The American Association of University Women (AAUW) is a non-profit, national organization, dedicated to the advancement of women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. This organization is great for networking, professional development, outreach and both undergraduate and graduate school scholarships. AAUW is the nation’s leading voice promoting equity and education for women and girls. Since the founding in 1881, AAUW members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political.
Mission: To advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education and advocacy.
Vision: Equity for all.
Values: Nonpartisan. Fact-based. Integrity. Inclusion and Intersectionality.
Dr. Bourassa is a dedicated and active member of AAUW. She has participated in local AAUW meetings and service projects since 2017. Dr. Bourassa was initially introduced to AAUW when she was awarded the AAUW American Dissertation Fellowship in 2015 for the final year of graduate school. While currently organizing a new student AAUW chapter at Agnes Scott College, she attends multiple meetings each year around Georgia and volunteers in their annual Book Fair to raise money for AAUW scholarships.
Click HERE for a PDF summary of the information below
WORK SMART NEGOTIATION WORKSHOP
The annual AAUW Atlanta chapter fall meeting was held at Agnes Scott College on September 20th, 2019. The theme of this annual meeting was “Work Smart – Salary Negotiation”. AAUW Atlanta collaborated with the Agnes Scott College Office of Internship and Career Development to host a workshop that included negotiation role playing. Students were paired with an AAUW chapter member. Students were given terms they were requesting as a “new hire” and the AAUW members were given different terms as the “employers”. The two parties role played to negotiate based on their individual needs / capabilities.
AAUW GEORGIA STATE MEETING
On Saturday, April 13, 2019 an Agnes Scott student and Dr. Daisy Bourassa attended the Atlanta State Convention. Dr. Bourassa and the student were asked to present on the Atlanta chapter’s STEM and YOU meeting hosted at Agnes Scott College in September 2018. The meeting featured information regarding the AAUW Work Smart program from National as well as Dr. Zoe Spencer spoke about her challenges fighting racism and sexism in her AAUW supported lawsuit against Virginia State University.
STEM AND YOU – AAUW ATLANTA FALL MEETING
On Sunday, September 16th, 2018 the Atlanta Chapter of AAUW hosted their annual fall meeting at Agnes Scott. The theme of the meeting was “STEM and YOU”. One of the Atlanta branch members, Betty Slater, came up with the concept. The Atlanta branch was excited to learn about various aspects in STEM from Agnes Scott students. Daisy Bourassa organized a group of 14 student volunteers and 4 workshops, 3 of which were completely facilitated by students. For a snapshot of the student led workshops, please refer to theSTEM and YOU agenda found on the following page.
In one room students three students presented their research projects with short power point presentations. In another room four students led the AAUW members and guests through DNA extraction from strawberries, outside three students explained how fireworks get their different colors using handmade sparklers and in the 4th room three students assisted a retired high school teacher / AAUW member that led a workshop on mathematical Pi. After the branch meeting participants headed over to the Observatory and a junior Agnes Scott College student lead them through a planetarium demonstration.
Out of these student volunteers 4 were from the STEM House Living Learning Community, 5 were taking Dr. Bourassa’s fall 2018 organic chemistry class, and at least 6 of the students were GEMS (including 2 students from the STEM LLC). A couple of these students just participated because they were asked (no affiliation to an organization or taking Dr. Bourassa’s class). It is wonderful that students would spend 2.5 hours on their Sunday afternoon facilitating STEM demonstrations with the AAUW ladies. At least three students from the Leadership LLC attended as guests.
AAUW GEORGIA STATE CONVENTION
On Saturday, April 14th, 2018 students Kayla Maddon and Jenny Bates and Assistant Director of Residential Education Daisy Bourassa attended the Georgia AAUW State Convention in Warner Robbins, Georgia. The theme of the convention was “Women in Engineering: Highlighting STEM”. Kayla is a math major, Jenny is majoring in physics, and Dr. Bourassa received a BS in Biochemistry from Simmons College and her PhD in Chemistry from Georgia Institute of Technology.
One of the two keynote scheduled speakers was ill and unable to make the convention. Betty Slater and Myra Carmon of the Atlanta branch asked Kayla, Jenny and Daisy to fill in as speakers. The three Agnes Scott representatives shared their experiences as a woman in a STEM field, struggles, triumphs, and future plans. Kayla, Jenny and Daisy did a wonderful job and the AAUW members sincerely appreciated their willingness to share their thoughts and experiences on such short notice.
