April 14, 2005

Take Our Daughters to Work highlights careers in science, math, technology

Eight new sessions on both campuses include stops at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Law School and vaults of Bursar’s Office

“The emphasis on technology, science and math careers seems especially pertinent given the recent national discussion regarding male/female differences in math and science,” said Renée Redd, director of the Women’s Center.

As many as 350 girls, aged 9 to 16, are expected to participate in Northwestern’s Take Our Daughters to Work Day observance on Thursday, April 28.

It is the 11th year the University has planned activities designed to provide career-related interactive experiences for the girls.

Established by the Ms. Foundation, which is celebrating the 13th anniversary of this event, this nationally recognized program helps girls to focus on the numerous career options open to them. Staff and faculty members are encouraged to sponsor young female family members or friends.

“This national education program is designed to offer girls exposure to workplaces that, under normal circumstances, might not be open to them. It is our hope that Take Our Daughters to Work Day also will encourage girls to consider occupations that women have not traditionally held.“

There are 15 tour tracks in Evanston and eight tour tracks in Chicago from which to choose.

Evanston campus highlights include “How Do I Look? Imagine being happy with your body!” with a psychiatrist and a postdoctoral fellow with the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) office on the topic of body image issues, obsession with weight and its connection with self-esteem and self-worth.

“Managing the Fit: Learn about sports management and fitness!” will teach about the variety of job opportunities in the field of fitness and recreation with a focus on sports management and fitness.

Girls will learn about currency counters, vaults, cash drawers, deposits, receiving deposits, preparing bank deposits, encoding and endorsing checks and the importance of balancing a checkbook during “What’s in the Vault: The care and handling of cash!”

Other Evanston workshop topics include science, filmmaking, health care, sexual harassment issues, chemistry, African storytelling, landscape architecture, sorority life, marketing, mechanical engineering, business, journalism, policing, field hockey and soccer, physics, publicity, computer games, mathematics, astronomy, and verbal and physical self-defense.

Chicago campus highlights include “Emergency!” where girls will experience emergency room procedures such as intubations, IV insertions and cardiac chest compressions, conducted by Eileen Kristl, a registered nurse with Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Participants attending “Order in the Court: Learn what a law degree can do for you!” will experience a courtroom setting by participating in a mock trial that will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

Other Chicago campus workshop topics will concentrate on design concepts for the new millennium, physical therapy, the self-defense martial art of Aikido, microscope examinations of organs and diseases, nutrition, dermatology, Internet research, basketball skills and physical exams.

Staff and faculty members who would like to sponsor a daughter, granddaughter, niece, neighbor or friend, should complete a registration form for either the Chicago or the Evanston campus. Registration forms will be delivered by campus mail and are also available at both Women’s Centers, as well as online.

The registration deadline is Thursday, April 21. A fee of $10 per person in the form of a personal check or money order payable to Northwestern University must be received by April 21. Late registrants must add an extra $5 fee.

Volunteers are needed to chaperone the girls from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on April 28. To volunteer, call Njoki Kamau at (847) 491-2734 or (847) 491-7360 or e-mail ngk@northwestern.edu for the Evanston campus program, or contact Elisabeth Lindsay-Ryan at (312) 503-3401 or (312) 503-3400 for the Chicago campus program.

The April 28 event is cosponsored by the Take Our Daughters to Work Day Committee, the Women’s Center and the Association of Northwestern University Women (ANUW).

Support is provided by the Office of the President, Office of the Senior Vice President for Business and Finance, the Provost’s Office, Kellogg School of Management, and the Office of Change Management.