Skip to main content
University of Nebraska Omaha logo University of Nebraska Omaha
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY

Students Faculty Staff Community
University of Nebraska Omaha logo
College of Public Affairs and Community Service
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY
Students Faculty Staff Community
  • About Us Backback to Main menu
    • About CPACS
    • Directory
    • Awards and Recognition
    • Directions and Parking
    • News
  • Academics Backback to Main menu
    • Degree Programs
    • Minors
    • Certificates
    • Advising
    • Goodrich Scholarship Program
    • CPACS Undergraduate Student Grade Appeal Policy
    • CPACS Academic Amnesty
  • Professional Programs
  • Community Engagement Backback to Main menu
    • Partnerships, Events, and Outreach
    • Meaningful Research
    • Labor Studies Institute
    • Alumni Awards
  • Support Us
  1. UNO
  2. College of Public Affairs and Community Service
  3. CPACS News
  4. 2022
  5. 07
  6. Report Shares Challenges and Opportunities for Women in STEM in Nebraska

Report Shares Challenges and Opportunities for Women in STEM in Nebraska

Women in Nebraska's workforce frequently encounter and overcome gender barriers as they pursue careers in STEM fields, according to a new report released by the UNO Center for Public Affairs Research.

  • published: 2022/07/01
  • contact: Josie Schafer - Center for Public Affairs Research
  • phone: 402.554.2134
  • email: jgschafer@unomaha.edu
  • search keywords:
  • STEM
  • Women
  • workforce
A page from the Women in STEM report

Omaha, Nebraska – The report — Nebraska's Women in STEM: Listen Then Act — provides data on the experiences of 48 women working in STEM and how they navigate the challenges and opportunities of working in traditionally male-dominated environments. Bio Nebraska and Nebraska Cures commissioned the report with NASA Nebraska Space Grant funding for a graduate student fellowship.

In 2019, only 5% of persons 25 years and older worked in a core STEM occupation in Nebraska. Of those that work in STEM, about 27% are women compared to 73% of men, using data from the United States Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Women of color are even less represented.

Our research shows that Nebraska's women in STEM face considerable gender barriers when entering and advancing in STEM fields."

 Josie Gatti Schafer, CPAR director

Researchers in the report identified themes across the women interviewed, including early interest in life to pursue a career in STEM; grit; workplace inequities; barriers in career promotion and advancement; challenges navigating work-life balance; and unique Nebraska influences on the STEM culture and workforce. The report also includes a series of recommendations with ideas from interview participants for how to recruit and retain women in STEM in Nebraska.

"Our research shows that Nebraska's women in STEM face considerable gender barriers when entering and advancing in STEM fields. The report also proposes solutions for how to support women in STEM at both the organization and public policy levels," said Josie Gatti Schafer, CPAR director.

Data in the report was collected through 48 in-depth interviews with women working in STEM who reside in Nebraska, led by Morgan Vogel, Ph.D., a research associate at CPAR. Interview participants represented a range of STEM occupations in academia and industry in Nebraska.

The full report as well as ways to be involved in sharing and acting on the research can be found online at NebraskaWomenInSTEM.com.

About CPAR

CPAR collaboratively produces and disseminates high-quality public scholarship about topics that impact the lives of Nebraskans. Ongoing projects from CPAR include policy analyses for the Planning Committee of the Nebraska State Legislature, the Nebraska Rural Transit Project, governing.unomaha.edu, and designation by the U.S. Census Bureau as a statewide liaison for disseminating a range of data products. Visit cpar.unomaha.edu to access CPAR's extensive data resources on state and local issues in Nebraska.

News Sections

  • College of Public Affairs and Community Service News Center
  • UNO News Center
  • Maverick Daily
  • The Bullseye
  • Campus Events

Featured

  • UNO Criminologist Awarded Research Grant to Explore Why Some People Steer Clear of Crime
  • Dr. Tara Richards Joins Statewide Effort to Prevent Domestic Abuse Deaths
  • University of Nebraska at Omaha Aviation Institute Honors Student Excellence and Industry Leadership at 2025 Honors Convocation
  • Dr. Jodi Benenson Promoted to Associate Director of UNO’s School of Public Administration

Most Viewed

  • CPACS Graduate Programs Climb 2023 U.S. News Rankings
  • CPACS Enrollment at an All-Time High
  • New National Rankings Highlight UNO’s Leadership in Online Programs

Contact Us

If you have a story idea, news tip or inquiry please contact:

Debbie Vihstadt, Communications Specialist
dvihstadt@unomaha.edu • 402.554.3033


About the College of Public Affairs and Community Service

College of Public Affairs and Community Service

Contact Us
  • Dean's Office
  • College of Public Affairs and Community Service
  • CPACS 109
  • 6320 Maverick Plaza
  • Omaha, NE 68182   map
  • 402.554.2276
Social media
CPACS Units and Resources
  • School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
  • Department of Gerontology
  • Goodrich Scholarship Program
  • School of Public Administration/Aviation Institute/Emergency Management and Disaster Science
  • Grace Abbott School of Social Work
  • Center for Public Affairs Research
  • William Brennan Institute for Labor Studies
Sunrise over the CPACS building

Next Steps

  • Visit UNO
  • Request Information
  • Apply for Admission
  • The UNO Advantage
  • Our City (Omaha)

Just For You

  • Future Students
  • Current Students
  • Work at UNO
  • Faculty and Staff
  • A-Z List

Popular Services and Resources

  • my.unomaha.edu
  • Academic Calendar
  • Campus Buildings & Maps
  • Library
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Course Catalogs
  • Internships & Career Development
  • The Maverick Store
  • MavCARD Services
  • Military-Connected Resource Center
  • Speech Center
  • Writing Center
  • Human Resources
  • Center for Faculty Excellence

Affiliates

  • University of Nebraska System
  • NU Foundation
  • Buffett Early Childhood Institute
  • Daugherty Water for Food Institute
  • National Strategic Research Institute
  • Peter Kiewit Institute
  • Rural Prosperity Nebraska
  1. University Policies
  2. Privacy Statement
  3. Accessibility
  1. 402.554.2800

University of Nebraska Omaha
University of Nebraska Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68182
  • ©  
  • Emergency Information Alert
  • MavsReport

Social Media


Omaha Skyline

Our Campus. Otherwise Known as Omaha.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity. Read the full statement.