Sept-Oct 2016 by Phenomenal Woman Magazine

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Dr. KATHLEEN BUSE EMPOWERING WOMEN THROUGH

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Training Women Seeking a Fresh Start

Creating Beauty One Stitch at a Time

Helping to Develop Our Future Innovators

Beletu (Bele') Wondwossen Founder / Publisher Shelley M. Shockley Managing Editor Writers Shelley M. Shockley Ruby Lee Gamble A. Michele Garrett Kim Brown Creative Bele’ Wondwossen Cover Story: Shelley M. Shockley Photo: Eric Benson Photograph Contributors Michelle Phillips Fay Stephanie Phelps Deborah Prince Kimberly Smith-Woodford Advertising Sales ads@phenomenalwoman.me 216.702.0845 Phenomenal Woman Magazine A subsidiary of Atlantic Creative Productions 5247 Wilson Mills Road #141 Cleveland, OH 44143 © 2016 Phenomenal Woman Magazine. All rights reserved ISSN 2330-2534 (Print) ISSN 2330-2550 (Online) Materials may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form of this publication without prior permission from the publisher. Produced and printed in OHIO, USA.

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From the Editor: Shelley M. Shockley

he air is brisk and I'm loving it! Fall is my favorite season and in many ways it represents renewal and a time to reflect on the months ahead before bidding another year farewell. September and October are also months that focus on issues that are important to women and families, but are we all aware of these designations? Did you know that September is National Preparedness Month? And what does that really mean, prepared for what? Life in the U.S. is more stressful than it has been during my lifetime. I don't recall as many natural disasters and terrorist-type attacks during my youth. The biggest disaster I recall is the snow storm of 1978, and from my vantage point it wasn't that horrific. What high school student is really upset about missing a few days from school? Actually my family has fond memories of that storm because at the height of it my eldest nephew decided it was time to make his grand entrance, so we have a blessing from that experience. I digress, we're speaking of today and the importance of National Preparedness month. This is a time for families as well as businesses and governments to assess just how prepared they are in the event of a situation that could include extended power outages, severe flooding, snowstorm, or a terrorist attack. Do you have a “Go Bag?” What exactly is that, well it's a bag that should be packed and ready to go if something like the above happens and you have to leave your home. It should contain any prescription medications you or a family member will need; flashlight and batteries, water, food, cash, emergency telephone numbers, and a change of clothes just to name some of the items. Let's say there is a disaster at your home, do you have an escape plan? If your home has to be evacuated do you have “safe” spaces mapped out where you and family members can meet? Many of these things are thoughts we don't want to imagine, but we live in a world where preparation is key to our survival. So when you have a moment, please check out www.ready.gov and learn more on preparedness. October serves as both Breast Cancer Awareness and Domestic Violence Awareness month. Breast cancer continues to devastate the lives of many families and the 4 ▒ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2016

public awareness campaigns are numerous, but one can never have enough reminders to check your breasts regularly and report any abnormalities to your physician. Domestic Violence continues to shatter families in our communities and the level of awareness is increasing, yet it doesn't seem to be on pace with the problem. Are you aware of the signs that someone could be suffering in silence? If so, are you comfortable offering a shoulder and ear? Or are you still in the, “that's not my business” mode. As hard as it may be we have to get away from the latter. The pain and devastation that exists during the aftermath is too harsh and it’s totally not acceptable. We have to at least attempt to help even if it falls on deaf ears at first. If a friendship is lost, we will hurt but have a sense of peace knowing that we tried. Even if it falls on deaf ears remember that prayer is a strong option that we must utilize at all costs to help those who are not yet ready to help themselves. In this issue we are not addressing those issues, but I felt it was important to share some information on topics that have come across my desk over the past two months. I hope at least one person takes heed and it makes a difference in the lives of someone else. So what do we have for you in this issue? We have a feature on a remarkable designer, Stephanie MorrisNunn, who can see the possible even with a degenerative eye disease. Stephanie was born with a degenerative eye disease which limited her activities, but strengthened her creative spirit. This fiber artist creates intricate and beautiful designs that are the envy of many. Check out the photos of her work along with her story inside this edition. Politics is at the forefront of everyone's mind as we approach the 2016 Presidential election and columnist Stephanie Phelps offers her passionate view on this contest. Empowering women is close to our hearts and our cover story features Dr. Kathleen Buse, faculty director of Case Western Reserve University's Leadership Lab for Women in STEM. The Leadership Lab offers programs to enlighten and empower women working in science, engineering, technology and math careers. As a female engineer who has experienced many of the obstacles in this maledominant field, Buse brings her experience and research together to work on changing the face of management in technical fields. As always I hope we have given you something to enlighten, empower and inform you our valued readers. I would love to hear your thoughts, so drop us a note and let us know what you think.

on the

phenomenal

COVER

CONTENTS

Stephanie Phelps

2016 Presidential Election, getting curiouser and curiouser

NORTH EAST OHIO STUDENTS SPEAK OUT TO STOP THE HATE® Essay Contest Now Open

Tri-C’s Women In Transition Program Opens New Session for Registration

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Stephanie Morris Nunn

Utilizing Inner Vision To Create Beauty One Stitch at a Time

Helping to Develop Our Future Innovators by Advancing STEMM

Cleveland Lifestyle

Dr. KATHLEEN BUSE Empowering Women Through Advancing STEM Programs

Kicked off Fifth Year in Grand Style

Summer Wedding in the “CLE”

