The Women in STEM Summit at Montclair State University will serve as a transformative event, bringing together undergraduate and graduate women in STEM from across New Jersey to share their research and engage in meaningful professional development. The summit will feature a keynote address by Dr. Erika Hamden, an astrophysicist celebrated for her contributions to innovation and resilience in STEM, and include student-led research presentations across diverse scientific disciplines.
Attendees will participate in workshops designed to enhance key professional skills, covering topics such as building mentorship networks, fostering intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and exploring diverse career opportunities in teaching, academia, industry, and beyond. This event aims to foster community, amplify the voices of women in STEM, and equip participants with tools to navigate and thrive in their academic and professional journeys.
By creating a platform for collaboration, learning, and inspiration, the Women in STEM Summit seeks to advance diversity, inclusivity, and representation in STEM, ultimately empowering the next generation of female scientists and innovators.
Agenda
- 8AM
- Registration/Breakfast/Networking
- 9AM
- Morning Session
Welcome and Introductions
Opening Keynote with Dr. Erika Hamden
Student Research Poster Session
Panel Discussion – Academia
Professional Development Workshop – Education and Mentorship - 12:15PM
- Lunch
- 1PM
- Afternoon Session
Stories of Science
Panel Discussion – Partnerships/Industry
Professional Development Workshop
Building Your Brand - 3PM
- Closing Remarks and Door Prizes
Biographies
Dean Lora Billings
Summit Host
Dr. Lora Billings is Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics. She is an applied mathematician with specialization in stochastic dynamical systems. She holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Applied Mathematics from University of Colorado, Boulder and B.S. in Mathematics from Lafayette College. Dr. Billings joined Montclair State University in 2001 and became full professor in 2010, building on a successful research and teaching record. From 2014-2017, Dr. Billings served as a program director in the Division of Mathematical Sciences at the National Science Foundation. In 2017, she returned to the university as Acting Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics and was appointed Dean in 2018, the first woman to hold that position. Dr. Billings is a strong advocate for students and strives to create a community that provides support and mentoring so they can achieve more with their education. She was awarded the Montclair State Distinguished Research Award in 2008 and the Association for Women in Science Zenith Award in 2024.
Melissa Spigelman
Summit Moderator
Melissa is a graduate associate and research assistant at Montclair State University, where she is pursuing her M.S. in Molecular Biology. Now in her second year, her research focuses on developing non-invasive treatments for melanoma and exploring ways to enhance fertility in zebrafish models. She earned her B.S. in Molecular Biology from Montclair State University and is a proud first-generation college student. Passionate about fostering inclusivity in STEM and healthcare-related fields, Melissa strives to create an environment where individuals from all backgrounds feel empowered to pursue their education. Through her social media platform and her workshop, Everyone Can Be a Scientist!, she actively uplifts and supports the STEM community.
Erika Hamden
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Erika Hamden is a Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Arizona and Director of the University of Arizona Space Institute. Prof. Hamden is a world expert in space sciences, including space mission development and ultraviolet technology. She earned a B.A. from Harvard College and a PhD from Columbia University. Prof. Hamden is a TED Fellow, a AAAS IF/Then Ambassador, and has won numerous awards from NASA for her work in ultraviolet astronomy. In addition to her technical work, she hosts a TV show on AZPM, holds a private pilot’s license, and communicates science on social media to over 170 thousand followers.
Panelists and Presenters
Sandra Adams
Dr. Adams earned degrees in Biological Sciences, Education, and Molecular Genetics. After 22.5 years at Montclair State University, she retired in 2024 as Professor Emeritus. Her research focused on antiviral properties of natural products against various viruses. Dr. Adams maintained a laboratory, mentored students, taught biology courses, and served as graduate advisor. She initiated the Phage Genomics course, which discovered 265 phages with 22 entered in GenBank. Previously, she taught in Georgia public schools and served as faculty at several universities.
Elizabeth Bradley
Dr. Elizabeth Bradley holds SB, SM, and PhD degrees from MIT. A member of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Colorado since 1993, she recently completed a term as the chair of the Computing Research Association’s Computing Community Consortium (CCC). Her research interests include nonlinear dynamics and nonlinear time-series analysis. She has mentored close to 100 graduate, undergraduate, and high-school students and a half-dozen postdocs. She is a member of the external faculty of the Santa Fe Institute and the recipient of a National Young Investigator award, Packard and Radcliffe Fellowships, and the University of Colorado system’s highest teaching award.
Jenny Dhall
Jenny Dhall is a healthcare business leader with 30+ years in the laboratory industry. With a Biology degree from Rutgers and an MPA, she began at Quest Diagnostics as a lab technologist before moving into business operations. Jenny has managed billing, laboratories, quality initiatives, and acquisitions. Currently, she serves as Hospital Lab Relations Director for the East Region and participates in Quest’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council. An alumna of the Women in Leadership Program, Jenny is passionate about advocating for young women in STEM.
Alexis Khursigara
Dr. Khursigara is an aquatic ecotoxicologist and ecophysiologist. Dr. Khursigara’s research aims to understand how changes in the environment impact the development, physiology, and behavior of aquatic organisms. One stream of her research examines how environmental conditions (e.g., Ultraviolet (UV) radiation) and climate change stressors (e.g., temperature, hypoxia, and salinity) affect physiological and behavioral performance including changes in thermal tolerance, hypoxia tolerance, metabolic rate, enzymatic activity, and personality behaviors of aquatic species. The second stream focuses on understanding how environmental contaminants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) impact the survival, development, growth, morphology, metabolic rate, and behavior of fishes.
Emily Miske ’21
Emily is a Senior Actuarial Analyst at AEGIS Insurance Services, Inc. where her responsibilities include reserving and financial reporting. She is a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA) and Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) where she volunteered in multiple roles, including as a mentor to undergraduate actuarial students, and as a member of the Candidate Advocate Working Group. Emily is passionate about diversity and inclusion, aiming to serve as an ally and mentor to those entering the field of actuarial science. Emily obtained her B.S. in Mathematics with a concentration in Statistics and minors in Psychology & Leadership Development at Montclair. She returned as a speaker at our College of Science and Mathematics Professional Panel in 2023.
Edythe Nepomuceno
Edythe Nepomuceno is a Project Coordinator for the American Heart Association’s Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Scholars Program. She graduated from Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey with a BA in Biology and a minor in French. She is currently a graduate student at the University of Arizona Global
Campus pursuing a Master of Public Health degree. Edythe is passionate about serving marginalized communities, and in the future, she hopes to make positive change in the public health space.
Diana Thomas
Dr. Diana M. Thomas earned her Ph.D. from Georgia Tech and completed a National Research Council fellowship at West Point. After serving as a mathematics professor at Montclair State University and directing their Center for Quantitative Obesity Research, she joined West Point as a professor of mathematical sciences. With 25+ years in nutrition and obesity modeling research, Dr. Thomas co-invented the SmartLoss™ remote weight loss program, published over 150 peer-reviewed articles, and developed multiple health calculators. She serves as an editor for leading nutrition journals and leads the AIDE-ML Center for the Nutrition for Precision Health Consortium. Her achievements include awards from the Mathematical Association of America, Obesity Society, and American Mathematical Society.