NEW CLUB ALERT: Women in STEM at Rutgers-Camden
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Lilly Zhang
“For every 6 women in STEM, there are 10 men. The gender gap persists.”
STEM continues to be a male-dominated industry. Recognizing the need for a supportive community, the new student-led organization, Women in Stem (WIS), provides a space to support and connect women pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It is also the first WIS organization across all three Rutgers campuses.
The club was founded by current Rutgers-Camden student, Hoda Niaz. Niaz, a member of the class of 2025 and double majoring in computer science and psychology, saw the lack of representation firsthand. Niaz explained that despite the number of women pursuing STEM majors, there was no organization on campus dedicated to bringing them together–so she decided to create one.
Turning the idea into a fully established organization was not without its challenges. “[The] biggest challenge up to date–[was] turning something from just a simple idea to something that’s actual executable and something that actually exists…there’s a lot more that it takes than what people can see.”
From left to right: Hoda Niaz ‘25 (President, CS & Psych), Leyna Nguyen ’26 (PR, Biology), Emma Bogdan ‘26 (Event Coordinator, Biology), Diya Kithani ‘25 (CS & Mathematics). Not pictured: Krupa Patel ‘26 (Treasurer, CS & Applied Mathematics)
She credits the clubs success to her dedicated Executive Board members, describing them as “an EBoard that was full of women who are just so organized and so problem solving.”
Rutgers–Camden Career Management Specialist Jamie Flagg also played a key role in getting the club on the right track. “We told Jamie Flagg about this idea of starting this club, and she was just very helpful when it came to actually turning it—again—no, turning an idea into something that existed. Whenever we have a problem, Jamie’s always there for us, and she’s really like the backbone of the club”
While Jamie recognized that “there [were] already STEM- and tech-focused organizations on campus”, she believed that women, in particular, sought a community where their unique experiences and challenges—whether related to gender, race, or economic factors—were acknowledged.
Recently, WIS hosted a Masquerade Ball with guest speakers Snez Gatto and Tooba Hussain, marking one of its first major events on campus. The event not only provided a space for networking but also served as an academic opportunity for students.“A lot of our events on campus actually count as extra credit in STEM classes—in STEM fields. So a lot of times, professors would send a flyer for our events and circulate it to students, and they would get extra credit for attending.” The club plans to continue hosting networking opportunities, and mentorship programs and other events to build a strong community for women in STEM at Rutgers-Camden.
Advice for Women Pursuing STEM Career :
For women considering a career in STEM, Niaz emphasizes the importance of confidence and curiosity. “Of course, I think my biggest advice would be to ask questions and to never be afraid to ask questions. I feel like there’s something that I noticed growing up as a woman, and that’s that women sometimes apologize too much—much more than they need to sometimes—and you should never feel like you’re being a burden for asking questions or asking for help.”
Niaz also highlights that success comes from being proactive. “I’ve worked a lot of different positions work-wise and career-related, and the people who I see succeed in these roles are people who are never afraid to ask questions.”
Jamie Flagg, the club’s advisor, reinforces this message, emphasizing that projecting confidence is key to success in STEM. Flagg’s advice to women entering the field is to trust their abilities and present themselves with assurance, even in challenging situations.
Emma Bogdan encourages students to find a path that, 20 years from now, will leave them without regrets.
Be on the lookout for the next WIS event! WIS is collaborating with Mujeres Collab for a General Body meeting for a talk about being women of color in STEM fields. Join them on Wednesday, March 12th, 11:20 am – 12:20 pm–food will be provided.
You can find WIS on Instagram at: @wisruc
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