or to accept a job at a prestigious research university in the Northeast.  My desire to teach and work directly with students is what caused me to get a Ph.D., so my choice was clear.  Throughout this entire journey, I have worked hard to develop and maintain strong friendships with an amazing collection of sincere, passionate people who always helped show me the best of myself.  I am the first person in my family to graduate from college, and though I am still paying off my student loans, I have never regretted my choices and where they have taken me.  While it took (and continues to take) a great deal of hard work to be successful, I wouldn't trade it for any other life.  In the early years of my career, I believed that I had to dress and act a certain way in order to be taken seriously.  I was wrong!  The greatest lesson I have learned in my life is to be true to who you are, be passionate about what you do, and always try to do your best."

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Rebecca Stauffer, M.D. -- Director of Student Health Services, Humboldt State University

"There is one experience that solidified my career choice and for which I will be forever grateful.

"I had been an undergraduate student, very uncertain of a major, trying many different courses because of my broad interests.

I didn't have a career path in mind, though many of my classes were science based.  After having taken off a year to travel following freshman year, I returned to college but was without focus so I left again to try working.  I was very fortunate to find an on-the-job training program as a dental assistant.  This was a life changing experience.

"What I learned were two fundamental lessons that have served me very well.  Firstly, by direct experience, I learned that I liked the health care field, though not dentistry in particular.  I saw how a career in health care could be fully engaging, different each day, was geographically transportable, and that the more training one had, the greater the stimulation.

"And the second lesson was even bigger.  On a day that I will never forget, my boss, the dentist whom I worked for, asked to talk to me.  He wasn't happy with my choice of a white cotton uniform (which I carefully laundered and ironed nightly), preferring instead the pastel colored polyester uniforms of the other staff, and he also said, in a long-winded way, that I wasn't wearing enough make up.  That did it; I understood at a very deep level that if I wanted to be taken seriously for who I was, not what I looked like, I would need to be in his equivalent position.  The value of a professional education that could put me in a leadership role became very clear and I quickly determined that I was prepared to invest whatever it took to get into medical school.  It happened to be a good choice for me as medicine has turned out to be very flexible and allowed me to make choices and changes throughout my career that fit with my personal and intellectual needs.

"The most important aspects of this choice are the ongoing challenge (for me, boredom is the enemy) and the independence and control over my life that has come with a leadership role.

"My advice for young women (I have an 18 year old daughter and say the same thing to her) is to first find your deep personal interest by sampling and testing.  What stirs you to ask questions and pursue answers?  What will keep you asking questions as the field changes?  And having identified this, then invest your precious time (about a decade) in developing your skills.  The best part of this is that the process is fantastic and stimulating; it is not just hard work; it is an investment in you and yet the benefits that are yours will also amazingly benefit your family and your community.  That is a powerful and good outcome that lasts forever."

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Gretchen Ziegler -- Zoo Curator/Supervisor, Sequoia Park Zoo, Eureka

"I have been in the zoo profession for over twenty years.

I grew up in Topeka, Kansas, where my local zoo played a key part in developing my appreciation of animals.  During high school I was a volunteer Zoo Explorer Scout and I learned that this was the profession I was drawn to.  However, my parents had always insisted that I attend college, and at this time (in the early 1980s) zoo keeping was only just beginning to develop into a true 'profession.'  It was also a job that was given primarily to men.  While studying wildlife biology at Kansas State University, I learned from a seminar sponsored by the Wildlife Society that the local zoo in Manhattan, Kansas offered internships.

"I became a zoo intern and changed my major to general biology.  This was so that I could tailor my studies more to zoology, which was not offered at the university.  Taxonomy, ethology (animal behavior), geography and ecology were the classes most useful to my career.  I graduated with a B.S. in Biology and a few years of experience from my internship.  I got an entry-level zoo keeping job at the Topeka Zoo, working with a wide range of animals, including great apes, large cats, birds, hoofstock and elephants.

"After Topeka, I worked with large carnivores for two years at the Wildlife Safari Animal Park in Winston, Oregon.  Later I took a job as curator of the Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka, California, and have been here for over ten years.

"My job focuses more on animal and zoo management duties now, including exhibit design, animal behavior modification, enrichment techniques, veterinary procedures, and lots of records-keeping.  During my career, I have seen many changes within the zoo field.  Zoos are now more oriented to wildlife conservation, with a heavy emphasis on science-based education.  More animal behavior research is being done within zoos and in the field, much of which can then be applied to captive and in situ conservation issues.  Bachelors and higher degrees are usually required for most zoo jobs, and the pendulum has definitely shifted towards women, especially in the zoo keeping profession.  Zoo management positions are still filled predominantly by men, but that is also changing.  Perhaps the most satisfying change I have noticed in the last twenty years is the way in which captive animals are treated.  The 'strong-arm' handling techniques and the unnatural habitats have given way to new and more successful strategies.  Training techniques using positive reinforcement are used to encourage more natural behaviors and cooperative relationships between animals and their human caregivers.  Captive environments are designed with species-specific correlations to natural habitats, niches, and behaviors.  I like to think that these positive changes are in part due to the influence of women in the profession."

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Phyllis Chinn -- Professor of Mathematics, Humboldt State University

Note: Phyllis Chinn will no longer be joining us.