Delicious Recipes

Movie Review

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Simply Stephanie Living in Destiny© 2016 presidential election landscape simply gets “curiouser and curiouser” As this column is penned, only a few weeks remain until Election Day. Can you believe it?! Very shortly we'll know who the next President of the United States will be. The insanity of it all will soon be over, right? Or will an insanity of a different kind take its place? By Stephanie Phelps PWM Contributing Writer

Leading up to the Republican National Convention (RNC) there was an overcrowded slate of contenders vying to become the nominee, seventeen in all. Of course, at the convention only one remained. Now that the excitement of the RNC and Democratic National Convention has waned – as Alice in Wonderland would say – things have gotten “curiouser and curiouser.” If you've been paying any attention to the campaigns, campaigners and campaign strategies at all, no further explanation is needed. Arguably “what looked like crazy on an ordinary day” now looks like a real psychosis, the likes of which no one has ever seen before in American politics. The way I see it, slavery is the only exception. So why then is there all of this history making, record breaking, political drama and theatrics? Could it be Hillary? Poised to be the first female commander-in-chief, could it be that many people, are simply not concerned about who is best able to lead the country, but rather more concerned about some perceived notion of domination and superiority on matters of gender and race? The inane circus atmosphere of this year's presidential campaign politics gives new meaning to the phrase, a horse of a different color. For many observers, politicians, political pundits and voters alike, the horses have veered off track and no one quite knows how to get them back on, because they've gone wild. No longer is the presidential race one of mostly playing by the rules. Gone is the philosophy, may the best candidate win. The 2016 race itself has become overwhelming about the politics of division. This campaign season, voters and would be voters are drawn to antics that look more like Reality TV meets the real world. Or a circus act repelled by the wonderland of hatred, mesmerized by a carnival barker. The real substantive issues of governing the country have gone by the wayside. In the end voters get to decide what's next. Will we choose a calmer, gentler, saner nation or not? Guess we'll simply have to vote, wait, and see. Yes, as Alice said, things are getting curiouser and curiouser indeed.

Stephanie

Follow me on Twitter: Stephanie Phelps@livingindestiny Website: anotherlookwithstephaniephelps.com 6 ▒ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2016

future THE

those who BELONGS TO

VOTE EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT. GET OUT AND

VOTE P TUES. 11-08-2016

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Girl Scouts and STEM

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Changing the World with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math

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Girls are natural-born scientists! They look at the world around them with inquisitive eyes, experiment and push boundaries, and learn as they go.

Imagine STEM: Girls can do anything! Imagine having a career that lets you be creative, active, and well-paid, all while changing the world for the better. Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills can help you get there! As part of the Imagine STEM series, girls can: ·

Team up for engaging experiments, like extracting DNA from a banana

Learn about and meet female scientists who can be role models

Explore STEM careers, and find out how scientists can make the world a better place

Girl Scouts has developed a unique, "fun with purpose" K–12 curriculum to inspire girls to embrace and celebrate scientific discovery in their lives.

Inspiring Women To Reach Their Highest Potential! phenomenal

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PEGGY ZONE FISHER AND THE DIVERSITY CENTER OF NORTHEAST OHIO

PUZZLE PIECE BY PUZZLE PIECE A family’s journey with

AUTISM

FASHION UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS

Chief Operating Officer, NEORSD Committed to keeping our Great Lake great

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DR. ALFREDA BROWN

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An Out-of-the-Box Recruiter

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Making COLLABORATION, INCLUSION AND

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For example, in the It's Your Planet—Love It! series, girls can explore the natural world by learning about the water cycle, completing energy audits, assessing air quality, calculating their "food print" and learning kitchen science, and figuring out how much trash is created and how to reduce it.

BEYOND BORDERS

KELLIE ROTUNNO YOLANDA ARMSTRONG

By inspiring girls to discover more of what they really care about, Leadership Journeys are an essential part of Girl Scouting. Girls explore a wide range of interests along their Journeys—everything from the arts to the outdoors and, of course, STEM.

Girl Scouts introduces girls of every age to STEM experiences relevant to everyday life. Whether it's discovering how a car's engine runs, learning how to manage finances, or exploring careers in STEM fields, with Girl Scouts girls are fastforwarding into their STEM futures. Are you a parent, volunteer, or girl who wants to bring Girl Scouts' STEM programming to your school or community? Contact your local Girl Scout council and let them know!

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NORTHEAST OHIO STUDENTS SPEAK OUT TO STOP THE HATE® 6-12th Graders Invited to Compete for $100,000 in Scholarships, Awards & Anti-Bias Grants “No human race is superior; no religious faith is inferior,” wrote Elie Wiesel in 1992. “All collective judgments are wrong. Only racists make them.” The professor, Nobel Laureate, Holocaust survivor and activist passed away in July, but the impact of his work to end hate and discrimination endures. This year the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage Stop the Hate® Youth Speak Out (maltzmuseum.org/stop-the-hate) $100,000 essay competition encourages Northeast Ohio students to draw inspiration from Wiesel's human rights legacy while responding to a prompt inspired by the words of this advocate for tolerance: In 500 words or less, share an incident when you or someone you know was treated unfairly or you treated someone unfairly based on race, socioeconomic status, gender, religion, etc. Why was this judgment wrong? How did the experience affect you? What have you done and what will you do to help end intolerance and create a more inclusive community? “The world is filled with inequities and injustices that trouble many of us, but having the courage and motivation to combat those forces is what sets upstanders apart,” says Maltz Museum education director Jeffery Allen. “This competition reinforces the responsibility of the individual to effect positive change and celebrates young leaders who are ready to put their vision into action.” Since it launched eight years ago, Stop the Hate® has empowered more than 20,000 students to stand up for what they believe, awarding $800,000 in programmatic anti-bias grants and academic scholarships. Past winners have gone on to become public speakers, form nonprofits, launch businesses, conduct medical research, pursue advocacy and help shape public policy. The Stop the Hate® Youth Speak Out contest is open to Northeast Ohio 6-12th graders in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull and Wayne counties. Students can attend a public, private, religious, home, online or charter school. 10 ▒ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2016

