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The Tech Celebrates Women’s History Month
March 5, 2025
Highlighting contemporary STEAM leaders
- Related Topics:
- STEM,
- Tech Partners,
- In the Community,
- Career Pathways,
- Education
Fun Fact! Womenâs History Month originated in the North Bay as a local celebration in Santa Rosa. In 1978, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women organized a "Womenâs History Week" to honor the contributions of women. They chose the week of March 8 to align with International Womenâs Day. The idea quickly gained traction, and other communities across the country began holding their own Womenâs History Week celebrations. In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation designating the week of March 8 as National Womenâs History Week. Today, the success and achievements of inspirational women are being celebrated across the globe.
In honor of Womenâs History Month and International Womenâs Day (March 8), we are highlighting four noteworthy women driving change in science and technology. These women are being celebrated for their innovative and impactful work in making the world a better place.
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Kareen Rivas
Kareen Rivas is a 2nd grade teacher who integrates STEAM and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) in her classroom at Alum Rock Union School District. She is passionate about fostering studentsâ character development alongside their academic growth. In collaboration with her colleagues, Rivas has designed daily lessons that integrate technology, art, reading, writing, and social-emotional learning to create a meaningful experience for students focusing on equity and engagement.Â
For the last two years Rivas has been nominated as Teacher of the Year at her school. As a Tech Fellow who participated in Tech Academies, she has led professional development sessions to share her insights with colleagues and school leaders. Seeing the enthusiasm in other educators for bringing more innovation into classrooms has been a very rewarding experience for her. So far, Rivas has introduced four STEAM challenges that use the Innovation Design Process and the GRASP framework to her students. Her favorite teaching moment has been hearing their enthusiastic âYeah!â every time she announces, âSTEAM time!ââa small but powerful reminder for her of their excitement and craving for hands-on learning.Â
Looking for some ideas for incorporating more empathy and collaboration into your learning environment in the classroom or at home?
Check out our SEL lessons here to help foster inclusive innovators.
Ayodele Thomas, Ph.D
Dr. Ayodele Thomas is the Executive Director of the Dr. Frank S. Greene Scholars Program that helps youth of African ancestry in San Francisco Bay Area communities successfully pursue higher education in STEM, and serve as positive role models and contributors to their communities. Dr. Thomas was the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University and has more than 30 years of experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion leading impactful initiatives in these areas.Â
For 8 years, she served on the Board of Directors for the Stephanie Brown Cadet Foundation, which provides scholarships to high school graduates who excel in volunteerism. She is Associate Vice Provost for the Office of IDEAL Advancement at Stanford University and previously served as the inaugural Associate Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in University Human Resources (2021-2024) and as a lecturer for over 15 years.
Learn more about Dr. Thomas and Greene Scholars at:Â https://www.greenescholars.org/
Join us in helping youth develop their career aspirations with this activity.
Charlie Warner
Charlie Warner is a mechanical engineering student at San José State University (SJSU) and a passionate advocate for diversity in STEM. She is dedicated to empowering women to reach their full potential as engineers and leaders. In FY24, Warner served as the President of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) at SJSU, leading a board of approximately 50 members. Under her leadership, SWE-SJSU successfully managed 10 committees, all working towards inspiring women to excel in STEM and engineering.
Warner began her academic journey at Ohlone College, where she also served as the president of SWE. She later transferred to SJSU to continue her studies and further her passion for engineering.
Learn more about Warnerâs achievements at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliewarnerr/
Interested in mechanical engineering? Check out this fun design challenge.
Hayat Sindi, Ph.D
Dr. Hayat Sindi holds a Ph.D in Biotechnology from the University of Cambridge, making her one of the first women from Saudi Arabia to achieve such a high level of academic success in this field. She is best known for her pioneering work in the development of affordable diagnostic tools, particularly for the detection of diseases such as cancer and diabetes. In 2009, she co-founded Diagnostics For All, a company focused on creating low-cost, easy-to-use diagnostic tests, especially for underserved communities.
Dr. Sindi has also been a leading advocate for science and technology aiming to bridge the gap between scientific innovation and real-world impact. As a role model for young women in science, Dr. Sindi has been a vocal advocate for women in STEM and encourages young girls to pursue STEM careers, helping break the societal barriers that hinder womenâs advancement in these fields. She became the first woman from Saudi Arabia to be appointed as a member of the UNâs Advisory Group on the Advancement of Women and Technology. Dr. Sindi continues to inspire future generations of women and scientists through her research, mentorship, and advocacy for global health and technological innovation.
Learn more about Dr. Sindiâs work at:Â
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/explorer-profile-hayat-sindi-biotechnologist/