"My name is Phyllis Chinn and I am a teacher and mathematician. I have been interested in math since about seventh grade when a teacher gave me independent lessons in algebra.

"I started college as a chemistry major but switched to math because I liked the teachers better and liked that I would also have time to study lots of other subjects along with math. My parents always encouraged my interest in math and science, although my college chemistry teacher favored the males in the class.

"I have a bachelor's degree in math from Brandeis University, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

"My first teaching was at the junior high school level but I soon switched to college. My mathematical teaching experience includes many courses for preservice and inservice teachers at all levels from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Discrete mathematics is one of the areas in which I have written and worked extensively. I have been teaching at Humboldt State University since 1975. I taught at Towson State University in Baltimore, Maryland for several years. Some of my other activities include the following.

Director, Redwood Area Math Project (a site of the California Math Project), 1989-present. This project is to enhance teacher leadership in mathematics among K-12 teachers in northern California. I have been presenting various mathematical and pedagogical topics for RAMP teachers for the last ten years.
Coordinator, Expanding Your Horizons in Science and Math Conferences for Young Women in Grades 7-12 at Humboldt State University, 1979-88.
Co-Director, Project PROMPT (Professors Reviewing Options in Mathematics for Prospective Teachers) funded by the National Science Foundation, 1992-96. As co-director of PROMPT, I worked with professors from all over the country who teach math to prospective teachers. We were exploring effective ways to model a variety of teaching and learning techniques to improve the mathematical preparation of teachers, especially those who will teach K-8 grades.

"I have presented short workshops for teachers at many meetings, including the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, California Mathematics Council, the Los Angeles Collaborative for teacher Education, an MAA mini-course sponsored by COMET, and a week-long workshop for teachers in the New Orleans area.  I have been able to travel to Europe and Asia, giving math papers and attending conferences for teachers of teachers.

"I have written over 40 papers, published in a variety of journals including the Arithmetic Teacher and many professional journals.  Topics include discrete math and teaching articles.

"I have been married to Daryl Ngee Chinn since December 31, 1968.  He is a poet and Artist-in-Residence for several states.  He spends 2 weeks to 2 months in an area, teaching children (and teachers) to write poetry, giving readings, publishing anthologies of student works, etc.

"We have two children:  Allison Hai-Ting Chinn is a professional singer of opera and classical and new music.  She has a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music and a Master's in voice from Yale.  Our son, Wesley Chee Chinn, graduated from Harvard with a double concentration in music and Women's Studies.  He works at Carnegie Hall in the Artistic Programming department.

"I am an avid juggler and faculty advisor to the campus juggling society.  I spend lots of time on email."

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Mary Glenn -- Physical Anthropologist, Humboldt State University

"I first became interested in primatology when I went into the field to do archaeology in Israel when I was a junior in college. It may seem odd to find out you want to do something else when you are doing something as exciting as digging up a 2,500-year-old port town in the Middle East, but that is what happened.

"One month before leaving for the field school in Israel, I had switched my major from business to anthropology. There was a lot of pressure for me to be in a field where 'I could make some money' after I graduated, but I realized that I wouldn't have the stamina to finish undergraduate school if I wasn't going for something that I loved. I took one anthropology course and knew that was the field for me, but I just didn't know what area. Archaeology turned out to be fascinating, but what that first overseas trip really did for me was show me that I could pursue my dreams of travel and study - in whatever area I chose. Soon after, I found out that it was actually possible for me to focus on primatology as a career.

Right away, I got a volunteer position at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, and then finished my B.S. and applied for graduate school. I couldn't believe it when I got my acceptance letters for graduate school and had to decide between the University of Chicago and Northwestern. I chose Northwestern and then got my first field job in primatology - as a teaching assistant on a project in Mexico. From there, it was history as they say. I've now traveled to more than 40 countries, and have studied all different kinds of primates in the wild, from bonobos in Congo to spider monkeys in Costa Rica. I have a Ph.D. in biological anthropology and I teach at HSU. I also continue to do my research on primates in the wild, and my current study subject, the mona monkey, has taken me to Grenada and West Africa.

"Unfortunately, I didn't have too many mentors along the way. There aren't very many primatologists in the world, and few worked at the universities that I attended. For me to be successful, it was important for me to network with primatologists from other universities, which I did. I was originally inspired by Jane Goodall, the woman who went to Africa at age 26 in 1960 to study chimpanzees. I had read all of her books and was in awe of her courage. Here was a woman who wasn't afraid of science, or the field, or anything it seemed. When I was an undergraduate, I snuck into an ape conference in Chicago just to see her talk, and during one of the conference breaks, she came up to me and asked 'And who are you?' After catching my breath, I told her I was a fan, but that I was sure I would never reach the heights that she did. She said 'nonsense,' and 'I bet I'll see you at another conference in a few years.' I did see her a few years later, and this time I was a Ph.D. candidate who had just come back from studying bonobos in Africa. There are more women than men in my field, and I think that Jane Goodall has had a lot to do with that. She has been an inspiration to many women.

