The New York State Education Department (NYSED) brought its My Sister’s Keeper Spring STEM Day event to SUNY Old Westbury on Monday, May 4, 2026.
Approximately 650 young women and girls gathered from various regions of the state to learn more about the college experience, attend workshops and panel discussions, and hear directly from SUNY Old Westbury students. The full-day event marks the second annual My Sister’s Keeper event hosted by NYSED, which launched the initiative in 2025.
By creating spaces where young women can see themselves reflected in STEM fields, engage in hands-on learning, and build confidence alongside their peers, we can break down barriers and turn these dreams into reality.”
-- NYSED Commissioner Betty A. Rosa
“My Sister’s Keeper reflects our commitment to ensuring that young women of color have access to the opportunities and support they need to thrive in STEM,” said Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. during the program. “Events like today’s are part of that mission—bringing learning to life, connecting students with mentors, and providing real-world experiences that affirm students’ potential and expand their vision for what is possible.”
Building upon the success of the New York State My Brother’s Keeper initiative, My Sister’s Keeper focuses on the specific challenges girls and young women of color experience in STEM education and works to eliminate gender disparities in STEM fields while supporting diversity and building leadership skills in future female leaders.
“One of the top priorities for an event such as this is to empower girls and young women who dream of one day making their mark in STEM,” said NYSED Commissioner Betty A. Rosa. “By creating spaces where young women can see themselves reflected in STEM fields, engage in hands-on learning, and build confidence alongside their peers, we can break down barriers and turn these dreams into reality.”
Developed by the campus’ School of Education in collaboration with the Office of Enrollment Management and Marketing, the Spring STEM Day event included a tour of the SUNY Old Westbury campus, presentations on admissions and financial aid, workshops, and panel discussions.
“We welcome the opportunity to partner with NYSED on important programs like My Sister’s Keeper,” said SUNY Old Westbury President Timothy E. Sams. “By investing in curiosity and cultivating leadership among young women, we can unleash boundless potential that can transform communities across our state.”
The workshops provided students with firsthand experience engaging in undergraduate-level coursework on a college campus and included topics such as:
- Using the Science of Hope to Achieve Our Goals
- Math in Motion
- Teaching and Learning Mathematics Through Problem Solving
- Build a Recommender System Like Netflix's
- Becoming Public Health Leaders: You Can Change How Families Thrive
- Graphic Design and the Use of Digital Technologies
- Art
- The Human Endocrine System and Reproductive System
- Biology
- Interdisciplinary Science
NYSED’s My Sister’s Keeper program is a multi-pronged initiative committed to empowering girls and young women of color in STEM by providing opportunities to engage in community-based service-learning projects, prepare for future success, and take part in hands-on STEM experiences. This includes connecting students with professional women in STEM fields to provide not only guidance and support but also build participants’ confidence and deepen their interest in STEM subjects.