Entries are due Fri., Jan. 6, 2017, for grades 6-10 and Fri., Jan. 20, 2017, for grades 11-12. Twenty-five finalists will appear at the final judging and public awards ceremony on Tues., April 25, 2017, 6pm at The Milton and Tamar Maltz Performing Arts Center in University Circle (1855 Ansel Road, Cleveland, OH 44106, affording the public a chance to hear students from different corners of the region take a stand against the injustices they see around them. “Providing a platform for a diverse cross-section of students to share stories and ideas that could influence each other in positive ways is critical to promoting inclusive communities,” says Maltz Museum executive director Ellen Rudolph because, as last year's $40,000 Grand Prize Winner Nupur Goel wrote, “Education, love and acceptance are the first steps to breaking down barriers.” Teachers are invited to implement Stop the Hate® as a classroom project. For deadlines, examples of winning essays, related Museum tours and complete rules, visit maltzmuseum.org/stop-the-hate and follow @stopthehateUS on Twitter. Stop the Hate® Youth Speak Out is generously supported by Dealer Tire and Nordson Corporation Foundation.

MALTZ MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE celebrates culture and identity to encourage connection and promote a greater appreciation of Jewish heritage and the diversity of the human experience. Personal stories of struggle, courage and creativity are brought to life through interactive exhibitions and thought-provoking programs generously supported by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and Ohio Arts Council. For more information, visit maltzmuseum.org and follow us on Twitter @maltzmuseum and @stopthehateUS.

Tri-C’s Women in Transition Program Opens New Session for Registration Free program entering 39th year of educating and training women seeking a fresh start

Metro Campus, 2900 Community College Ave., Cleveland

The Women in Transition program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) is launching a new session of classes that use education and training to empower women at a life crossroads. The program begins the week of Oct. 24 at four locations: Eastern Campus in Highland Hills, Metropolitan Campus in Cleveland, Western Campus in Parma and Corporate College® West in Westlake. The non-credit program is free and open to the public. Participants build confidence and self-esteem through classes on personal development, career exploration and financial and computer literacy. The course is designed to assist women in transitional periods of their lives, such as a career change or return to the workforce. Registration is required for the Women in Transition program, which offers day and evening class options. The schedule is as follows, by location: Eastern Campus, Highland Hills

4250

Richmond

Road,

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays – Oct. 25 to Dec. 8 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays – Oct. 25 to Dec. 8

Western Campus, 11000 Pleasant Valley Road, Parma 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays – Oct. 24 to Dec. 7

Corporate College West, 25425 Center Ridge Road, Westlake 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays – Oct. 24 to Dec. 8 For more information or to enroll, call 216-9872272 (Eastern Campus), 216-987-4187 (Metro Campus), 216-987-5091 (Western Campus) or 216-987-3899 (Corporate College West). Details can also be found at www.tric.edu/women-in-transition. Tri-C's Women in Transition program began in 1978 and has contributed to thousands of personal success stories. It typically serves about 250 women a year.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays – Oct. 24 to Dec. 7 www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 11

Stephanie Morris Nunn Utilizing inner vision to create beauty one stitch at a time

lose your eyes and meditate for a few minutes. The longer you meditate, the harder it will be for you to focus once you open your eyes. There will be a little blurriness, and to resolve the problem, you will rub your eyes with your hands and voilà, you can see clearly again. If you attempted that exercise and did not rub your eyes, your sight would be diminished longer, but what if there was blurriness out of one eye regularly? Add to that extreme near sightedness (myopia) out of the other eye? Now that you can visualize the challenge, meet Stephanie Morris-Nunn, the Cleveland knitwear designer behind Nadira Collection, a line of individually-crafted textiles made with feel-good fabrics for women of superior quality and taste. Long before Morris-Nunn began her career in design, she was overcoming obstacles and showing the world that she possessed a powerful inner vision and it could not be suppressed. She was born with macular degeneration, a progressive eye disease as well as degenerative myopia and at the tender age of six, doctors suggested she would be 12 ▒ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2016

completely blind by the age of nine. With this information, her family began restricting her activities to protect her and to keep her safe from harm. This meant that while the other kids were outside playing childhood games and riding bicycles, Morris-Nunn was inside entertaining herself. With this idle time, she taught herself to knit and crochet and soon began creating her own designs. During a recent interview, she reflected on some of the challenges this isolation caused, “I remember getting into trouble when I was younger for taking down the curtains and making clothes with them. I had to do something,” she chuckled. Because of the degeneration of her sight, she was sent to Sight School to learn to adapt to the world she would be operating in, but Stephanie says that she looked around and didn't see the future of her dreams. “My peers were either getting no jobs or were only getting jobs as cashiers.” That was not sufficient for her, she wanted more, “I wanted to be able to work and live life like everyone else.”