"I felt like I was taking a real gamble when I decided to follow my heart and do what I truly loved. I now realize it was no gamble at all, and in fact, it was the smartest decision I ever made. I have a successful career, but even more important, I have a rich and happy life. Some people think pursuing a degree like a Masters or a Ph.D. is long and hard work, which it can be, but if you love it, it's worth it. Here is my best advice: (1) Don't be deterred by people who say 'You can't do that,' or 'What kind of job will you get with that degree?' (2) Realize early on that you can do anything, as long as you are willing to work hard. And (3) Go to college - for a bachelor's or a Masters, or even a Ph.D.! Higher education opens many doors and hones your skills in many ways. It shows you what you can do, but even more, what you want to do."

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Lesley Ward -- Professor of Mathematics, Harvey Mudd College

"I am a mathematician. At school I really enjoyed the calculations, algebra, and theorem-proving we did in math classes. Although I also loved other things (drama, learning languages, physics, and writing), this passion for abstraction and the clear, rigorous logic of mathematical thought led me into the discipline of mathematics.

"Now I work at a small undergraduate institution, Harvey Mudd College, in Claremont, California.  I teach undergraduate mathematics courses and do mathematical research.   My research is mostly in complex analysis and harmonic analysis, with a sideline in Internet search algorithms.  One of the best things about my job is that both teaching and research are valued, so that I have the pleasure of teaching and the excitement of discovering things that no-one else knows yet.

"Among our undergraduate math majors, about a third are women.  A third (4 out of 12) of the faculty in my department are women; this is above the national average.

"I grew up in Canberra, Australia, moved to the US to do my PhD, stayed for a post-doctoral position, and have now been at Harvey Mudd College for eight years.   I am married, to a mathematician, and we have a three-year-old son.  We've been lucky enough to find two jobs in academic mathematics, in the same small town.

"I vividly remember the first pregnant mathematician I met.  She was visiting the department where I was an undergraduate (which had no women faculty), and she came to have lunch with a group of women students.   It was just amazing to see that you could be a mathematician and be a mother as well - not so obvious when you've never met anyone doing it.   Since that time, my interactions with other women in mathematics have been a continuing joy and support to me.

"One of the important things I like to do is to encourage young women who are interested in mathematics.  It's hard to gain confidence in yourself and your abilities.   Getting together in an all-women group can really help.  We women graduate students used to meet and take turns giving short talks about our thesis work-in-progress, or about some other interesting math topic.   As well as developing our own speaking skills, we got used to seeing women as authorities on technical material.  Later, as a faculty member, I used this model when sponsoring groups of women students at different institutions; it always seems to work well.   These groups can also help you become friends and support each other, and meet role models.   They give you a place to talk about your situation as women in your specific context.  Think about starting a women's/girls' club in your subject, wherever you are!"

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Maralyn Renner -- Senior Botanist, PALCO

"I grew up on a ranch in Humboldt County, where I developed an early love of nature surrounded by plants and animals. I had an interest in art which was encouraged by a local artist who was a family friend.

"My first art subjects were flowers.  By the time I started high school I knew the common names to virtually all the local plants.  When I started college at Humboldt State University my major was art, my minor French.  But the first year there I made a life changing choice while selecting a science class for my general education requirements.  The 'general' biology conflicted with an art class, so I took the majors biology class instead.  I had enjoyed high school biology and had done well in all my science and math classes, so I figured, why not?  By the end of that course, I had changed my major to biology.  Then I took my first botany class and that was that.  I graduated in 1980 from HSU with a M.A. in Biology with a botany emphasis.

"While in college I continued my interest in blending art with plants.  I sold a number of watercolor paintings and illustrated a text book and a memoir.  I worked my way through college and graduate school by teaching a variety of botany labs at HSU, and I took a number of temporary consulting contracts in the summers that allowed me to put my botany training to use.  By the time I finished my masters degree I was established as a botanical consultant and started getting contracts for work throughout northern California and southwestern Oregon.  I continued this kind of work for over 20 years.  I conducted rare plant surveys, vegetation descriptions and analyses, rare plant mitigation projects, agricultural viability studies, and prepared numerous environmental assessment and environmental impact statements.  What I loved about this work was that every year was different.  I traveled to different areas, learned new plants, hired different people, and I generally got winters off!

"After 10 years as a botanical consultant I looked for work closer to home (I had 2 small children by then), and I obtained part-time teaching jobs at College of the Redwoods and Humboldt State.  I continued to do local botanical consulting and I also worked at CR as a tutor in math, biology, agriculture, and forestry.  I reviewed text books, and even wrote a biology lab manual and the instructor's guide to a popular botany text book.  If variety is the spice of life, then you could say my life was well spiced.  After over 20 years teaching part-time and nearly that long tutoring, which overlapped my career as a consultant, I decided to leave academics and do something new.  I assisted my extended family in converting their dairy to organic and returned to my roots by working for the summer as a ranch hand, driving tractors and feeding calves.

"Just when I started thinking that my career as a botanist had ended, I was offered the job of Senior Botanist at PALCO.  I now manage the botany program with a staff of up to 12 in the summers, which is when we conduct the majority of our surveys.  Every timber harvest unit is inspected by my staff, and if sensitive or rare plants are found we implement protective measures up to and including no harvest.  I have begun 3 research projects on rare plants that occur on PALCO land and I'm currently developing another rare plant research project and a tree cultivar research project.  I'm responsible for developing a long-term biodiversity enhancement program and watershed-wide vegetation analyses for all of PALCO's lands.  So I'd say now my career as a botanist is off to a fresh start.  The lesson to take from this is that you are never too old to try something new, even in your career.

