A small group of NOAA employees were recognized during the 2021 Women of Color (WOC) Conference, held October 7-9. WOC awards highlight significant achievements in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers.
“Congratulations to NOAA’s 2021 Women of Color in STEM awardees,” said Louisa Koch, director of NOAA Education. “These women are being recognized for outstanding accomplishments in their NOAA STEM careers. We are delighted to celebrate their achievements in support of NOAA’s mission of science, service, and stewardship.”
Janae Elkins, a meteorologist in the National Weather Service, Jackson Mississippi Forecast Office, and Jena Kent, an oceanographer in the NOAA Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services, (center), were among the NOAA awardees.
Tiffany House, (in blue dress), is a commercialization specialist in NOAA’s Technology Partnerships Office. She said not being afraid to ask questions has helped her gain mentors. "I would not be where I am today without the support of mentors in NOAA," she said.
Rita Williams, a budget analyst in the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, said mentors can provide guidance and be a source of courage when you feel like giving up.
Jennifer Melton (right) is chief of the NOAA Environmental Compliance Division/Safety and Environmental Compliance Office. She won a Technology All-Star award. Melton said that she took advantage of early-career STEM positions to hone her technical skills.
Read more about the awardees here.