Over the years that is what she did, she masked the effects of the degeneration. “I tried not to let people know because I knew I didn't look like there was a problem.” The masking worked for years before there were slight changes in her sight that made it harder to hide the truth. In 2011, she was working for Cleveland Clinic and really enjoying her job when suddenly there were more frequent trips to the eye doctor to correct prescriptions and get more new glasses. She recalls, “I didn't realize that the sight was going down," yet reality set in when she couldn't drive in the snow anymore. The reflection of the snow blurred out her vision. Instead of giving in, Stephanie decided she would take the bus to work, but finally, she realized that she was on a “downward spiral,” where her presentations were not as crisp and, when “a's” looked like “e's” and the mask had to be removed. Emotionally, this was a very difficult time for Morris-Nunn, “As the disease progressed, and I had to finally admit to my employer what the problem was they were very supportive,” but when her work performance diminished they had to make a business decision. It was a decision she was not ready to make. She recalls coming home after meeting with her superiors and the legal team and explaining the situation to her husband and he said, “Come home. Stephanie, just come home.” She heard him and understood, but as she explained, “I was a mess for a long time, and still am sometimes because I'm used to being superwoman.” The superwoman in her world masked her disability 24-7 – at work, home and play. She recalls the early days with her husband when she refused to let him see her in her glasses, and she would shun going to the movies after a long day because her eyes were tired. At first, he said okay, but as the relationship developed and blossomed, he noticed that something was not right and called her out – forcing her one day to put on her glasses. During the rough times, her supportive friends suggested she do a charity and channel her energies to advocating for others in similar situations. This year, Stephanie's Nadira Collections presents Visions Charity Black Tie Gala on Sunday, October 16th at the Hyatt Regency at The Arcade beginning at 6 p.m. A portion of the proceeds from the gala will support Prevent Blindness – Northeast Ohio Chapter, formed in 1993 to provide programs and services to virtually every northeast Ohioan with vision screenings, eye health and safety programs, advocacy efforts and programs that assist the medically indigent. To get your tickets and help Stephanie Morris-Nunn raise funds for Prevent Blindness call 216-258-2214 or 216-409-6676.

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Nadira

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4 Important STEM Education Innovations For the past 25 years, there has been an increased focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in the United States, but that's just the beginning. According to the Department of Commerce, STEM occupations are projected to grow by 17 percent from 2008-2018, compared to 9.8 percent growth for nonSTEM occupations. Not only has this trend led to increased job opportunities, but it has also produced numerous technological advances that have drastically changed the world. Some of the top innovations that have shaped modern society over the past 25 years include: World Wide Web. Twenty-five years ago, British scientist Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web (WWW). Before the WWW, the internet only provided screens of text. It was the WWW that made it possible for pictures, videos and sounds to be displayed and exchanged. Not only did the WWW change the appearance of the internet, but it also revolutionized how the world received and delivered information. Virtual reality. Virtual reality (VR) as it is known today was popularized in the 1980s and 1990s. The technology enables people to experience a computer-simulated environment that resembles things and places in the real world. This cutting-edge technology connects people like never before. VR makes it possible to appear as if you are 16 â&#x2013;&#x2019; SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2016

in the same location as a person far away from you, whether you're actually 100 miles or 1,000 miles apart. Hybrid cars. In 1997, improvements in battery technology led to the first mass-produced hybrid car, creating an entirely new market in the car industry. According to a report from the Electric Drive Transportation Association, the United States sold more than 193,000 hybrid cars in 2016 alone. Hybrid cars offer better gas mileage and have lower emissions rates, which helps reduce the carbon footprint. Controller-free video game consoles. Controller-free video game consoles revolutionized the video game market by transforming the experience into one that's more active. This technology made it possible for gamers to remotely play a game without a controller, disrupting the gaming industry and leading to an entirely new way for people to engage in physical activity. By exposing your child to the importance of STEM education early on, he or she could be the next great innovator. Encourage your child to develop an interest in science by entering a science competition, such as the Toshiba/National Science Teachers Association ExploraVision program, the world's largest K-12 science competition. ExploraVision challenges students to create new ideas for technological innovations inspired by real world issues. To learn more, visit exploravision.org.

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Helping to Develop Our Future Innovators By Advancing STEMM and STEMM Education

ccording to a recent report by the Center on Education and the Workforce, eight million new jobs will be available in science, technology, engineering, math and medicine (STEMM)-related fields by 2018. A solid STEMM education can help students obtain the skills needed to compete and thrive at school and at work in the 21st century global economy. Ohio's approach to STEMM education integrates learning across all subjects, including the arts and humanities, to educate the whole student. Why STEMM? Graduates employed in STEMM fields, on average, earn more than graduates in non-STEMM fields and participate in innovative, cutting-edge research and development. STEMM scholars, likely to live here and earn here, will positively impact Ohio's economy. The Choose Ohio First (COF) Scholarship Program is part of the state's strategic effort to significantly strengthen Ohio's position in world markets such as aerospace, medicine, computer technology and alternative energy. Choose Ohio First provides scholarships to students in innovative academic programs developed by Ohio's colleges and universities and their business partners to recruit and retain more students in STEMM fields. Each collaboration develops its own selection criteria for Choose Ohio First scholarships. Scholarship awards range from $1,500 to $5,200 per student per academic year. To date, more than 28,000 Choose Ohio First scholarships have been awarded to Scholars enrolled in 49 Ohio public and private institutions. The scholarships have leveraged more than $107.7 million in matching funds from Ohio colleges and universities, and their business partners. The primary objectives of the Choose Ohio First (COF) scholarship program are to support increased 18 â&#x2013;&#x2019; SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2016