"My mother always told me, 'You can do anything you set out to do.'  I believed her, which means I believed in myself.  I tell the same thing to my kids, and I would say the same to any young person.  Sure, there were more men in my field than women when I first started, but that didn't discourage me.  Now I believe that, while there may be more men in biological management positions than women, there are a lot of women in the biological sciences and botany in teaching, research, and interpretation, as technicians, consultants, and field biologists.  So find your interest and go for it.  Plan on investing in yourself.  Believe me, it will pay off."

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Teresa Kosmac -- DDS, Eureka

Dentistry is a profession of many facets. First, dentistry itself is based in biology, physiology, and anatomy. The delivery of dentistry, however, is intimately connected to the psychology/sociology of the public being served, the dental materials that are needed and used (which challenge engineering, chemistry, and physics principles), and the artistry in the use of those materials.

The dynamic and complex nature of dentistry keeps the professional from stagnating or becoming complacent---this is what I love about dentistry. Of course, I didn't realize all the different aspects of delivering dentistry until I attended dental school (where the basics are taught). Upon graduation, a dentist is encouraged/expected to continue seeking, researching, learning throughout life/career and is constantly upgrading tools, materials, and knowledge and applying these daily in the profession. That is why it is sometimes referred to as the practice of dentistr.

My own personal history in the profession began at 10 years old when I told my mother I wanted to be a dentist when I grew up. She responded that I was too small to pull teeth (the scope of dentistry was limited at the time)! My dream immediately submerged and didn't re-emerge until I met a woman in a college biology class who was applying to dental school. How amazed I was that women could be dentists!! I decided then that I would apply to dental school. Fortunately, I had taken all the pre-requisite classes which were also necessary for my undergraduate major, physiological psychology.

To become successful in any career, I recommend a strong background in mathematics and the sciences, which are the building blocks for any and all professions, from computer technology, to business, to health professions, to construction. More advice: surround yourself with achievement-oriented people; follow your dream---research it, secure the necessary knowledge, "tweak" it to fit to reality without losing the imaginative qualities, and never give it up because someone says it can't be done, or you can't do it.

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Sue Y. Lee -- Professor Emerita of Biology, Humboldt State University

"My father learned to survive solely by his own wits after he was orphaned at the age of nine. When he was a young man, he made his way to this country as a stowaway. My mother arrived here at age sixteen, never to see her mother again. My grandmother had arranged for her to marry a man from 'Gim San' so that she could have all the promises of the 'Gold Mountain.' What was in store for my mother was a man who was more than 20 years older, who was an impoverished laundryman having spent his savings for this arranged marriage. Coming from rural peasant families in China and with very little formal education, my parents had no choice but to operate a family run hand laundry 24/7 for almost 25 years for a living.

"I am the eldest of seven born to these Chinese immigrants. Most of us kids learned to iron handkerchiefs and towels by the time we were eight, and before that we had learned to sort and fold laundry.

We gradually worked up to ironing the backs of shirts, then shirt sleeves, and eventually more complicated items of clothing.  To make ends meet, our parents depended on us for help with childcare, house chores, meal preparations, and to be extra hands in the laundry.  Hard work and sacrifice were no strangers to our parents or to any of us kids while we were growing up.  Although we always had enough to eat and a roof over our heads, our parents, and eventually I too, saw education to be the only way for us to move out of poverty, and essential for the family's eventual long term survival.  Thus, education and excelling was not just encouraged; it was expected.  Our early role models then were the offspring of other Chinese immigrants, almost all of whom had higher educations and were in science related careers.

"These early life circumstances were major influences that determined my direction in later life towards a profession that combined both science and service.  Because I had always been intrigued by how living organisms were put together to function as they do, it was a natural for me to major in biology as an undergrad.  I had initially intended to go into medicine, but was strongly discouraged by my father who feared I would face discrimination in that field.  Back in the late 50s, there were no role models for us in medicine.  We did not see any Chinese physicians in the small city in upstate New York where we lived.  I was told that the ones in New York's Chinatown were only there because whites had no use for them.

"And so I gravitated towards another service profession - secondary education.  Wishing to obtain a permanent secondary teaching credential immediately in the sciences, I completed the Master's program in Biology at SUNY in Albany which was about the size that HSU is currently.  The faculty there were among my early mentors, and studying and working closely with them opened many doors for me.  I discovered so many fascinating and exciting questions in entomology, in plant morphology, in comparative vertebrate anatomy, and I accompanied Margaret Stewart (a newly hired herpetologist on the faculty who had just received her Ph.D.) on field collecting trips.  This plus the satisfaction I found teaching university students in introductory zoology and botany labs convinced me to enter doctoral studies at the University of Illinois so I could prepare for a university academic career.

"After completing the Ph.D. degree in Zoology, and a temporary faculty position at the UI Chicago Circle, I joined the faculty in Biological Sciences at HSU in 1969.  Over the years, I had many wonderful students in Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, General Zoology, Human Anatomy, Histology, and in graduate seminars.  Through the university and local community, my professional and personal life has been greatly enriched by many friends, students, colleagues, and my family.  In these times, I think networking is extremely valuable for one's professional and personal survival.  Maintaining contact with colleagues elsewhere, establishing new ones by attending conferences, workshops, symposia, etc., and looking actively for opportunities to collaborate are essential for professional viability in the sciences.

