STEMming in Stilettos with Dr. Toshia

Episode Summary

This is absolutely an episode that you don't want to miss.  Dr. Christopher is amazing and her work speaks beyond herself. She's looking for funding and opportunities for her programs and for her students to expand their work.


Dr. Christopher Bio
Founder and Executive Director of STEM Greenhouse, a nonprofit organization that fervently believes if you plant the seed in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and nurture the resulting curiosity, CHILDREN WILL FLOURISH!! 

My interest in math and science began with the excellent education I received in Grand Rapids Public Schools. I received a full scholarship to the HBCU, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and continued to the University of Illinois where I received a masters and a PhD in Agricultural Engineering. I am only the third Black woman to ever receive a PhD in Agricultural Engineering in the world. I was often the only woman or person of color in a sea of white male faces in all my classes. This led to feelings of disconnectedness, loneliness, and alienation. Because of these experiences I promised that one day, I would try to personally make it easier for students of color to succeed in STEM education, pursue STEM careers, and feel supported in a way that had been absent for me. 

This is what I know to be true.
- Relationships are as important as curriculum in urban K-12 education. 
- One person can change generations by influencing the life of a child. 

Support the show

You can find out more information about Dr. Toshia here:

https://www.drtoshia.co

STEMming in Stilettos Youtube Channel: https://youtu.be/xAc25J7UH9A

Episode Summary

This one is simply Dr. Toshia talking about some of her struggles and some of the lessons that she's learned along the way. 

- Take care of yourself. It is not self-indulgent to invest in yourself. It is self-focused and necessary
- No judgment of anyone else. Focus on yourself.
- No running from problems or situations. It doesn't work and wastes time and you meet yourself when you stop running anyway. 
- When things get tough; ground yourself and get back to who you know you really are. 

Support the show

You can find out more information about Dr. Toshia here:

https://www.drtoshia.co

STEMming in Stilettos Youtube Channel: https://youtu.be/xAc25J7UH9A

Support the show

You can find out more information about Dr. Toshia here:

https://www.drtoshia.co

STEMming in Stilettos Youtube Channel: https://youtu.be/xAc25J7UH9A

Support the show

You can find out more information about Dr. Toshia here:

https://www.drtoshia.co

STEMming in Stilettos Youtube Channel: https://youtu.be/xAc25J7UH9A

Episode Summary
1) She has always been interested in science and thought that computers were the way of the future, thus her going into computer science.
2) The road wasn't always easy but she learned to listen to herself and to trusted others and she stayed the course.
3) She started her non-profit very early on to help others get scholarships.
4) She also wanted to address the issues that Black women face in the workplace and being the one and only.
5) She is an inventor, innovator and creator!!



Bukola Somide Bio:
Bukola Somide, is inspiring the youth to realize their passion early in order to pursue and excel in their purpose.

Born in Kaduna, Nigeria, she migrated to the United States as a teenager with her family . Having decided to pursue a Computer Science degree as early as 10th grade, that proclamation was realized when she attained a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP). She also acquired a Masters in Technology Management from UMUC and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certificate from PMI.

As the founder/CEO of Innovant Technologies LLC, she invented the first-ever Computer Science educational interactive doll, "Somi". Authored "Somi the Computer Scientist: Princess can Code" storybook, and Computer Science Activity Books for girls & boys. 

With her 501(c)3 nonprofit, CompSci ABC (Computer Science Awareness in Black Communities), she's giving back to the community through her array of educational programs for children, teens, and young adults.  She hopes to create a scholarship fund to provide financial assistance to young minority girls pursuing Computer Science in College.

​Bukola is a very passionate, inquisitive and creative individual, who credits her determination, ideas, ability to overcome adversity, perseverance, and success to her faith.


Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bukolasomide
Website: https://www.innovant-tech.com/
Website: http://www.bukolasomide.com/

Support the show

You can find out more information about Dr. Toshia here:

https://www.drtoshia.co

STEMming in Stilettos Youtube Channel: https://youtu.be/xAc25J7UH9A

Episode Summary

1) She was exposed early to STEM by her father who was her early champion during her educational years.
2) Girls, in particular, need an early champion in their lives to assist in getting through the minutiae and stereotypes that are persistent in STEM.
3) We should give people the grace to pivot if they know that going down a path isn't going to work for them. Especially if they know it early.
4) Interdisciplinary work isn't just about bringing the disciplines together. It's about being intentional about the people in the room.

