State Education Department Hosts My Sister’s Keeper Spring Stem Day Event

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) today hosted the My Sister's Keeper Spring STEM Day event at SUNY Old Westbury. Approximately 650 young women and girls gathered from various regions of the state to learn more about the college experience, attend workshops and panel discussions, and hear directly from SUNY Old Westbury students. The full-day event marks the second annual My Sister's Keeper (MSK) event hosted by NYSED, which launched the MSK initiative in 2025.

Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. said, "My Sister's Keeper reflects our commitment to ensuring that young women of color have access to the opportunities and support they need to thrive in STEM. Events like today's are part of that mission-bringing learning to life, connecting students with mentors, and providing real-world experiences that affirm students' potential and expand their vision for what is possible. When we invest in curiosity and leadership, we can strengthen not only the future of these young women and girls, but the future of our communities and our state."

Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said, "One of the top priorities for an event such as this is to empower girls and young women who dream of one day making their mark in STEM. By creating spaces where young women can see themselves reflected in STEM fields, engage in hands-on learning, and build confidence alongside their peers, we can break down barriers and turn these dreams into reality. Through My Sister's Keeper, we are nurturing talent, fostering belonging, and ensuring that the next generation of innovators is as diverse, dynamic, and brilliant as the communities they serve."

Building upon the success of the New York State My Brother's Keeper (NYSMBK) initiative, MSK focuses on the specific challenges girls and young women of color experience in STEM education and works to eliminate gender disparities in STEM fields while supporting diversity and building leadership skills in future female leaders.

The Spring STEM Day event included a tour of the SUNY Old Westbury campus, presentations on admissions and financial aid, workshops, and panel discussions. The workshops provided students with firsthand experience engaging in undergraduate-level coursework on a college campus and included topics such as:

• Using the Science of Hope to Achieve Our Goals
• Math in Motion
• Teaching and Learning Mathematics Through Problem Solving
• Build a Recommender System Like Netflix's
• Becoming Public Health Leaders: You Can Change How Families Thrive
• Graphic Design and the Use of Digital Technologies
• Art
• The Human Endocrine System and Reproductive System
• Biology
• Interdisciplinary Science

To support girls and young women of color in their pursuit of careers in STEM, MSK will conduct workshops to teach life skills and strategies for college and job success. These skills include resume building, interview strategies, and STEM career exploration to adequately prepare students for their next steps.

For more information on the New York State My Sister's Keeper program, please visit the My Sister's Keeper website.