"Ever since those early days in the master's program, I have had a broad range of biological interests.  I have also had the good fortune and joy of having family members with whom I have shared common research interests and collaborations.  My husband, Archie Mossman, who I met the first year I arrived, was a faculty member in Wildlife Biology.  He and I have worked together on the utilization of wild species as a means of achieving ecological and economic sustainability in southern Africa.  His Dad, Harland Mossman who was Professor of Anatomy at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, and I have described and published on the existence of specific implantation sites in certain mammals as well as on the fine structure of certain mammalian fetal membranes.

"Through most of my tenure at HSU, I was the only permanent woman faculty member in my department, and women students were in the minority in most biology and other science classes.  It was not always easy.  Having a partner for moral support and sharing of family responsibilities was a blessing for me.  It was not easy for women at any level in the university, and numerous and different strategies have been necessary to increase understanding and acceptance of diversity.  My efforts in this regard were greatly influenced by the simple lessons from my parents.  These were:  learn from others, work hard, do the best that I can, be as good or better than they (the majority) are, be honest, be fair, and be loyal.  And so I have always tried to take these lessons into my teaching, my research, and working with co-workers and students.  If the students were paying good money for their education, then they should receive full value, but the expectation that they too would do their best was there also.

"I am now emerita professor of biological sciences at Humboldt State University.  The early lessons from my immigrant parents and those of my mentors still continue to guide me.  There are still activities for me that challenge me, that are fun, from which I find satisfaction, and are opportunities for learning and personal growth.  I am able to continue some indirect mentoring through involvement with the Expanding Your Horizons conference.  This year I am again helping to organize the hands-on activities for the conference whose goal is to inspire middle school girls to continue with science and math courses as a way of having more options in life.  I also am a board member and volunteer as an information specialist for the Humboldt Community Breast Health Project where I use my skills and interests almost daily to update the information library and do individualized internet searches.  Life continues to be full."

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Christine Manhart -- Environmental Consultant, LACO Associates

"I have been a registered geologist for 2 years and have been working as an environmental consultant at LACO Associates for 5 years.

Working in the environmental industry has been fascinating and working at LACO has allowed me to continue my research bent without being in a university setting.  I graduated from the HSU Geology program in 1988 with a double major in Oceanography.  I went back later and started a Master's degree that I hope to finish shortly.  My interests were in coastal sedimentary processes so my current work, which deals primarily with groundwater, has a good fit.

"I've just about always known that I was going to be some sort of scientist when I grew up.  My parents gave me gifts such as a toy microscope and a Mohs hardness scale set, but claimed that they weren't steering me in any particular direction.  By the way, the Mohs hardness scale is the set of 10 rocks that geologists use as comparison in determining the hardness of an unknown sample.  Unfortunately, the sets you buy rarely contain number 10 diamond.  Anyway, now that I have a daughter who's a 'science nerd' I think I understand that my parents didn't really have to do much steering.

"One thing I would like everyone who's considering a science education to consider is not to let it get in your way if there's some aspect that you find difficult.  There are so many different pathways in science that you don't have to be 'good' at chemistry and physics and calculus to be able to accomplish what you want.  The best thing you'll have going for you is enthusiasm.  If you love what you're doing you'll find a way to make it happen.  At the same time though, don't ignore English.  No matter what you end up doing in life, you'll always have to communicate.  The better you can do that, the more people will consider what you're saying.

"Also, I think it's important to find instructors that love what they're doing and go out of their way to pass that on to students.  It takes a lot of energy to teach that way so finding that kind of instructor is difficult, but it goes so far in motivating students that it can help you through the rough patches.  It's so much easier to learn from someone who really wants to teach than from someone who would rather be doing research.

"One last thought on the topic of gender bias  I've rarely had a problem with it and I like to think that that will only improve by the time you join the workforce.  It is rather a strange feeling to realize that you're the only woman in a meeting.  But it doesn't last long and you just get on with your job."

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Eileen Cashman -- Professor, Environmental Resources Engineering, Humboldt State University

"I had a teacher in high school, Mr. Corcoran, who encouraged me to consider engineering as a field. However, if Mr. Corcoran had told me that he thought I would have a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering and that I would be teaching at Humboldt State University, I would not have believed him in a million years.

After graduating from Humboldt State University with my B.S. in Environmental Resources Engineering, one of my professors suggested that I might enjoy graduate school and eventually teaching, I still did not believe that to be possible.   Yet, here I am nearly twenty years later; I have been teaching courses in Water Quality, Fluid Mechanics and River Hydraulics in the Environmental Resources Engineering Department and truly enjoying it.

"So unlike some other stories, I was not sure from a young (or not so young) age about what I wanted to do.  After completing my undergraduate degree in ERE, I went to work for a large public utility as a Civil Engineer.  I enjoyed this job very much, but could not picture myself staying for an entire career.  I returned to graduate school five years later and earned an M.S. in Land Resources (with a certificate in Energy Analysis and Policy) from UW-Madison.  I worked for a year for a consulting firm and returned to UW-Madison to pursue a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering.  During my Ph.D. program I worked for the U.S. Geological Survey as a research fellow in the National Water Quality program.