participation, retention and success of students majoring in STEMM and STEMM education fields, and in so doing to advance the economic growth of each region of the state. The data demonstrate the need for the program. Fewer than 40 percent of all students who enter college intending to major in a STEMM field actually complete a STEMM degree; the numbers are far more bleak for women, students of color, those who are low-income and those who are the first in their families to attend college. In comparison, students in the COF program have better outcomes on all measures. COF has become the state's premier model for recruiting and retaining talented students in STEMM and STEMM education fields. The COF scholarship program ensures that an increased number of students enter into the STEMM teaching profession and graduate from some of the most innovative programs the state has to offer.

Why should Ohio focus on mathematics and science achievement? Ohio's economic future relies on a well-trained and economically competitive workforce. Maintaining America's scientific and technological leadership is essential not only to Ohio's economic growth, but also to our national security and a productive future for the country as a whole. Science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine education will help create the talent needed to make Ohio's businesses competitive in the 21st century knowledge economy. STEM disciplines teach students to think critically and solve complex problems – crucial skills and knowledge necessary to help create the innovations of the future and ensure better jobs for Ohioans. A citizenry educated in the areas of science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine (STEMM)-related disciplines is critical to the economic competitiveness of the state of Ohio and the nation. Many employers in Ohio cannot find the STEMM talent they need to stay competitive and grow in the global marketplace. Even during the most recent economic downturn, STEMM skills have remained in high demand – for the STEMM workforce there are 2.3 jobs for every unemployed person; for the

non-STEMM workforce there are 3.9 unemployed people for every job. Not only are STEMM graduates more likely to land a job, those jobs also pay more and make better use of their skill sets. STEMM jobs are growing at a rate that is 1.7 times faster than non-STEMM jobs. Labor market projections require a need for an expansion of those trained in STEMM fields. In the 2014-2015 academic year, nearly $17 million was awarded and disbursed to nearly 4,200 COF scholars attending an Ohio college or university. The participating institutions report matching contributions totaling more than $37,174,649 in cost-share through June 2015. Matching funds are used to revise and develop new curricula in the STEMM disciplines awarded COF funds, supplement student travel to industry conferences and research symposia, and leverage the involvement of businesses in the professional development of Ohio's future innovators. Matching funds also are generated by local and national competitive grant projects leveraged by many of the Choose Ohio First programs. For more information please visit: www.ohiohighered.org/cof

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COVER STORY - Dr. KATHLEEN BUSE

Dr. Kathleen Buse

Empowering Women through STEM

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r. Kathleen Buse, faculty director for Case Western Reserve University's Leadership Lab for Women in STEM recently spoke with Phenomenal Woman Magazine about the work she's doing to empower women in technical careers. Tight schedules resulted in a telephone interview, but even through the wires, it is clear she is passionate about her job and the future of women working in technical fields. To understand the work at the Lab, one must first take a look at the American workforce and the positions and placement of women. As women and minorities have entered the workforce, they have traditionally chosen what many may consider “safe” professions. The more technical or advanced jobs continue to be a bastion of male dominance, and even when women enter these areas, the chosen concentrations still lack diversity. According to the U.S. Census Bureau women comprise about 48 percent of the workforce, yet they hold only 24 percent of the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and Math) workforce. Additionally, women only account for 16 percent of chemical engineers and a paltry 12 percent of civil engineers.

really challenged, and I liked that.” This experience and the loss of her Dad at a young age led her on the path of engineering because she wanted a career that paid well. Her love for the sciences led her to Carnegie Mellon University where she received a bachelor of science in Chemical Engineering and Engineering & Public Policy. After graduating, Buse began her professional career with Eastman Kodak and during this time she received a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology. Subtle biases exist in our society that steer girls to careers as lawyers, teachers but not into technical areas of study perceived to be more challenging. Buse says as a society we need to “tell them (girls) that it's okay to be challenged,” and not to back away from math and sciences classes because we see them as harder. This early development of self-esteem will help to boost not only their self-esteem but they will receive “great satisfaction when they achieve,” in these classes.

As a youngster, Buse's mother instilled in her belief that “you

can do anything you put your mind to,” as well as a

Fe m a l e s c i e n t i s t s a n d engineers are concentrated in different occupations than are men, with relatively high shares of women in the social sciences (58%) and biological and medical sciences (48%) and relatively low shares in engineering (13%) and computer and mathematical sciences (25%). Research also shows that women leave STEM professions at twice the rate of men and that only 1 in 3 will persist.

spirit of meeting challenges head-on.