Saleema Khimji bio

Through her legal and IP background, in tandem with over a decade of experience in partnerships in the public and private sectors, Saleema has worked with a multidisciplinary range of skills, experiences, and education, to promote innovation globally. Her endeavors as MCI’s Chief Innovation Officer allow her to bridge various cultures, vertices, and geographies within the innovation ecosystem, yielding unique partnerships and collaboration platforms.

Prior to joining the MCI team, she developed extensive expertise in patenting and nurturing technologies through the development life cycle with a series of healthcare and technology projects, including co-inventing an AI-based sensor technology for counterfeit drug detection through the University of Oxford.

She is also deeply passionate about mentoring young women in STEM, entrepreneurship & innovation, and empowering them to excel in their careers.

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/saleema-khimji-8412943

Support the show

You can find out more information about Dr. Toshia here:

https://www.drtoshia.co

STEMming in Stilettos Youtube Channel: https://youtu.be/xAc25J7UH9A

Episode Summary

1) She is naturally curious and that led her to be in STEM. She finds joy in being curious and being about to find answers to the questions that she's had for most of her life.
2) Black Girls Do STEM is her non-profit where she embraces the "curious Black girl. "
3) She is keenly aware of the disparities that exist in the world as it relates to Black girls and Black women.

Cynthia Chapple Bio
Cynthia is an innovative scientist an advocate for black girls and women, and advocates for high level STEM learning to be a reality for all of our children. In keeping with this work Cynthia is the founder of Black Girls Do STEM an organization offering exploration of STEM career pathways through hands on engaging curriculum in the areas of Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics to middle and high school black girls to expose them to career pathways and empower them to become STEM professionals. Therefore, she prides herself on mentoring youth as well as advocating for equitable policies and practices that will make for a more inclusive science community. She looks for more ways in which STEM industries and the higher education community can be a part of bridging the inclusion gap and inspiring the next generation of scientist, so that black women will have equitable representation in the STEM workplaces of today and tomorrow. As a technical business professional, Cynthia has worked as a research and development chemist where she created innovative coating solutions for the electrical and electronics market. 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cynthia-chapple
Website: Black Girls Do STEM | Giving black girls a scientific tomorrow. (bgdstem.com)

Support the show

You can find out more information about Dr. Toshia here:

https://www.drtoshia.co

STEMming in Stilettos Youtube Channel: https://youtu.be/xAc25J7UH9A

This episode is all above welcoming women of color in STEM to the tribe. You've graduated from college/university, gained the certification, gotten the promotion, changed industries, started anew. We welcome you!!!  We need you!!! This commencement address gives you great advice to follow and we hope to have you on the show in the future. 

Support the show

You can find out more information about Dr. Toshia here:

https://www.drtoshia.co

STEMming in Stilettos Youtube Channel: https://youtu.be/xAc25J7UH9A

Episode Summary

1) She made a shift in her career from the science/medical fields to drones. She took the risk and has been successful. The lesson here is to take the risk.
2) The field of drone and drone technology is wide open for Black women. We currently only make up 4% of the industry.
3) Get yourself a drone and start learning the particulars of how to fly one and how to build one.

Ashlee Cooper Bio

Ashlee Cooper, MLS(ASCP) aka Drone Boss Lady is the President of Droneversity. 

Ms. Cooper's success as a molecular microbiology scientist prepared her for success in the drone industry. She has more than 10 years of experience as a STEM educator, curriculum developer, and certified clinical laboratory scientist. Her career in academia includes training medical residents to manage, design, and instruct STEM labs at post-secondary institutions. She served on the campus safety board as the Chemical Hygiene Officer, as well as set on the Science Olympiad board and many educational tasks force.

Becoming a Part 107 pilot presented life-changing opportunities. Ms. Cooper's drone-industry credentials include certification as a Remote pilot with an sUAS rating, PA drone association board member, Federal Aviation Administration, Safety Team representative, and the first Black female FAA DronePro in the U.S. North East region. She has developed STEAM-aviation training for multiple organizations.

She founded Drone Navigations LLC and  Droneversity with the mission to continue the Black aviation legacy in the drone revolution. Her drone instruction started with teaching her now 4 years old to fly drones by coding.

Website: https://www.droneversity.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleemcooper

Support the show

You can find out more information about Dr. Toshia here:

https://www.drtoshia.co

STEMming in Stilettos Youtube Channel: https://youtu.be/xAc25J7UH9A

Episode Summary

This is part 2 of my time with Dr. Soso. We talked about the work of the NSF (National Science Foundation) and how you can participate in the work they are doing to benefit minorities.

You will want to listen to both parts.

Support the show

You can find out more information about Dr. Toshia here:

https://www.drtoshia.co

STEMming in Stilettos Youtube Channel: https://youtu.be/xAc25J7UH9A