"When I completed my Ph.D., I accepted a faculty position at James Madison University in Virginia and discovered that I thoroughly enjoy teaching in an undergraduate program.  I jumped at the opportunity to join the faculty at HSU.  Somehow I feel I ended up with my dream career, even without knowing that is what it was.  Of course it was not completely random.  I have always been interested in the environment and had an aptitude for math, but it was not a clear path for me from the start.  Along the way, I have been blessed with a wonderful family and solid support.

"So perhaps my one piece of advice to a young women who might be considering fields in math, science or engineering is 'Never say Never.'  Don't let one bad experience (or even one marginal experience) stop your education.  Keep searching for what you really enjoy, keep striving for balance in your life and you will succeed."

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Ramona Lima, R.Ph. -- Pharmacist, Lima's Pharmacy

"When I was considering what I wanted to major in when I started college, the thought of becoming a pharmacist never entered my mind! I actually wanted to go into the field of medicine and become a physician.

After graduation from High School in 1984, I consulted with a close friend of the family, who was a M.D.  He suggested I consider a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy rather than another degree before applying to medical school.

"He said, 'You'll have an edge over other candidates who are also trying to get into the very competitive field of medicine by already having a professional degree in healthcare.   Plus, when you're in medical school, you can help supplement your college tuition fees, etc. by working as a pharmacist because they make a great salary right out of school.'   He also told me I would have a much easier time with one of the more challenging courses:  Pharmacology.  So I thought this approach would give me an advantage and increase my chances of getting into med school.  That's how I decided to become a pharmacist.

"Being from Texas, my goal was to become accepted to the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy (hook 'em horns!  :) which I was in 1986.   I completed the 2 year Pre-Pharmacy courses at Texas Tech University as well as attending Tarrant County Junior College in the summers (so I could also work), which mainly consisted of the basic classes and additional courses in Chemistry including Organic and Biochemistry as well as advanced courses in Biology, Physics, and Mathematics (Calculus).   I had a strong academic background in Biology, Physics, and Math.  However, Organic Chemistry was my most challenging subject.

"Once I began the professional sequence, which takes an additional 3-4 years depending if you attend through the summers, I realized how challenging Pharmacy school really was.   I also learned more about the many different areas of pharmacy one can pursue.  You could go into retail, hospital, nuclear, and teaching, to name a few.  Each area of pharmacy has advantages and disadvantages depending on what you want to do.   I also learned about the exceptional salary a pharmacist makes and the huge demand for pharmacists nationwide.  This allows for greater flexibility and quick placement right out of school.  Because of these reasons, I decided pharmacy would be my career and medical school would not.

"There wasn't a lot of 'extra' time on my hands for socializing or partying for me; I had to study hard to make the grades.  If I wasn't studying, I was working a part-time waitressing job to help pay for school.  I was able to obtain a few grants and a student loan as well as some help from my parents who were very supportive during my school years, but most of the financial responsibility was mine.  I think that was one of the challenges for me that kept me focused to get through Pharmacy school and be successful.

"I achieved that goal and graduated from UT Austin in 1990.  I then took the State Board Exam and passed.  Now I was a licensed Pharmacist, and anxious to begin my profession and pay off my school debt!

"While in Texas I chose to work in the hospital because I really loved the clinical aspect of pharmacy and working closely with the physicians on this level.  I never worked in a retail 'chain' pharmacy, but was interested in pursuing the idea of owning my own business someday.

"I met my husband Robert while attending UT, who is also a pharmacist, and we moved to Eureka, California in 1992 with the aspirations of buying an independent, locally owned pharmacy called Clay's Pharmacy. Learning the 'ins and outs' of running a business, hands on experience, as well as being in the right place at the right time proved to be the opportunity of a lifetime.

"We purchased Clay's Pharmacy in September of 1997 and changed the name to Lima's Professional Pharmacy.   Lima's Pharmacy started with 8 employees.

"Today we have two locations, 25 employees and have expanded our business to specialize in many areas of pharmaceutical healthcare including the use of robotics, two compounding labs to meet individualized medication needs for patients in the areas of pain management and bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, as well as compounding medications for animals.   We also have the only certified licensed pharmacy clean room in Humboldt County which allows us to make sterile injectable medications for patients.

"I am very proud to be part of this community and contribute to better our healthcare and meet the needs of our patients, through education, and through working with other healthcare professionals.

"The one piece of advice I would give to any female considering the field of pharmacy would be to keep yourself open-minded to the many possibilities that pharmacy has to offer.  The job is not just putting pills in a bottle and filling prescriptions all day long.  It's really what YOU make it and how YOU create your own opportunities in the field.   Most important...always strive to be happy in what you do."

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Margaret Lang -- Professor, Environmental Resources Engineering, Humboldt State University

"I've always been interested in the environment and spent as much time as possible outside as a kid (and still do!). I also enjoyed, and was quite good at, math and science in school so when it was time to start thinking about what to study in college I considered a number of different majors that would merge these two interests.

I chose Civil/Environmental Engineering because it combined my interest in the environment with an equally strong desire to actually solve problems and make a difference.

"I started my college education with a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois and headed west after graduating to get a Masters Degree in Environmental Engineering and Science at Stanford University. After completing my Masters Degree, I worked as a consulting engineer creating computer simulations of environmental systems that were used to assess environmental regulations. Following 5 years as a consulting engineer, I decided it was time to head back to school for a doctorate because I enjoy learning and challenges and almost everyone else in the office I worked in already had one. I returned to Stanford's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in June 1989 and spent 5 years developing a computer model to simulate biodegradation of chlorinated solvents in groundwater and using the model to determine clean-up strategies for contaminated sites.

