BALTIMORE - Marylandian -- Career Communications Group announces that Dr. Valerie Sheares Ashby has won one of the most significant honors in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) field.

Established in 1995, the Women of Color (WOC) Technologist of the Year Award recognizes a nominee's high merit, the broad impact of her work, and overall value to society.

Dr. Sheares Ashby combines technical expertise with collaborative and engaging leadership, a renowned polymer chemist with more than ten patents in a university research group. She will receive her award at the annual WOC Gala, an event held simultaneously on the WOC STEM digital twin experience (DTX) platform and in Detroit.

According to Monica Emerson, National Chair of the Women of Color STEM DTX Conference, Dr. Sheares Ashby was selected among an extraordinary group of STEM leaders. "This year, the candidates represented the nation's increasing diversity. Women of Color STEM awardees stand out as superior authorities in their respective fields," she said.

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For almost three decades, WOC STEM has highlighted the challenges that bias, discrimination, and harassment pose to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. That's why the 2022 conference theme "The Struggle, the Progress, and the Future" issues a call to action. Women held just a quarter of the over five million tech jobs last year. Still, the industry's percentage of women of color – Black, Hispanic, and Native American workers – stands at single digits.

Awards presented at WOC honor excellence and underscore the under-representation of women in all STEM disciplines. For 27 years, employers committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have chosen the WOC STEM to exchange best practices and strategies to attract and keep girls and women in scientific and technical fields.

The WOC STEM DTX will host multiple award presentation events throughout the conference, where Dr. Valerie Shears Ashby and other outstanding women in STEM will be recognized. The Conference will feature professional seminars on retention, progress and promotion, continuous improvement, and networking.

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Conference registration is now open. www.womenofcolor.net

The Women of Color STEM Conference

The Women of Color STEM Conference is produced by Career Communications Group (CCG), a leader in workforce diversity. In partnership with global employers, CCG helps support diverse organizations to promote equity. For 27 years, the Women of Color STEM Conference has been a forum of choice for professional development and networking. Visit www.womenofcolor.net for more information about the 2022 Women of Color STEM Conference and WOC STEM DTX.