Women in STEM Richmond
![Alumnae pose for a photo at a Virginia Tech Alumni Association event](/content/alumni_vt_edu/en/events/2020/02/women-in-stem-rva/_jcr_content/content/adaptiveimage.transform/m-medium/image.jpg)
Thursday, Feb. 20 from 6-8:30 p.m.
Rhythm Hall, Dominion Energy Center
600 E. Grace St., Richmond, VA 23219
Join fellow alumni and friends for a panel discussion with women leaders who will share stories of success as top scientists and executives advancing industry and training future leaders.
Panelists will share their personal pathways and experiences in male dominated industries, talk about the importance of female networks, and share how they are paving the way for other women in STEM.
The panel will be followed by a casual networking reception with fellow alumnae and university faculty. This is a chance for alumni to share experiences, build networks, and explore industry trends. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres, beer, and wine.
Panelists
![Susan Magliaro](/content/alumni_vt_edu/en/events/2020/02/women-in-stem-rva/_jcr_content/content/vtmultitab/vt-items_0/adaptiveimage.img.jpg/1580823643593.jpg)
Magliaro is professor emerita of educational psychology in the Virginia Tech School of Education and is the associate director of the Center for Educational Networks and Partnerships in the Virginia Tech Institute of Creativity, Arts, and Technology.
She served on the faculty of the School of Education since 1988, including duties as the director of the Teacher Education Center and educator licensure officer, as well as the director of the School of Education and associate dean for professional education in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
She is currently serving as the co-principal investigator on projects to create a blueprint for a Virginia STEM Ecosystem, funded by 4-VA, and the development of programs to create opportunities for teachers to participate in workplace internships and curriculum development funded by the Virginia Tech Office for Economic Development.
In addition, Magliaro has served on numerous national and state boards and committees related to teacher learning, educator preparation accreditation, and the improvement of public education. She is currently serving on the Governor’s STEM Education Commission.
She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from East Stroudsburg University, a special education certificate from the Ohio State University, a master’s degree in elementary and special education from Iowa State University, and a doctorate in educational psychology from Virginia Tech.
![Lauren Prociv](/content/alumni_vt_edu/en/events/2020/02/women-in-stem-rva/_jcr_content/content/vtmultitab/vt-items_1/adaptiveimage.img.jpg/1580823525747.jpg)
Named one of The Drum's 50 Under 30 Trailblazing Women in Creativity, Prociv is a stickler for smart strategic planning and has engineered brand positionings, multichannel content strategies, digital strategies, and measurement frameworks for some of the biggest brands in the world. As a strategic planner, she is the "voice of the consumer," and it's her job to reach them in the right place, at the right time, with the right message.
Strategists have to be curious; connect the dots between cultural trends, consumer behavior, and competitor activity; and work with creative teams to inspire people to choose one brand over another. She’s consulted on almost every category between GEICO, DoorDash, Chevrolet, Walmart, Discover Card, American Cancer Society, Stoli Vodka, Norwegian Cruise Line, PING Golf, Trident, and UPS.
In her free time, you can find Prociv deep within an art museum or out on a driving range practicing her incredibly flawed golf swing. But if you really want to hear some fun stories, ask her about her identical twin sister (also a Hokie).
![Megan Schnizler](/content/alumni_vt_edu/en/events/2020/02/women-in-stem-rva/_jcr_content/content/vtmultitab/vt-items_2/adaptiveimage.img.jpg/1580824179400.jpg)
Schnizler is a lumber trader in the spruce division of Richmond International Forest Products, a subsidiary of Forest City Trading Group. She is focused on purchasing and selling lumber and panel commodities, analyzing market trends, and building relationships with clients.
Along with her daily duties, Schnizler co-founded the annual RIFP Women’s Leadership Forum, whose goal is to support the collaboration and development of female leadership in the wood products industry. Previously, she worked as a project supervisor for Ryan Homes and as a fiber supply associate for International Paper in Savannah, Georgia, after graduating from Virginia Tech in 2012 with a bachelor of arts in geography.
![Wendy Wellener](/content/alumni_vt_edu/en/events/2020/02/women-in-stem-rva/_jcr_content/content/vtmultitab/vt-items_3/adaptiveimage.img.jpg/1580827152033.jpg)
Wellener is vice president–shared services and is responsible for supply chain management for all business segments, supplier diversity, and fleet acquisition and specifications.
She joined Dominion Energy as a co-op student in 1986 and became a full-time employee in 1990 as an associate materials specialist in what is now supply chain supporting the nuclear group. She later served as manager–supply chain services, director–facilities management, and director–human resources. She was named director–HR workforce strategies & solutions in March 2010 where she was responsible for Total Rewards strategies around benefits and compensation and employee and labor relations. It was in this role that she worked with the team to launch a wellness initiative across the company known as “Well On Your Way.” Wellener was promoted to vice president–human resources in July 2014 and was responsible for HR services and strategy, including the merger and acquisitions processes surrounding people. She assumed her current post in January 2018.
Wellener earned a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering and operations research at Virginia Tech. She is a past board member of Big Brothers, Big Sisters and previously participated on a workforce advisory council for the superintendent of Richmond Public Schools. She is currently a member of the board of directors of Women Presidents' Educational Organization, whose primary mission is furthering the success of women-owned businesses. She serves as the executive sponsor of Dominion Energy’s flagship Women’s Resource Group, We3, the largest of the company's eight resource groups, which focuses on engaging, educating, and energizing women across the company.
She has a passion for growth and development, particularly for young women, which started with her daughter and leading numerous Girl Scout troop activities. That passion carries through to today as she focuses much of her time on mentoring and support throughout the company and in the community.
Registration
- $10 in advance
- $15 at the door
$5 of your registration will count toward the Virginia Tech Annual Fund, which provides much needed support for students, faculty and programs.
(Are you a teacher wishing to bring students to this event? Contact Gwen Harrington for more information.)
Contact
For questions or more information, contact Gwen Harrington at gwenh@vt.edu or Corrine Woods at corrine.woods@vt.edu.