STEAM Ahead Co-Founder Loren Murphy Paul On Her Journey as a Successful Woman in STEAM
In honor of Women’s History Month, we are excited to share Loren’s background, inspiring career, and love of STEM in her own words.
What are your first memories of being interested in STEAM?
I have so many memories. Growing up I would always look forward to the Science Fair because it was an opportunity for me and my dad to create something really cool. A project that I still remember is the disappearing color wheel experiment where we divided a wooden wheel into different sections and painted each section a different color. When you spun the wheel it turned white to demonstrate Isaac Newton’s discovery that white sunlight was made up of multiple colors when split.
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Petersburg, Virginia but grew up in Chester, Virginia.
What schools did you attend before college?
Since I lived in Chester, Virginia, I was a part of the Chesterfield County Public School system. For high school, Chesterfield County offered Specialty programs that you could apply to get into. For 9th grade, I was accepted into the Math and Science Specialty Center. However, the culture and environment were not a good fit and as a result, I transferred into the Pre-Engineering Specialty Center for tenth to twelfth grade.
What was your favorite subject as a child?
It’s cliche, but I really loved Math because I was either right or wrong, and there was always a way I could check my work.
“Growing up, I would always look forward to the Science Fair because it was an opportunity for me and my Dad to create something really cool.”
Was there anyone in your life who influenced your interest in STEAM?
My parents and brother were my influencers. My dad is an Electrical Engineer from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and my brother is a Mechanical Engineer from the University of Maryland. My mom did not have the “engineering gene” but she was super smart and top of her college class. They all showed me the value of an education.
Where did you attend college and what was your major?
For my undergraduate, I attended the University of Virginia where I majored in Biomedical Engineering. I also received a Masters in Computing from Marquette University.
What was your first job out of college and what led you there?
My first job was at GE Healthcare in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was in their Edison Engineering Development program which was a 2-year developmental program in engineering that enabled me to see different parts of the GE business. During college, I completed two summer internships at GE and was offered a full-time position.
What are some of the challenges you have faced as a woman in STEAM?
There are several challenges I faced and continue to face as a Black woman in STEAM. One of the main challenges is being the only woman or Black person at the table. I remember early in my career, I was starting a new position and went clothes shopping. I wasn’t sure what to buy so I asked my mom for her advice and she simply asked “what do the women you’ve worked with wear? I started to respond, but nothing came out. At that moment, I realized that I hadn’t worked with other women on any of my teams.
“Mrs. Carolyn Vallas, who at the time was the Director for the Center of Diversity in Engineering, was a huge inspiration for myself and so many African American students who went through The University of Virginia’s engineering program.”
Who is a notable woman in STEAM who has inspired you?
There are so many inspiring women in STEAM such as Gladys West, Katherine Johnson, Joy Buolamwini, or Irene D. Long that are awesome role models for girls in STEM. Personally, I drew my inspiration and desire to keep going from women in my life like my Nana and Mom who showed me that I can do anything I set my mind to. Or the three women janitors who covered the basement of the engineering building at UVA. I remember there were a few tests I took during college where upon seeing the first question, I thought this is not going to go well. I would leave those tests so deflated, but those janitors would often be in the hallway and whisper “You got it, we are proud of you.” Also, Mrs. Carolyn Vallas, who at the time was the Director for the Center of Diversity in Engineering, was a huge inspiration for myself and so many African American students who went through The University of Virginia’s engineering program.
What advice do you have for girls who are interested in STEM careers?
When I graduated from college, my Godmother gave me a gift which was a quote in a small picture frame that still sits on my desk today. The quote simply says “There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.” So my advice is to stand proud in who you are. Your uniqueness and different point of views are what will make a difference in the world. So do not shy away from raising your hand to ask or answer a question. If you have a question, I guarantee others in the room are also curious about the same topic. Speak up when you feel things are not right. There will be challenges and obstacles that you will have to overcome but stay focused on your goal and surround yourself with a good support system that can be family, friends, or a mentor. If others can do it, you can do it!
How do you know your Co-Founder Alix Holder and why did you decide to start STEAM Ahead together?
I met Alix in 2017 through a mutual friend. I had been doing STEM volunteer work with a couple of other organizations in the Boston area and was thinking about starting an organization. My friend mentioned that she knew someone doing similar work and it would be good for us to connect. Alix and I had our initial meeting, and the rest is history. I wanted to start STEAM Ahead because I want to increase the number of black and brown students who go into STEM and create generational change for their families. According to the US Bureau of Labor, STEM jobs are projected to grow 10.8% between 2021 - 2031 compared to only 4.9% for all other careers. These jobs are the future and I want historically underrepresented and underserved groups to be represented in these fields.
What does nearing STEAM Ahead’s five year anniversary mean to you?
The five year anniversary is a huge milestone for me. I know a lot of organizations do not make it past a couple years and the COVID-19 pandemic made it very challenging and continues to impact daily life as we all adjust to the “new normal.” I think our anniversary is a testimony to how STEAM Ahead was able to adapt and validates the need to get more underrepresented and underserved students into STEM.
What do you enjoy most about your work with STEAM Ahead?
Seeing the smile on a student’s face when they complete a STEM project or their expression during a “light bulb” moment when everything connects and finally makes sense is what I enjoy the most. It makes all the planning and long hours worth it because you know you are making a difference in the student’s life and encouraging them to pursue a career in STEM. And honestly, even if a student does not go into STEM, I find value in that they can genuinely say they tried STEM and did not enjoy it versus being afraid to even try due to generational stigmas against STEM, particularly Math.
Where do you see STEAM Ahead in the next five years?
Currently, our main impact area is in Greater Boston in Massachusetts , but I see STEAM Ahead expanding into other states and even internationally to impact even more students. Five years from now, I would love to say that through our work and initiatives, STEAM Ahead has impacted 500,000+ students. I truly believe that a STEM education and the opportunities it provides can lead to generational change and wealth, so by impacting these students we are also transforming the lives of their families.
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