Retired naval commander will speak at YSU Women in Science workshop

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Rhonda Franklin will be the keynote speaker at the 18th annual Edward W. Powers Women in Science and Engineering Career Workshop and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Lecture Series at Youngstown State University.

The Edward W. Powers Women in Science and Engineering Career Day will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 21.

Franklin is an information systems specialist working as a software development manager for the Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C., and a retired commander for the Navy Reserve.

She earned a bachelor of science degree in pre-law and mathematics with minors in computer science and business from Auburn University, Auburn, Ala., and her master of science degree in information systems from George Mason University, Fairfax, Va. She also earned a Master’s Certificate in information technology project management from George Washington University, Washington D.C., and a master of science in national security strategic studies from the Naval War College, Newport, R.I.

At the career day, she will discuss her career and touch upon various careers in information technology available today. At the STEM lecture, she will discuss some of her work as an information dominance officer while a commander in the U.S. Navy Reserves.

Panel discussions will take place in the morning and hands-on activities and lab demonstrations will be in the afternoon in Kilcawley Center at YSU.

The workshop is designed to expose females in grades six through 12 to career opportunities in science and technology.

This workshop is open to all middle and high school girls from Mahoning and Trumbull counties and western Pennsylvania. Students will attend two workshops and two demonstrations of their choice. Parents can receive college planning and financial-aid information and take campus tours while their daughters participate in the workshop.

Registration must be submitted by Thursday. The workshop and lunch are free to all students. Information about the workshop and online registration can be found at www.ysu.edu/WIS. For more information or to receive a registration form in the mail, contact Diana Fagan at 330-941-1554 (email: dlfagan@ysu.edu).

A donation from the Edward W. Powers Foundation in 2012 supports the continuation of WISE career Day and the STEM Lecture Series. At the STEM Lecture series the WISE Career Day speaker gives a presentation on his or her work. The STEM lecture will take place from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. next Friday in the Ohio Room at Kilcawley Center.

The lecture is free and open to the public.