"I was hired as an Assistant Professor in Environmental Resources Engineering at Humboldt State University in 1994 and feel like I've found the perfect job for me. I really enjoy working with students in and out of the classroom, encouraging their progress as engineers. I'm doing research in fish passage and watershed restoration that combines my interests in the natural environment with engineering design. For me, environmental engineering has been a field that required hard work and dedication to master but offers so many rewards in knowing that I've accomplished something difficult and am contributing positively to how our communities and environment function."

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Valency Langtry -- Civil Engineer, CalTrans

"I have been working in the field of Civil Engineering since 1992. My interest in Civil Engineering came about with an internship with Caltrans in 1992, while I was attending College of the Redwoods and UC Davis.

For three consecutive summers, I worked as a Student Assistant in Engineering for Caltrans construction projects throughout Lake and Mendocino Counties.

"While women in civil engineering are few (statistics showed that of those employed in civil engineering in 2000, 10.1% were women*), women engineers in construction are far fewer. There were definite challenges associated with being a young women inspector in a male dominated environment, but the work was exciting and worth working through those difficulties.

"Since then, I have worked on projects in Nevada, California and Colorado in the areas of design and construction in a wide variety of civil disciplines, including: environmental on hazardous waste sites; forensic engineering (geotechnical in nature, post failure analysis); drinking water, groundwater and wastewater treatment; structural engineering; and transportation engineering. I've recently returned to Eureka, California and Caltrans; and am enjoying working in transportation design."

* SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2000; Table: Employed Civilians, by Occupation, Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin.

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Talitha Stimson -- Civil Engineer, CalTrans

"One day during the summer between CR and UC Davis, I sat next to an old crotchety engineer on a flight to Dallas, TX. Somehow or other, introductions were made and I was asked what I was studying in college.

I replied that I thought I was studying to become a Civil Engineer with an emphasis in Structures.  He shook his head and said something like, 'Well, I wouldn't worry about that � that's just a starting point.' That vague response pretty much sums up my career path.

"After graduating from UC Davis I was hired by the City and County of San Francisco in their Environmental Engineering Division at the South East Water Pollution Control Plant.  So much for my emphasis in Structural Engineering; I was now evaluating and designing wastewater treatment systems.  It was a very interesting and enjoyable job.  The two most important things I learned in my year with the City was how to be a better writer (yep) and to make sure that the needle valve is closed before opening that gate valve (even if you closed it the day before).  Unfortunately, the last lesson was learned the hard way � I accidentally received a digested sludge facial while sampling for pH.  The first lesson has turned out to be the most valuable.  While technical writing was emphasized in school, it wasn't until I worked at the City that I realized that a good 75% of my day was spent either writing reports, memos or emails.  Communicating clearly was a necessary skill in functioning in my job and obtaining the respect of my colleagues.

"After a year with the City, I tried out the private sector, working with a firm called Kennedy/Jenks Consultants.  At KJ I spent most of my time designing water and wastewater systems � again not Structures.  It was a wonderful job as well and I learned a lot about good working habits and computer aided design tools, but after three years of water and wastewater I was still curious about structures.  So I left KJ and took a job as a Caltrans Structures Construction Engineer for the Richmond San Rafael Bridge.  Aside from the field inspections where I had to climb over railing poised 250 feet above the Bay, I was surprised to learn that much of the work in structures was very similar.  It was fantastic to learn that the skills gained in my previous years in water and wastewater design were equally valuable and applicable in another field of civil engineering.

"Finally (with my 'Big City' experience) I made the move back to Humboldt County and worked a couple of years at Spencer Engineering before finding my current position in Caltrans Design.  I've now been here for nearly four years.  I'm working on some fantastic projects; my main position as the Project Engineer for the Confusion Hill project is challenging and very rewarding.   Looking back at where my interests have taken me, the real meaning of what that crotchety engineer said becomes clear � it doesn't matter what career in mathematics/science you choose � an education in math or science will prepare you for nearly any career path you choose � it's just a starting point."

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Karen M. Quenell -- Evidence Technician, Humboldt County Sheriff's Office

"I am currently an Evidence Technician, or commonly known as 'CSI,' for the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office.

I have been employed in this position for 3 � years.  I became interested in the forensic field about 10 years ago.  I was fascinated with cause of death and what a tiny piece of evidence could tell you about a crime.  I conducted extensive research on this field and decided this was the career for me.  Both of my parents taught me you can achieve any goal you set your mind to, and I feel nothing is impossible.

"After being in the accounting field for 11 years, I enrolled at College of the Redwoods to begin my degree in Cellular/Molecular Biology.  I continued to work several accounting jobs while in college.  I transferred to Humboldt State University in 2000.  In this same year, I approached the Humboldt County Coroner regarding volunteer work at their office.  The Coroner's Office created an extra-help position and I was titled Autopsy Technician.  During my time at the Coroner's Office I assisted in over 100 autopsies ranging from natural deaths to homicides.  I often went on death scenes to assist the Deputy Coroners with the investigations, all the while, continuing my education at H.S.U.  In the summer of 2001, I was informed of a position opening at the Sheriff's Office for Evidence Technician.  I applied for the position and was hired.  I delayed my education during my training period.  I am hoping to return to school this year to complete my degree.

