SUNY Old Westbury marked the start of Women’s History Month with its now-annual “Experience of Women in STEM” program.
Organized by the campus’ Association of Women in Math and Women in Science and Engineering groups along with the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program, “Experiences of Women in STEM” featured a panel discussion that covered innovation, resilience, and leadership as themes.
“Seeing successful women working in STEM fields helps attendees visualize themselves in those careers,” said Betty Berbari, assistant dean for the School of Arts and Sciences and Old Westbury chapter leader for the Association for Women in Math. “Representation can be powerful -- especially for students who may not often see people like them in those roles. Seeing real professionals share their journeys can make these careers feel more attainable and show that there are many different paths to success.”
Kendra Getaw ‘15, a pharmacist who served as the 2023-24 Reagan-Udall Foundation for the Food and Drug Administration Fellow in Regulatory Science, Innovation, and Health Equity, was joined on the panel by Sarah Smith, chair of the SUNY Old Westbury Public Health Department, Meredith Bernstein, director of the campus’ Math Redesign Lab, and Bukola Olagunju ‘27, a current student in the University’s Computer Information Sciences program.
“Coming back to SUNY Old Westbury felt incredibly full circle for me,” said Getaw. “This is where my academic and professional journey really began, so returning to campus and speaking with students was both meaningful and nostalgic. It reminded me of the mentors, opportunities, and experiences that helped shape my path into pharmacy, regulatory science, and health policy. Being able to stand in that space again and share what I’ve learned since graduating was truly special.”
Getaw, who in 2023 earned a doctoral degree in Pharmacy from Howard University, has worked as a pharmacy technician for several years. She completed her Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, New York, as well as George Washington Faculty Associates and MedStar Health Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. She also experienced internships with CVS and Kappa Epsilon, a professional pharmacy fraternity.
Getaw gave this advice to the audience, “I would just say, just keep pursuing your degree. There's going to be people who are going to try to discourage you, just continue to just study and believe in yourself. Because you know there are so many things that people can try and take away from you, but what they can't take is what you earned. And you are working to earn your degree!”
Web Banner Photo Caption (left to Right): The 2026 "Experiences of Women in STEM" panel featured Sarah Smith, chair of the SUNY Old Westbury Public Health Department, Kendra Getaw ‘15, Bukola Olagunju ‘27 and Meredith Bernstein, director of the campus’ Math Redesign Lab.