Triangle Women in STEM is a community of women working in science, technology, engineering, math, healthcare, biotech, and related fields. Our members come from industry, academia, government, and nonprofit organizations. Together, we design and lead programs that support women at different stages of their STEM journey—including working professionals, college students, and K-12 students.
Triangle Women in STEM is an NCBiotech Center Intellectual Exchange Group (IEG) and a tax-exempt organization.
Our Mission
Our mission is simple:
To connect, support, and empower women in STEM—at every stage of their education and career.
We build opportunities that help women grow their skills, expand their networks, and succeed professionally and personally.
Our Vision
We envision the Triangle region of North Carolina as one of the best places in the country for women to live, work, and lead in STEM.
Through partnerships with companies, universities, nonprofits, and local government, we aim to grow a community that values diversity, encourages bold ideas, and champions women in every STEM field.
Our Strategy
We focus on two main goals:
1. Supporting Women at Every Stage
We help recruit and retain women in STEM by offering:
- Networking and professional development
- Career guidance and mentorship
- Programs that boost leadership and confidence
- Events that highlight women’s contributions
This includes women in science, technology, engineering, math, healthcare, biotech, pharmaceuticals, finance, and more.
2. Building an Inclusive Community
We create a welcoming space where women can:
- Connect with peers and leaders
- Access volunteer and leadership opportunities
- Join events that inspire and educate
Our goal is to celebrate women in STEM and strengthen the Triangle’s capacity to attract top talent and innovative ideas.
Meet Our Leaders
Our leadership team brings together experienced professionals, educators, and community leaders who guide our work and help shape our programs.
Nan Jokerst, Ph.D.
Advisor
Duke University
Joan Nelson
Co-Chair
IBM (retired)
Kate Baldwin
Professional Women Co-Lead
Cisco Systems
ShuDon Brown, Ph.D.
K-12 STEM Pipeline Co-lead
Donna Daniels
Co-Chair
Red Hat
Belinda Harris
Development Lead
Heart of America Foundation
Susan Lankford
NC Biotech Center
Katie Luterek
Membership Lead
Fresenius Kabi
Terri Mitchell
College Student Co-Lead
Accelerate / IBM (retired)
Sunny Myers
Professional Member Co-Lead
Fastly
Sondra Rivers-Kobler
STEM Pipeline Co-lead
Credit Suisse (retired)
Shayesteh Sims
NC Tech Lead
MetLife
Maria Walden
Lenovo
Melodie Wilson
Operations Lead
Mandeep Sekhon
Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Explore Our Action Teams
We organize our work through three focused action teams:
- Professional Women – Networking and career programs for women in the workforce.
- College Students – Community building and career preparation for students on STEM paths.
- K-12 STEM Students – Workshops and mentoring that spark young students’ interest in STEM.
Each team develops activities and resources tailored to its audience.