Women in Science Program
Living, learning and growing together
Mentorship That Builds Success
Mentoring is a powerful way to support both academic and personal growth. Strong mentoring relationships help students develop confidence, build a professional identity early in their college journey, and feel supported every step of the way.
About WISP (Women in Science Program):
Our goal is to create meaningful connections between first-year students, upper-class peers, and faculty members. Through structured programming and mentorship, WISP helps students thrive within the College of Science.
What WISP Offers:
- Role Models and Guidance: Faculty and peers share strategies for success and provide ongoing support.
- Community and Belonging: Build lasting relationships and feel part of a vibrant science community.
- Personal and Professional Growth: Gain insights, share experiences, and strengthen your identity as a scientist.
Join WISP and discover how mentorship can transform your college experience and help you succeed academically, socially, and professionally.
Program Description
Four component parts work together to form a continuous environment that fosters success for students in the College of Science from their first year through their PhD.
- First-year Residential Program
- Undergraduate Mentoring Program
- Graduate Mentoring Program
First Year Residential Program
The Residential Program for first-year students allows students with the same academic interest to live together in Meredith South Hall as a group and form a network for studying, support and friendship. To learn more about the Women in Science Residential Program, visit the Learning Communities website.
Undergraduate Mentoring Program
The Undergraduate Mentoring Program is a complement of the Residential Program. Upper-class undergraduates who have displayed leadership and a passion in their field of study are invited to be mentors to the first-year students participating in the Residential Program. To provide an environment in which the mentor/mentee relationships can grow and flourish, and to expose the students to role models, WISP provides monthly cohort events and social programs where speakers relate their experiences as women in Science. Informal communication is encouraged between the monthly meetings to strengthen the mentor/mentee relationship.
Graduate Mentoring Program
The Graduate Mentoring Program is a series of dinner meetings that feature a speaker in a relevant field, allows busy, dedicated scientists to share their experiences with one another at a convenient time. The graduate students, along with several faculty members and post-doctoral students, meet and interact over a light dinner. These meetings are invaluable in that they provide contact with role models, who are successful women in science, to the students in science. In addition, these meetings provide an opportunity to increase informal networking between faculty members and graduate students.
Contact Information
Connie Kaspar, Associate Director of Student Success and Science Pathways Development
HAAS 220
(765) 496-6095
Email: brophyc@purdue.edu
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