Academics, Buc News, College of Science and Mathematics

The future is female: women in STEM spotlight

By Ashley Butler | April 11, 2025

Charleston Southern University’s affiliate professor of computer science, Dr. Valerie Sessions, has been working hard to foster a community of encouragement for women in STEM on and off campus.  

Sessions has helped support women looking to enter the STEM field at CSU through her involvement in the Women in STEM club on campus.  

“Here at CSU, a couple of years ago, my colleague Julie Henderson said it would be great if we could have a Women in STEM club.” Sessions liked the idea, and it soon became an official club in the College of Science and Math. 

When it came to starting the club on campus, Sessions expressed her gratification in being able to walk alongside other members and encourage them in their journey as women in a very male-dominated field.   

“It is really rewarding being able to support each other,;it might be that there’s only a couple in computer science and a couple in biology but when we all pull together, we can feel that support, even if it’s not straight from our major,” she said.  

According to Sessions, there are only about 18% to 20% of women currently working in tech careers. This significantly impacted her career as she felt a lack of connection with her male colleagues compared to women in the industry.  

“I’ve had wonderful male support in the field, and I’ve really enjoyed that, but there is something about being able to work with other women that I think would have been really rewarding early on.”  

She also began to question her abilities in the workforce as a female professional. “And sometimes you think if you’re not doing well in a class or you’re not doing well at work, you’re like, is it because I’m a female?” 

Sessions continues her work off campus as the fundraising chair for the Charleston Women in Tech organization, whose goal is to “Empower, Connect, and Inspire Women in Technology.” 

The environment at Charleston Women in Tech is a place where one can “just breathe,” in Sessions’ experience. She admires the support that she receives from her colleagues. 

“I feel like I don’t have to worry that I am gonna say something that offends somebody, or you know, cause a problem. I could just tell you my problem and you can tell me yours, and we can just support each other.” 

The need for women to support one another is biblical, in Sessions’ opinion.  

“I feel like we are not only fulfilling making moves to advance women in STEM, but also fulfilling a gospel calling. We’re supposed to be there for each other. We’re supposed to lift each other up, and it has been so rewarding to do that in both facets.” 

The best advice Sessions can share with all women on campus, regardless of their major, is a reminder to find their identity in the Lord and not in any of the other voices surrounding them.  

“Know your worth from the lens that you are God’s child, because that, for me, is incredibly empowering. It allows you to take a lot of criticism from a lot of different people, knowing you don’t need their approval or anything more than to know that God created you, and you are perfectly made.”  


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