About Leading Women Toward Space Careers

Leading Women Toward Space Careers is a comprehensive effort to inspire, connect, support, and ready college-aged students with a goal of increasing representation of women in STEM disciplines for long-term leadership in Space-related careers. Rather than direct job placement, the vision is to provide women students the knowledge they need beyond technical skills to advance in their fields

The program offers the following elements to participating students:

1. Mentors through "mentorship circles" comprised of a senior and a junior professional from outside the university, three undergraduates, and one graduate student. Circles connect women in STEM disciplines with astronauts, professionals in public service, and industry, up and down career ladders and college education.
2. Introduces and explores Space-career options across STEM disciplines through academic year programming.
3. Teaches workforce-readiness.
4. Holds workshops with the Tech Justice Lab and Purdue’s Space Archive to teach the social and personal histories of space exploration and innovation, and promote women students agency as they shape the future of their fields.

In accordance with Purdue policies, all persons have equal access to Purdue University’s educational programs, services and activities, without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability or status as a veteran. See Purdue’s Nondiscrimination Policy Statement. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these policies, please contact the Office of the Vice President for Ethics and Compliance at vpec@purdue.edu or 765-494-5830.