Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math - Women's History Month

Let’s meet Megan Liebman.

Hi, my name is Megan Liebman. I grew up in Wheaton, IL, a Chicago suburb. I studied Chemical Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, IN, and received my Bachelor of Science in 2015 and my Master of Science in 2016. Since graduating, I have worked as an Operations Research Analyst in the public sector.

Q: Who or what inspired you to pursue a STEM-related degree?

I am extremely fortunate to have no shortage of engineers in my family. My mom, dad, grandmother, and grandfather all have doctorates in various types of engineering. I was raised on puzzles and games that valued analytical thinking and problem-solving. As I grew older, I saw the universal applicability of STEM -- asking questions, making theories, gathering evidence, and finding your own answers about almost any aspect of daily life -- and knew that I wanted to learn more.

Q: What are key pieces of advice would you give other women seeking to enter this specific field?

Do your best to find (or build!) a supportive environment, not a competitive one. Support your fellow women to the greatest extent possible and welcome their support in return.

Q: How have you navigated a traditionally male-dominated field?

Learning to be comfortable speaking up and being my own advocate was key for me, and something I’m still working on. I’m also lucky enough to have female mentors who lead by example.

Q: Rachel Simmons, author of “The Curse of the Good Girl: Raising Authentic Girls With Courage and Confidence,” explains that when girls focus on winning approval, they shy away from risks. “If you’re a quintessential good girl, you experience failing as letting someone down. Instead of saying, ‘I missed that goal in the soccer game,’ it’s that everyone will hate me.” She urges parents to emphasize performance rather than relationships and to help girls avoid ruminating, which amplifies the impact of the setback. Girls also may be more likely to attribute failure to lack of ability, while research shows that boys tend to blame external factors, such as not studying. Simmons notes that parents can counteract this mind-set by focusing more on progress than results. Do you agree or disagree with the above research that we need to help girls focus on progress and less on relationships?  Why or Why not?  

Not all boys may be immune to this, but I do agree that girls tend to be more aware of and sensitive to negative feelings in a way that counteracts productive growth. Because of this, it is important to help girls learn to assess themself and their self-worth as a function of their own values, rather than anyone else’s.