Low statistics like these may play a role in the recruitment of women and minorities into these areas, as well as in their retention in the field. To help women navigate the world of STEM careers, Dr. Kathleen Buse and Case Western Reserve University have stepped up to fill the gap with the Leadership Lab for Women in STEM. Buse serves as the faculty director for the Leadership Lab, which was created to provide leadership development for women in male-dominated occupations. Dr. Buse's professional resume and her life experience offer her great insight into the work of the Lab. As a youngster, Buse's mother instilled in her belief that “you can do anything you put your mind to,” as well as a spirit of meeting challenges head-on. Challenges were fodder for the bright student who loved the sciences. She recalls, “I was good in math and science, and my high school chemistry class was the first time I felt

The reprogramming of the female psyche is at the crux of the Leadership Lab's work. Preparing women currently serving in technical fields to navigate this maledominated world is as m u c h a b o u t understanding the individual personality as it is the environment.

Buse explained that women have a different way of thinking than men and many times the struggles encountered are due to this difference. As an example when men seek pay increases and promotions they have usually been guided and mentored through their careers on how to navigate and negotiate in this area, so they have no problem asking for what they want. Women, Dr. Buse, says don't tend to ask for these increases, and a lack of perceived advancement is a key factor in women leaving technical careers. Buse not only researched and wrote on this topic for her Ph.D. in Management, but she lived it as a transplant to Cleveland from Rochester, New York. “I really struggled when we relocated to Cleveland. I worked with three different Fortune 500 companies and I didn't feel I had good prospects for advancement,” which led her to return to school and study theses issues. One of the key components to the work Buse and her colleagues are doing is helping women to understand who they are, what they want from their positions and how to navigate within their comfort zone. (Continued on next page) www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 21

COVER STORY - Dr. KATHLEEN BUSE

Kathleen Buse discussing The Leadership Lab For Women In STEM Program

She says, “It's a complex problem. We have to look at how women build relationships and how to know and value their worth.” In 2014, the Lab teamed up with Women in Manufacturing and offered the program to women in working in some of the largest manufacturing companies in northeast Ohio. Within six months following the program, Buse was happy to report that “Forty percent of the participants had sought out and received promotions.” The Lab is only a portion of Buse's work at Case, where she also serves as an adjunct professor in the Weatherhead School of Management, teaching classes on product design, materials and manufacturing, marketing and research practices. Buse also works as a management consultant and career coach specifically targeting women in leadership and STEM careers. Her work looks at how women “persist in these difficult and stressful positions.” She explained that “we are analyzing people's words to see what characteristics are associated with those who persist in careers versus those who leave.” One thing that they have found is that women who persist have “a high level of confidence and can navigate in a bad situation, but women who left did not have the same level of confidence.” One of the keys to changing these outcomes, or to ensuring the numbers of women persisting increases, she says is to begin incorporating techniques and programs like the Lab during the undergraduate years so women “are prepared to navigate” in male-dominated arenas when the they arrive. 22 ▒ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2016

In 2014, Buse co-founded AWINSTEM (Advancing Women in STEM) to provide research-based, practical solutions to organizations that facilitate the retention and advancement of women in science, technology, engineering and math. She has presented her award-winning research at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting, the Society of Women Engineers Annual Conference for Women Engineers and Case Western Reserve University's Research ShowCASE. Kathleen Buse has worked in various technical and management roles for more than 25 years. As an engineer, she has developed new products, designed new systems and led continuous improvement of products and processes. She has managed engineering, operations, IT, plant and facilities maintenance, product development and quality functions. Buse lives in Mentor, Ohio, with her husband Fred. They have three children. Engineering continues to run in their family as they have a son majoring in engineering at Carnegie Mellon University and a daughter who is an engineer at Boston Scientific Corporation. To learn more about the Leadership Lab, visit https://weatherhead.case.edu/executiveeducation/programs/women-in- stem/.

Phenomenal Facts ·

BS in chemical engineering and engineering & public policy from Carnegie Mellon University

MS in electrical engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology in New York

PhD in Management: Designing Sustainable Systems from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University

Co-founder of Advancing Women in STEM (AWINSTEM)

Adjunct Professor, CWRU

Serves as Board member at The International Women’s Air & Space Museum, United Way of Lake County and Magnificat high school

More than 25 years of technical and managerial experience

Developed new products, designed new systems and led continuous improvement of products and processes

Co-created the Leadership Lab for Women in STEM at Case Western Reserve University

Received awards for her research works

Consulted at a number of Fortune 500 companies

Published numerous articles in scholarly journals such as Career Development International and practitioner magazines including SWE Magazine www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 23

CLEVELAND

Lifestyle

24 â&#x2013;&#x2019; SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2016

Summer Wedding

Nardos & Sintaye July 30th, 2016

www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me â&#x2013;&#x2019; 25

Wedding Photos (page 24-27) by:

Brian Hunsaker Photography www.brianhunsaker.com 26 â&#x2013;&#x2019; SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2016

www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me â&#x2013;&#x2019; 27

SWEET SHORTCUTS Easy ideas for award-winning desserts

Old-Fashioned Upside Down Cake Prep time: 20 minutes Total time: 35 minutes Servings: 8 2/3 cup margarine, divided 2/3 cup packed brown sugar, divided 1 can (20 ounces) Dole Pineapple Slices 10 maraschino cherries 3/4 cup granulated sugar, divided 2 eggs, separated 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup sour cream Heat oven to 350 F. In 10-inch cast-iron skillet, melt 1/3 cup margarine. Remove from heat. Add brown sugar and stir until blended.

