Perceptions can be limiting. For instance, girls interested in science and math may struggle against assumptions by teachers that push them instead toward English and liberal arts. Are girls really limited when it comes to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), or is the perception that they are the real barrier? Hoping to increase participation in STEM by all students, President Obama launched the “Educate to Innovate� campaign in 2009. In response, several education advocacy groups submitted 10 strategies to increase the participation of girls in STEM, including training for teachers, counselors, and parents, to impress upon girls the value of these fields. Several Latino advocacy groups have also initiated programs to increase the number of Latina scientists and engineers. “More Latinas are pursuing higher education than Hispanic males, but when it comes to STEM fields, Latinas make up only 1.5 percent of Hispanics working in STEM related industries, compared to Latinos who make up 3.5–4 percent,� says José Marquez, president of Latinos in Information Science and Technology Association (LISTA). “There’s a perception among younger Latinos, that sciences are not for them, that they’re for geeks and nerds,� explains Marquez. “We also struggle against a high-tech industry that refuses to share diversity information.� However, there is good news to report. While Latinas may lag in the STEM related areas, they earned almost two-thirds of bachelor’s degrees awarded to Latinos in biological and biomedical sciences, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Digest of Education Statistics, 2007. At LATINA Style, we present these Latinas in STEM fields as striking examples that debunk any misperceptions about a girl’s aptitude for science or math.

Nina Tortosa, Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics Engineer for General Motors

You could say that Nina Tortosa’s path was predetermined (both of her parents, Pedro and Nina are involved in science-related fields). But as one of few women in engineering, and even fewer focused on aerodynamics, and part of the team that produced the super-hyped Chevrolet Volt, Tortosa is a trailblazer. Born in Barcelona, she remembers watching the first shuttle launch in 1982 while her family was living in Denmark, and being inspired to become an astronaut. As a freshman at the University of Minnesota (the family settled there when she was eight), she chose to major in astrophysics but an encounter with quantum mechanics brought about a change of majors to aerospace engineering. She completed a master’s degree and considered pursuing a Ph.D. in the same field when she received an offer from General Motors. “Cars were a natural fit for me. I thought if I could work in a wind tunnel and improve aerodynamics on cars, that would be cool,� admits Tortosa, 36. She joined the Volt team in 2007 shortly after the vehicle’s debut as a concept car. Touted as a paradigm shifter, it’s an electric plug-in but with a range extending gasoline engine that dissuades consumer fear about the limitations of electric-only powered engines, i.e. when you run out of the charge, the gasoline engine kicks in providing 300 more miles of range. A central component of extending fuel economy on any vehicle is wind resistance, which puts Tortosa in a critical position. “The biggest challenge was meeting the aggressive drag requirement we set and assuring we could deliver the 25-50-mile electric range. Plus, the car had to look good so we had to work with designers to achieve both without compromising,� she shares. The mother of two, she’s also mindful of the Volt’s environmental significance. “This is an evolution in the automobile, from gasoline to electric-powered vehicles,� she says. “The Volt bridges the gap.�

Maria Freire
President of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation

Sparked by a desire to forge a unique path in life, Maria Freire, president of The Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation, made a beeline for science. Math was more of a necessary evil. “A classmate in high school one day announced that she wanted to be a biochemist. That sounded cool, so I decided I had to outdo her. I chose biophysics. I still can’t add and subtract but quadratic equations, geometry and algebra are no problem,� she admits. A native of Lima, Peru, Freire is the oldest of six. Born to Fernando, an architect, and Marita, an artist, she credits her parents for never discouraging her, or her siblings, including her sister who is also a scientist, from pursuing fields that were not considered normal for girls. “My father always told us that his legacy to us would not be financial. It would be our education,� she says. Her studies lead her to the United States, specifically, the University of Virginia on a Fulbright Fellowship to pursue a doctorate in biophysics. She has worked at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as director of the Office of Technology Transfer where she was responsible for charting the policy on gene patents. The discovery is considered groundbreaking in the fight against diseases like tuberculosis (TB), which she spearheaded in her next position as president and chief executive officer of the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development. “Once you can identify the genes that make up an organism, like the bacteria that causes TB, you have a better understanding of how it works and how to fight it,� she admits. The ability to positively impact humanity has been one of her greatest rewards as a scientist. Appointed to the board of the Lasker Foundation that supports biomedical research for conquering disease, she’s now focused on recruiting more Latinas into science. The first challenge, she believes, is identifying mentors and examples for young Latinas. “There’s a perception that the sciences are too difficult,� she muses. “They’re not harder than any other field, but they do require curiosity, dedication, and sacrifice. As a wife and mother I can attest that it can be done.�

Yamilet Torres
Senior Director, Oracle Corporation

Underrepresented in STEM jobs compared to men, women will face gender shock if they do break through. Yamilet Torres, senior director at Oracle Corporation, admits that as part of an all-male team, she has had to make adjustments. “I remember sitting in meetings at first, and realizing that I was the only women in the room. Eventually, I got a little used to it,� she asserts. “As the only woman of the group, I had to adapt, not change, to a different way of communicating, thinking, and doing things. As women, we bring something rich to the table—our critical thinking and passion. It’s a challenge but also an opportunity.� With 22 years of experience in information technology (IT), she admits that her career launched almost by accident. Before joining Oracle, she worked at the Kennedy Space Center where she handled NASA’s networking. In the interview for the job, she learned that the interviewers were confused by her name and expected to see a man, rather than a woman. Born in a small town in Venezuela, she’s one of five. Her father, Luis, launched businesses in agriculture and construction, while her mother, Eva, methodically continued her education while caring for the family, eventually graduating from college to become an English teacher. Torres, 45, came to the U.S., at age 17, on a scholarship from the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). After completing English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, she discovered that FIT did not offer a civil engineering degree. “I wanted to be like my father and build roads,� she says. An economic downturn in Venezuela also left her father strapped financially. “I thought I needed to study something quickly and get a job while I finished my education. That’s how I ended up in computer information technology,� she explains. She earned an associate degree from Brevard Community College in Melbourne, Florida, and began working for Impression Technology. She ultimately completed a bachelor’s degree from Rollins College and an MBA from FIT. Married and the mother of two, including a 15-year-old daughter, she believes that grooming more Latina scientists must start at a young age. “We need to show the depth and breadth of what you can achieve, especially in IT,� she asserts. “Children don’t see the possibilities of a STEM career but it can be exciting.