Women of Pittsburgh event at Chartiers Valley highlights multiple career paths

Chartiers Valley High School junior Caelyn Murray figured some of her peers might be interested in learning more about future careers from accomplished, local women.

But when 146 girls signed up to participate in the school’s Women of Pittsburgh event, she was a little bit surprised.

“I like the fact of how many girls wanted to do it,” she said. “I was actually in shock — having 146 girls attending.”

Murray, senior Gabriella Ballock and applied engineering teacher Charles Barber organized the school’s eighth-annual Women of Pittsburgh event, held March 8. The event coincided with International Women’s Day.

“We wanted to celebrate, and have this event,” Ballock said.

Students were assigned to different groups and rotated through five stations to listen to presentations from guest speakers in various fields.

Speakers included Dr. Bridget Calhoun, a physician, HIV/AIDS researcher and associate provost at Duquesne University; Angela Lucas, chief risk officer and self-made businesswoman; Christina Debski, an associate systems engineer at a national robotics engineering company; Megan Barko, a tank inspector at the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s office; and Michelle Gregory, a K-9 handler and fire investigator at the county fire marshal’s office.

“It’s beneficial because maybe (students) didn’t think they’d be able to get in a field,” Ballock said. “We’re providing them examples of women that have come before them, and hopefully inspire them.”

Murray and Ballock utilized sources and networked to schedule the guests for the event. Murray said they tried to include women from a variety of different fields to give students a wide range of careers.

Some speakers discussed the challenges of being a woman in male-dominated industries, work-life balance and the path they took to get to where they are today.

Calhoun said the event was impressive.

“We have to spark their interest and show them where their opportunities are,” she said. “It’s great to see what the path can be — it’s not as linear as it was decades ago.”