Dr. Andrea Welker Completes 2017 HERS Institute at Bryn Mawr College and HERS Luce Program for Women in STEM Leadership

Dr. Andrea Welker

Villanova University's Dr. Andrea Welker, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Engineering, completed the 2017 HERS Institute at Bryn Mawr College. During the Institute, Dr. Welker also participated in the HERS Luce Program for Women in STEM Leadership.

Supported by a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation's Clare Booth Luce program, HERS—Higher Education Resource Services—draws upon over 40 years of providing leadership development experiences for women in higher education through its intensive residential program, the HERS Institute.

Describing her experience, Dr. Welker says, “The HERS Institute was a very intensive program that helped us explore many different aspects of leadership in higher education. For example, we spent quite a bit of time understanding our own personality and leadership styles and how to recognize and appreciate the personality and leadership styles of others so that we can all achieve the ultimate goal of providing what is best for our students.”

A key part of the HERS Luce Program is the development of a HERS STEM Community. The goals of the community are to provide support and encouragement to women in STEM and to develop strategies for advancing a diverse cadre of women into STEM leadership roles. Based on experience with HERS alumnae in STEM fields and research on women’s leadership paths, HERS has identified the importance of women leaders having structured peer and mentor connections at various stages of their careers. Working together, this community of women leaders can thrive and shape a new environment for equality and excellence in STEM higher education.

Dr. Welker joined a group of 68 women leaders from across the United States as part of the HERS Institute at Bryn Mawr College, 34 of whom were part of the HERS Luce Program.