28 â&#x2013;&#x2019; SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2016

Drain pineapple slices; reserve 2 tablespoons syrup. Arrange pineapple slices in sugar mixture. Place cherry in center of each slice. Beat remaining 1/3 cup margarine with 1/2 cup granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks, lemon peel, lemon juice and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Blend into creamed mixture alternately with sour cream and reserved pineapple syrup. Beat egg whites to soft peaks. Gradually beat in remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar to make stiff meringue. Fold into batter. Pour over pineapple in skillet. Bake 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes then invert onto serving plate. Serve warm or cold.

dolesunshine.com

CHOCOLATE MANDARIN ORANGE CAKE Prep time: 10 minutes Total time: 45 minutes Servings: 12 2

cans (15 ounces) Dole Mandarin Oranges, divided 1 box (2 layer) devil's food cake mix 3 eggs 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1 orange, peel grated (optional) 1 package (4-serving size) vanilla flavor instant pudding 2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed 1 cup heavy whipping cream 1 cup semisweet chocolate Heat oven to 350 F. Spray two (9-inch) cake pans with cooking spray. Drain mandarin oranges, keeping fruit and syrup reserved separately. In large bowl, combine cake mix, juice from one can of mandarin oranges, eggs, oil and orange peel; beat 2 minutes.

Bake 25-30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pan onto wire rack; cool completely. Pour 1/2 cup reserved juice from second can of oranges in bowl with pudding mix; whisk 2 minutes, or until pudding mix is completely dissolved. Remove 12 orange slices from second can and dry with paper towel; set aside. Fold in whipped topping and remaining mandarin oranges. Spread mandarin frosting on top of first layer of cake and out to edges. Place second layer on top of first layer. In small saucepan, heat cream until just beginning to steam, but do not boil. Remove from stove and stir in chocolate. Stir until well-blended. Pour chocolate mixture over cake and garnish with reserved mandarin oranges. Refrigerate half hour before serving.

Pour cake mix into prepared pans. Layer mandarin oranges from one can over each cake and gently submerge them into cake batter. www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me â&#x2013;&#x2019; 29

FABULOUS CARROT CAKE Prep time: 15 minutes Total time: 40 minutes Servings: 16 1 1/2 1 1 4 1 4 1 2 3 2 1 1 1/2 1 1 1/2 1 1

cups butter, softened, divided cup packed brown sugar cup granulated sugar eggs can (20 ounces) Dole Crushed Pineapple, drained cups shredded carrots cup Dole Seedless Raisins teaspoons vanilla extract cups all-purpose flour teaspoons baking soda teaspoon ground cinnamon teaspoon ground ginger teaspoon salt package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened cups powdered sugar teaspoon grated lemon peel tablespoon lemon juice

Heat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour two (9-inch) round pans. In large bowl, beat 1 cup butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs. Fold in crushed pineapple, carrots, raisins and vanilla. In medium bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and salt. Gradually add to pineapple mixture and fold until well-blended. Pour into prepared pans. Bake 35-40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in pans 15 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire racks. Beat cream cheese with remaining 1/2 cup butter until smooth. Beat in powdered sugar, lemon peel and lemon juice until smooth. Frost completely cooled cake. Garnish with additional crushed pineapple and grated carrots, if desired. Note: Cake can be baked in 13-by-9-inch pan. Bake 50-60 minutes at 350 F. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.

30 â&#x2013;&#x2019; SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2016

Spiced Caramel Apple Cider Prep time: 5 minutes Servings: 4 4 1/4 1 2

cups apple cider cup caramel topping teaspoon McCormick Apple Pie Spice teaspoons McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract

Bring apple cider, caramel topping and apple pie spice to simmer in medium saucepan. Stir in vanilla. Pour into serving cups. Serve topped with whipped cream, additional caramel topping and apple pie spice, if desired. Flavor Variations: For the variations below, use the following extract in place of the vanilla: Spiced Caramel Orange Cider: Use 1/4 teaspoon McCormick Pure Orange Extract. Spiced Caramel Maple Cider: Use 3/4 teaspoon McCormick Maple Extract. Spiced Caramel Rum Cider: Use 3/4 teaspoon McCormick Rum Extract.

Glazed Autumn Leaf Cookies Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Servings: 36 cookies 2 3/4 1 1 1/2 1 1 1/2 1 2 2

cups flour teaspoon salt teaspoon McCormick Ground Cinnamon teaspoon McCormick Ground Nutmeg cup (2 sticks) butter, softened cups sugar egg teaspoons McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract teaspoons McCormick Maple Extract

Preheat oven to 325Â°F. Mix flour, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in medium bowl. Set aside. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add egg, vanilla and maple extract; mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. Roll dough on generously floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out leaves with 2- to 3-inch leaf-shaped cookie cutters. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges start to brown. Cool on baking sheets 1 minute. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