"To me, the forensic field is fascinating.  I believe it is one of the most diverse science fields you can enter.  In one murder investigation, you could quite possibly use the science disciplines of geology, botany, entomology, human biology, anthropology, wildlife behavior, psychology and chemistry.  While one person could not be an expert on all fields it greatly assists the investigation to have some knowledge of each discipline.  I tend not to find any boredom in my career.  Although crime patterns may be the same, no two crime scenes are alike.

"In major metropolitan areas, the forensic field tends to be more specialized than in a rural setting such as Humboldt County.  There are only two full-time evidence technicians in Humboldt County.  One works for Eureka Police Department and covers the City jurisdiction and I cover the rest of the County.  This tends to make us more versed in our positions than someone employed by a major law enforcement agency.

"My advice to anyone contemplating this field is to conduct research.  Contact different law enforcement agencies, forensics labs and coroner's offices.  Talk to people that have been in the field for several years.  Follow your interests�as I said this field encompasses many types of disciplines.  Do volunteer work in the field or possibly an internship.  And most importantly�complete your education."

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Sherri Miller -- Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Forest Service Research, Redwood Sciences Laboratory

"After working for 10 years at two jobs that were not bad, but not my passion, I decided it was time to go back to school and take a shot at something I had dreamed of doing since I was twelve, become a wildlife veterinarian. At 35, I started as a freshman at Humboldt State University. For the next few years it was go, go, go.

A full-time job, full-time school, two teenagers, and my husband also in school, left no time for relaxing, but it was an exciting time in my life.  My career goals changed to research in wildlife diseases, and I continued on to complete a Master of Sciences degree, also at Humboldt.

"I was one of the lucky ones and found a job right here in Humboldt County at the U.S. Forest Service, Redwood Sciences Laboratory.  Although my job did not involve wildlife diseases, I was a participant in research on wildlife, specifically birds.  My main responsibilities were collecting field data and writing reports for our research on the Marbled Murrelet, a threatened seabird that nests in old-growth forests.  We didn't know much about the bird at that time and the first few years were filled with discoveries and excitement.  In the sixteen years we have been studying the murrelet, a great deal has been learned.  We better understand its nesting habitat needs and have developed methods for estimating murrelet population size and trends.

"I continue to collaborate on Marbled Murrelet local and range-wide research and participate as a member on The Northwest Forest Plan Marbled Murrelet Effectiveness Monitoring Team, a multi-agency effort across northern California, Oregon, and Washington.  In addition, I am also involved in research on riparian and riverine birds and their habitats in northern California and southern Oregon.  I have been fortunate to be able to advance in my career while remaining in this wonderful area.

"The Forest Service provides many opportunities to be involved in a variety of wildlife and conservation issues.  Although I joined the Forest Service at a time when women had few career choices, there have been tremendous changes over the years.  In both the research and land management branches of the Forest Service you now find a diverse workforce for many types of work and at all levels of administration."

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Tina Nerat -- Owner, Technology Consulting Firm NERATech

"When I was in high school, I wanted to be a computer programmer, which was very unusual for anyone, much less a woman in the mid-1960's. During my HS junior year, I took a college level Fortran programming course at UCSB.

Math classes then were not very advanced in high schools. I got totally disillusioned and had trouble with the Fortran class, not with the programming part, but the fact that I didn't understand how to solve the math problems, so how could I program the solution? Because I was disillusioned by the class, I went off to college with no real career goals in mind - the goal was just to go to college. I got interested in and majored in geography, graduating with distinction, but no jobs in my region materialized after graduation.

"After college graduation, I took a civil service test and got offered a job working for the Navy data processing center in San Diego in an entry-level job. I worked rotating shifts, rotating days off for 3 years, putting paper in printers, hanging magnetic tapes, and learning how to operate all sorts of mainframe computers - Burroughs, Univac, Sperry - names long gone now. This was great training and an eye-opener for me - not all jobs in computers were programming. There are many different fields within Information Technology (IT): desktop support, hardware, e-commerce, specialized applications support, systems analysis, network admin, software development, database management, and security, to name a few.

"Over the years, I worked for many different kinds of companies in many different positions - Burroughs (computers and integrated circuit manufacturing), IVAC/Eli Lilly (medical instruments, biotech), AMCC (semiconductor manufacturing), Peregrine (help desk software), and San Diego County Office of Education (K-12 education). I started a consulting business when I retired, and as a consultant, I love to focus on analysis, planning, technology business processes, and project management. Consulting has offered me the opportunity to work in many other types of businesses in the past 5 years since I moved to Humboldt County.

"What I really liked about working in different companies was learning new business skills - one can't be good in Information Technology without knowing the technology, products, and business processes of the industry in which one works. There hasn't been a day in the last 31 years that I haven't learned something new.

"Advice for women considering Information Technology: get a good foundation education in technology and know what emphasis area is in demand and is a good fit for your skills. Though a degree is not necessarily required, it's a long, hard road via low-level jobs to build a solid IT career without education. Also important is to network with people and have good 'soft' skills (customer service, writing, speaking, business demeanor) -- that will often give you the edge over people with pure technical skills."

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