Building Connection in STEM: A Path to Collaborative Progress

Noon–1 p.m., Lunch and Learn

“Connection as a Foundation for Inclusive Institutions”

Presented by the Harvey Mudd College President’s Scholars, Joseph B. Platt Campus Center, Green Room

Join us for a dynamic Lunch and Learn Workshop focused on advances toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. Together, we will explore how creating space for open dialogue, promoting inclusive decision-making, and supporting institutional cultures rooted in empathy and equity can strengthen both STEM communities and society. We’ll also examine how gender disconnection, when left unaddressed, undermines peace and justice by reinforcing exclusionary norms. This forum invites our community to envision a more inclusive STEM culture that actively builds just, peaceful and resilient institutions from the inside out.

5–6 p.m. Community Reception

Galileo Foyer.

6–7 p.m., Reshma Saujani and Katie Shilton in Conversation with President Harriet Nembhard

“Rewriting the Narrative: Empathy, Connection, and Collaboration in STEM”

Galileo Hall

Through a moderated interview and audience dialogue, our speakers will challenge outdated gender norms around strength, vulnerability and collaboration. They will explore how disconnection impedes progress in STEM—and inspire students, faculty and community members to actively reimagine and rebuild inclusive STEM cultures. This is more than a conversation—it’s a call to action. Join us to help write the next chapter for a more connected, empathetic and equitable STEM community.

Forum Panelists

Reshma Saujani

Reshma Saujani is a leading activist, the founder of Girls Who Code, the founder and CEO of Moms First, and the host of My So-Called Midlife with Lemonada Media. She has spent more than a decade building movements to fight for women and girls’ economic empowerment, working to close the gender gap in the tech sector, and most recently fighting for the structural changes moms need and deserve including affordable child care and paid leave. She is a New York Times bestselling author of several books including PAY UP: The Future of Women and Work (And Why It’s Different Than You Think), Brave, Not Perfect and the Girls Who Code book series.

Katie Shilton

Katie Shilton is a professor in the College of Information at the University of Maryland, College Park. Her research focuses on technology and data ethics. She is a co-PI of the NSF Institute for Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence in Law & Society and a co-PI of the UMD Values-Centered Artificial Intelligence initiative. She was also recently the PI of the PERVADE project, a multi-campus collaboration focused on big data research ethics. She is the founding co-director of the University of Maryland’s undergraduate major in social data science.