The Fourth Annual
Women in Science Day
Women in Science (WinS) Day celebrates the involvement of young female students in the sciences, empowering them to pursue an education in the sciences and a wide variety of possible professional pursuits. Undergraduate women of the College and high school-aged students from the Worcester area are invited to spend the day at our newly renovated and expanded Science Complex. Undergraduate attendees will benefit from alumnae panels, inspiring speakers, and a networking session. High school students will participate in interactive lab demonstrations, a STEM-specific browsing session, and an admissions plenary session.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
9:30 am - Check-in and continental Breakfast in the Dunn Lounge of the Hogan Ballroom
10:00 am - Welcoming Remarks from Professor Alo Basu in Hogan Ballroom
10:15 am - Keynote Address from Dr. Anne Marie March,
Physicist and Researcher at the Argonne National Laboratory
11:00 am - Breakout Session I
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Networking Session for Undergraduate Students in Hogan Suite B/C
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Science Major Panels for High Schoolers in Science Complex
12:00 pm - Lunch
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Undergraduate luncheon with alumnae in Hogan Suite A
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High school pizza lunch in science complex (Swords Atrium) with STEM browsing session
1:00 pm - Breakout Session II
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Dessert and larger panel discussion with alumnae for undergraduates
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Science scavenger hunt for high schoolers with an admissions plenary session to follow
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Meet our keynote
Anne Marie March
Holy Cross Class of 2000
B.A. in Physics
Anne Marie March graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 2000 with a B.A. in Physics and in 2009 earned her Ph.D. in Physics from Stony Brook University. Subsequently, she joined the Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics Group at Argonne National Laboratory as a Postdoctoral Researcher and continues there today, now as Physicist, working to advance new ultrafast x-ray techniques to “watch” molecules as they react during chemical reactions.
“We must have perseverance and above all, confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.”
-Marie Curie
Meet the Alumnae for Networking
Michelle Hoarty
Michelle Hoarty graduated HC in 2009 with a major in Biology. She began working at Ra Pharma in 2011 and is currently the Senior Manager for Clinical Science & Biomarker Development. She is responsible for the PD, PK, PGx, ADA and biomarker data across all Phase 1 – 3 clinical trials for the C5 inhibitor, zilucoplan. Zilucoplan is in clinical development for complement-mediated rare diseases including gMG, IMNM, PNH and ALS. A quote she would like to share is, “Research means that you don’t know, but are willing to find out.” -Charles Kettering
Lori Masso
Lori A. Masso graduated HC in 2001 with a major in Physics before attending Tufts University, receiving a masters degree in Physics in 2005. She began her career at Raytheon Company in 2001. She is currently the Cyber Solutions and Integration (CSI) department technical staff manager within the System, Architecture, Design and Integration Directorate (SADID). Lori earned a Society of Women Engineer’s Emerging Leader Award in 2015, and in 2014 she earned an Excellence in Engineering and Technology Award, Raytheon’s most prestigious technical award. A quote she would like to share is,“If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.“ Mario Andretti
Caroline Fleming
Caroline Fleming graduated in the class of 2018, with a Biology major and minors in Art History & Museum Studies . She is currently studying towards her masters in applied mathematical modeling and organismal physiology in the Rotjan lab of marine ecology at Boston University. Her favorite inspirational science quote is, "Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood"-Marie Curie.
Deirdre Tobias
Deirdre Tobias, ScD graduated from HC in 2005, majoring in Psychology on the Pre-med track. Dr. Tobias is an epidemiologist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston. She received her doctorate in epidemiology and nutrition from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in 2011, where she continues to teach. In 2019 Dr. Tobias was appointed the first Academic Editor for the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Her research focuses on the role of lifestyle in obesity and its major chronic diseases, including diabetes. A quote she lives by is “A ship in port is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.” — Grace Hopper
Gina Trachimowicz
Gina Trachimowicz graduated from HC in 1999, majoring in Psychology with a Neuroscience Concentration. She went to medical school at University of Vermont 2001-2005, followed by a Pediatric Residency 2005-2008 and Neonatology Fellowship. She worked as a Neonatologist at UVM from 2012-2013, UMass 2013-2016 and currently at Maine Medical Center since 2016.
She is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine and the Director of Medical Education for the NICU at Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center.
Elizabeth Morse Luoma
Elizabeth (Beth) Morse Luoma, Ph.D. graduated HC in 2009, majoring in Biology with a Biochemistry Concentration. She is the Assistant Director of Faculty Teaching Initiatives at the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning at Yale University. She has previously served as Assistant Director of Women’s Health Research at Yale as well as STEM Education Program Director at the Poorvu Center. A quote she would like to share is “One of the greatest gifts I received from my Holy Cross education is the notion of cura personalis, or “care of the whole person.” When you consider your path forward in science, how does it reflect who you are as a whole person? In what ways can you contribute your talents, effort and energy to science in a way that inspires you to be your true, authentic self?
Jennie Cooke
Jennie Cooke graduated from Holy Cross in 2013 with a degree in Chemistry. Currently, she is the science department chair at Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall, an independent high school in Waltham, MA. A quote she would like to share is, “I am so proud to lead a mostly-female department and show my students that scientists look like women too.”
Sheila Namirembe
Sheila Namirembe graduated HC in 2015 with a degree in Chemistry. She an Organic Chemistry PhD candidate at Boston College. Sheila’s PhD studies are focused towards developing new reaction methodologies and the total synthesis of biologically active compounds. She encourages you all to not be afraid to be the first, your scientific contributions matter.
Mara Piltin
Mara A. Piltin, DO graduated HC in 2010 with a major in Biology, minor in Studio Art, and Pre-med concentration. She is currently a Breast Oncology Surgery Fellow at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and plans to start her career there as a Breast and Melanoma Surgeon. A quote she would like to share is “Ancora Imparo”–Michaelangelo. This was inscribed on Michaelangelo’s sketchbook when he was 88 years old and it translates to “I am still learning”
Emily Joseph
Emily K Joseph DMD graduated HC in 2009 with an Environmental Studies Major and Economics Minor on the Pre Med/Dental Program. She is a General Dentist at Jay M Epstein DMD PC (private practice). A quote she would like to share is “Science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated.” -Rosalind Franklin Science and technology is integrated in our lives, our health, our communities.
