It's no secret that Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) is a leader in promoting gender equality. With a student body that is 53.9% female, MTSU has worked hard to ensure equal access educational programs. Barbara Scales, former director of the June Anderson Center for Women and Non-Traditional Students, has been at the forefront of this effort. She has partnered with the Murfreesboro section of the American Association of University Women to help institute “Work Smart, Start Smart,” a series of workshops aimed at helping women learn negotiation and interview skills before they graduate.
The program is divided into two sections: the first provides instructions on how to negotiate, while the second allows participants to practice their new skills through simulated negotiations. This initiative is just one of many ways MTSU is advancing women's rights and providing support for female students and members of the community. In addition to “Work Smart, Start Smart”, MTSU also hosts an annual “Scaling the Glass Ceiling” event organized by the Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority and the Anderson Center. This event includes a roundtable discussion on ways in which women can break the “glass ceiling” that prevents them from achieving equality in the workforce.
The MTSU WISTEM Center also provides support for women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) related fields. The center allows women to “realize the intellectual potential and use the experience of women in STEM disciplines,” according to its website. In addition to this, MTSU organizes an annual Expanding Your Horizons conference for high school and high school girls to gain practical experience in STEM fields led by volunteers from the community. Women United is another global affinity group that brings together powerful women who focus on improving the health, education, and financial stability of people in their local communities.
Women United members empower each other to use their passions, ideas, experience and resources to transform the conditions in which people live. MTSU has made great strides in advancing women's rights and providing support for female students and members of the community. Through initiatives such as “Work Smart, Start Smart” and “Scaling the Glass Ceiling” events, MTSU is helping to create a more equitable society for all.
