The School of Medicine hosted the 2023 Celebration of Women in Medicine and Science on September 12 with Shirley Malcom, PhD, the senior advisor and director of SEA Change at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), delivering the keynote address. It was the first event held in the new School of Medicine Education II Building, showcasing the modern, forward-looking space while in turn bringing new excitement to the annual gathering and highlighting the importance of promoting women’s contributions to the field into the future.

Rosemary Tyrrell, EdD, director of the Office of Faculty Development and a health sciences assistant clinical professor, co-organizes the event each year with Linda Reimann, chief of staff and assistant dean of strategic initiatives.

Keynote Speaker: Shirley Malcom, PhD

Shirley Malcom is senior advisor and director of SEA Change at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). She has served at the association for over forty years supporting quality education and career access for all in STEMM. She established and now leads an ambitious new initiative (SEA Change—STEMM Equity Achievement) to transform colleges and universities in ways that support excellence, diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEMM.

Malcom received a bachelor's degree with distinction in zoology from the University of Washington, a master's degree in zoology from UCLA, and a doctorate in ecology from Pennsylvania State University. She served on the National Science Board of the National Science Foundation from 1994 to 1998 and was a member of the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology from 1994 to 2001. 

Malcom is an honorary trustee of the American Museum of Natural History, a trustee of Caltech and a regent of Morgan State University. She serves on the boards of the Heinz Endowments and the Kavli Foundation She holds 18 honorary degrees and is a fellow of AAAS and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2003, she received the Public Welfare Medal of the National Academy of Sciences, the highest award given by the Academy.

• Watch her TED Talk: "There is no 'math gene': We must develop diverse talent"