Glaze Variations: For the variations below, dissolve the designated amount of the Color from Nature Food Colors with water in small bowl. Stir in any remaining ingredients until smooth. To glaze cookies, hold a cookie by its edge and dip the top into the glaze. (Or spoon the glaze onto cookies using a teaspoon.) Place iced cookies on wire rack set over foilcovered baking sheet to dry. (The foil-covered baking sheet will catch drips.) Let stand until glaze is set. Maroon Cookie Glaze: Use 1/2 teaspoon Berry color from McCormick Color from Nature - Assorted Food Colors, 3 tablespoons water (plus additional to dissolve color), 2 cups confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon cocoa powder. Forest Green Cookie Glaze: Use 1/2 teaspoon Sky Blue color and 1/4 teaspoon Sunflower color from McCormick Color from Nature - Assorted Food Colors, 3 tablespoons water (plus additional to dissolve color), 2 cups confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon cocoa powder. Pumpkin Cookie Glaze: Use 1 teaspoon Sunflower color and 1/4 teaspoon Berry color from McCormick Color from Nature - Assorted Food Colors, 3 tablespoons water (plus additional to dissolve color) and 2 cups confectioners' sugar. Source: Family Features

Prepare desired colors of glazes. Decorate cooled cookies with glazes. www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me â&#x2013;&#x2019; 31

GCUFF Artistic Director Neal Hodges and volunteers

GCUFF Kicked-Off Its Fifth Year in Grand Style By: R.L. Gamble Film Diva www.filmdiva3.com

he Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival (GCUFF) celebrated its fifth year with a spectacular opening night at the Cleveland Museum of Art last month. Dedicated to increasing awareness and dialogue around important stories from within our communities, GCUFF is a platform for talented minority independent screenwriters and actors to showcase their work. With nationally recognized actors Mel Jackson (Soul Food, Living 32 ▒ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2016

Single) and Denise Boutte (Why Did I Get Married) in attendance, the festival featured local African-American filmmakers as well as many from across the country. Starlette Sizemore-Rice of Cleveland Heights attended the festival for the first time because she wanted to learn more about it and because her employer, The ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County sponsored a film. “I am excited to experience it and learn what the film festival is all about,” she said. “I hope the ADAMHS Board will support this wonderful event again next year and sponsor another film.”

Donna Dabbs, GCUFF Executive Director said the opening night event which featured the film 9/rides directed by Akron University graduate, Matthew Cherry, was the largest opening ever. “Opening night was great!” Dabbs said. “It was a really great turnout at a fabulous venue. I think what I enjoyed the most was watching the reactions of the audience. The whole event unfolded exactly the way we had hoped. We look forward to continued growth and next year we will definitely work to top the success we are having now.” Events were held throughout the city including at MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art), and the Cleveland Cinematheque. The bulk of the films were screened at Shaker Square Cinemas – the home of the festival. Patrons had the chance to review all types of movies including Driving While Black, The Writer's Block, and Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise.

A GCUFF fan, Executive Director Donna Dabbs (c), and Actor Mel Jackson

9/rides Director Matthew Cherry said the film festival was a wonderful experience and he was glad he had the chance to participate. “Being a graduate of Akron University, it felt like coming home,” Cherry said. “A lot of my friends I went to school with came out to support me and that is really nice. Cleveland really showed me so much love and I appreciated it. Plus everyone gave me so much support. GCUFF is just a wonderful opportunity.”

Jim Brown and GCUFF fans

Film Diva Ruby Gamble and her husband Darrin Gamble www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 33

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters

ombining authentic African drumming, powerful choreography and thrilling original music, the splendor of Zimbabwe and the African continent comes to life on stage! After phenomenally successful tours in the 2008-09 & 2011-12 seasons that visited more than 60 cities, Dallas Children's Theater returns once more with this musical adaptation of the Caldecott Award-winning Cinderella tale. Running Time: 60 minutes Recommended Grade Level: Pre-K - 6 Ohio Theatre - The Playhouse Square Center Tickets $6 Showtimes:

October 25, 2016 at 11am October 26-28, 2016 at 10am & 12pm 34 â&#x2013;&#x2019; SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2016

Director Matthew Cherry Will Take you on an Unforgettable Uber Ride R.L. Gamble Film Diva www.filmdiva3.com

t's New Year's Eve and instead of enjoying the activities with your friends, you are working as a Uber driver in L.A. That is the premise of writer and director Matthew Cherry's brilliant film 9/rides. Filmed with two iPhones, his cinematography is amazing. You will think he used a ton of equipment to get the masterful shots of the car moving – but it was just the iPhone and suction cups! 9/rides is the story of an Uber driver who is working on New Year's Eve to earn money for his wedding. With each passenger he picks up, you learn more about him. The experiences of the passengers reflect a different aspect of his life and we actually see him growing as a person. “I take Uber a lot in L.A.,” Cherry said. “While riding you can end up with a driver talking your ear off or in an Uber pool where there are so many random stories. I thought it would be interesting to do a film that told these stories.”

moments that will make you pause. Besides there is a twist that no one will see coming and the audience loved it.

As the driver makes his way through the night, he gets a call that his girlfriend is out with another guy celebrating. This throws his whole evening and with each passenger he is beginning to lose patience, but he is also learning about the ups and downs of relationships. At one point he gets pulled over by the cops and this just adds to the tension that has been building since he got the call about his girl.

A graduate of Akron University, Cherry is a former NFL player who decided to pursue his dream of filmmaking. He has built a career directing music videos and the film The Last Fall. With 9/rides Cherry said he wanted to get across various themes with each ride. “With every passenger something else is revealed about his character. When he starts out it is obvious he is not good with patience, but by the end he has to learn about forgiveness.”

9/ridesis one of the best indie films I have seen in a long time. It's funny but there are some really dramatic

Cherry is a director whose name you really need to get to know and 9/rides is a film to see.

www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 35

36 â&#x2013;&#x2019; SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2016

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