2009 National Conference

Center Stage: Effective Strategies for Recruitment and Talent Development

June 17 - 19, 2009
Omni Hotel Downtown
Austin, TX - "Live Music Capital of the World"
directly following the ASEE Conference & Exposition

Please reference proceedings from previous WEPAN conferences for examples of paper, workshop, and poster topics.

WEPAN's national conference gathers 200-plus professionals annually to translate the most current research into best practices.  Recurring and emerging issues are addressed by participants representing industry, community college and universities, K-12 and informal education, policy makers and other advocates.  Dedicated to creating changes that enhance the success of women of all races and ethnicities in science, technology, engineering and math.  This year WEPAN is proud to announces its conference theme "Center Stage: Effective Strategies for Recruitment and Talent Development" and the following spotlights that will highlight core conversations "on stage" at the national conference:

Spotlight 1:  Developing Engineering Talent from K to Grey

• Starting the college and career discussion and exploration young; connecting with parents, teachers and counselors
• Connecting community colleges into the engineering workforce supply chain
• Promoting and supporting undergraduate research experiences and internships
• Cultivating engineering graduate students and faculty members
• Replenishing the Industry Brain Drain
• Connecting with underrepresented women; understanding cultural and racial differences
• Creating and maintaining corporate diversity programs and affinity groups

Spotlight 2:  Communicating, Marketing and Effective Messaging

• Marketing transforming culture in engineering education to deans, professors, provosts to promote the success of all women
• Marketing engineering education and careers to girls and women
• Communicating effectively for program assessment and institutional change
• Updating the engineering message for parents and the public
• Marketing job opportunities to recruit a diverse applicant pool
• Marketing beyond our own four walls - making the engineering message less insular

Spotlight 3:  Building and Sustaining Collaborative Partnerships and Engaging Volunteers

• Assessing, evaluating, and reporting outcomes
• Sustaining relationships and training for success
• Impacting students and employee retention through recruitment and volunteering
• Supporting programs and sponsoring events; securing funding and volunteer support for programs
• Connecting students to engineering role models and mentors
• Connecting non-profits who support increased numbers of graduating women in engineering and sciences

Spotlight 4:  Developing Diversity Program Staff

• Creating an environment for success on campus or in the workplace
• Empowering and educating diversity recruiters
• Establishing and sustaining a Women in Engineering Program
• Using databases and effective organization to leverage resources
• Developing early career orientation and professional development
• Making the transition to Associate Dean and getting to upper administration

Spotlight 5:  Impacting Policy, Legislation and Media

• Impacting faculty hiring, student recruiting and program support through higher education policies
• Developing effective voices within the legislature
• Contributing to local, state and national education policy
• Training staff and advocates to work with the media
• Dealing with anti-diversity ballot initiatives
• Funding education fairly