Women in STEM Programming
The Carla Montgomery Women in STEM Fund
Honoring a Legacy. Empowering the Future.
The Carla Montgomery Women in STEM Fund celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Carla Montgomery, Associate Professor Emerita of Geology and Environmental Geosciences and former Associate Dean of the Graduate School. An inspiring professor, prolific author, and generous philanthropist, Dr. Montgomery made a profound and lasting impact at Northern Illinois University. Her decades of mentorship and advocacy helped shape generations of students—especially women pursuing scientific careers.
About the Program
The Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Lecture Series at Northern Illinois University provides a forum for inspiration and collegiality in fields where women and other gender minorities are often underrepresented.
This program’s Advisory Board invites leaders in STEM to engage with students, faculty, and community members—not only through their research, but through their personal journeys and experiences. The series has already featured influential scientists such as:
- Dr. Paulette Hasier, Chief of the Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress
- Dr. Leslie Kay, University of Chicago
- Dr. Nancy Freitag, University of Illinois Chicago
- Dr. Teresa M. Bals-Elsholz, Valparaiso University
- Dr. Carol Sumner, Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Dr. Lisa Freeman, President, Northern Illinois University
Growing Impact
Building on the success of the lecture series, the Carla Montgomery Women in STEM Fund has goals to support expanded programming and initiatives designed to encourage and sustain women and gender minorities in STEM fields at NIU. This includes:
- Networking and mentorship opportunities for students and faculty
- Campus and community events highlighting women’s research and innovation
- Travel support and professional development for emerging scholars
Join Us in Continuing Dr. Montgomery’s Legacy
Dr. Montgomery’s own generosity to NIU—supporting graduate research travel, library collections, scholarships, and the arts—embodied her belief that access and opportunity are essential to discovery. Through this fund, her legacy of empowerment continues.
The Friends of NIU Libraries will match the first $1,500 raised in this campaign—doubling the impact of every contribution.
Your support helps us continue the vital work of promoting diversity, inclusion, and excellence in the sciences. Together, we can honor Dr. Montgomery’s legacy and empower the next generation of scientists.
