Driving Student Connection, Confidence, and Careers
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UMass Amherst students are forging new paths for the next generation of women leaders, thanks to Women for UMass (WFUM) grants.
In fall 2024, WFUM awarded nearly $40,000 in grants of up to $5,000 each to nine student-led initiatives. Recipients were challenged to develop a professional proposal for their project, carry out their vision in the spring semester, assess their impact, and share their results or aspirations at the 2025 Women for UMass Spring Celebration.
Among this year’s awarded projects were IkeAho Urafiki Umjikelezo; the Women Civil Engineering Leadership Summit; and Hack(H)er413.
Organized by the African Graduate Students and Scholars Association (AGASA), IkeAho Urafiki Umjikelezo was a workshop series created to foster belonging and support among African female graduate students.
“Through the grant from Women for UMass, we’ve been able to secure funds to host a series of events that include a belonging workshop, an inclusion workshop, and a professional development workshop,” explains Vivian Ogechi Nwadiaru, a PhD student in industrial engineering who helped organize the event.
The first workshop, held in February, helped students and alumni connect, share experiences as international students, and discuss how to take advantage of UMass resources for academic and professional success.
“We used to host these workshops and grant-writing series in our living rooms,” says Nwadiaru. “Now, we have more students participate, and they feel more relaxed to be able to leverage these resources.”
The impact was immediate. The event lasted more than two hours, and according to Nwadiaru, “almost no one wanted to leave.”
A similar spirit of connection energized the Women Civil Engineering Leadership Summit, which helped female graduate students in civil engineering build confidence and leadership skills for graduate school and beyond.
The summit was organized by graduate students in the Department of Civil Engineering: Angelina Caggiano, Maddie Galusha, Fay Kostopoulou, Meelisha Maharjan, Chloe Misiak, Tolu Oke, Belen Portero, and Ravyn Rapley, with Professor of Transportation Engineering Eleni Christofa serving as faculty mentor.
“When we saw this grant, we were inspired to develop a program for women in civil engineering,” says Tolu Oke, PhD candidate in civil engineering and founder of Odara Mobility. “We thought it would be great to invite female leaders to share about their career journeys.”
Through panels, roundtable discussions, and networking opportunities, students gained valuable insights into real-world challenges such as choosing between careers in academia or industry, imposter syndrome, workplace discrimination, negotiating job offers, and navigating the industry as an immigrant.
“As the current generation considers their next steps, we wanted to get a sense of how people got to where they are, the various paths available, and the lessons they've learned along the way,” Oke says. “Many meaningful connections were made. Ultimately, the most impactful part was creating a space for sharing stories and learning from women leaders in the field.”
Hack(H)er413, a 24-hour, student-led hackathon that empowers women and nonbinary students through hands-on learning, mentorship, and networking in tech, also received a WFUM grant this year. The event provided free meals, transportation, and overnight accommodations to eliminate financial barriers and make space for participants of all experience levels.
“With WFUM’s support, we were able to add prizes for a diversity, equity, and inclusion-centered hack, as well as a best beginner hack,” says Joelle Beck, assistant director of Hack(H)er413. “We were able to support more beginners getting started in tech. It’s important for those students to have their work supported.”
Part of what sets Hack(H)er413 apart from other hackathons is its focus on making tech spaces more accessible and equitable for all.
"This is specifically a space for students to feel confident in their skills and feel supported by everyone else,” Beck says. “It’s a great opportunity for students to showcase their skills or jumpstart their careers. We’re passionate about helping students lift themselves up and feel confident in any space that they enter in the tech industry.”
Since the WFUM grant program launched in 2013, it has awarded nearly $400,000 to close to 100 projects—many of which have grown into long-running programs known as legacy projects.
As Women for UMass continues to grow, engaging new alumnae, these donor-funded grants will continue to contribute to strengthening the UMass experience.