Day 29. Arab American Women in STEM Trailblazers of Today and Tomorrow.
“You can’t be what you can’t see — so I work every day to make sure young women of color in science see themselves reflected in the future.”
— Dr Rana Dajani
Today we shine a light on Arab American women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) who are innovating, leading, and transforming the world — often while navigating multiple layers of identity, bias, and underrepresentation.
Breaking Stereotypes and Glass Ceilings
Historically underrepresented in both STEM and mainstream narratives, Arab American women have long made critical contributions across scientific disciplines — from genetics and biomedical engineering to space science and artificial intelligence. Today, their presence is not only growing but reshaping what the future of STEM looks like.
Let’s honor a few contemporary pioneers:
🧬 Dr Rana Dajani – A Jordanian-American molecular biologist recognized internationally for her work on genetics and epigenetics. Dr Dajani also founded “We Love Reading,” a community-driven literacy initiative, and advocates for women in science across the Arab world. “I want to make science accessible, to show that it belongs to all of us.”
🧠 Dr Rania Kanchi – An Arab American neuroscientist and educator, Dr Kanchi works at the intersection of brain health and youth development, striving to bring mental health awareness and scientific research to underserved communities.
🛰 Farah Alibay – A Canadian-American of Tunisian descent, Farah is a systems engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where she worked on the Mars Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter mission. “Exploration has no borders. Science is for all of us.”
🔬 Dr Laila Al-Marayati – A physician, human rights advocate, and medical researcher, Dr Al-Marayati has worked extensively on women’s health and was a US delegate to the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Her leadership has bridged healthcare, policy, and activism.
👩🔬 Why It Matters
Arab American women in STEM continue to be trailblazers and role models, challenging the dominant narratives about who belongs in scientific spaces. They are not just changing the game — they are designing the board.
From tackling climate change to decoding the human genome, their contributions remind us that diversity drives discovery, and that representation empowers the next generation.
Explore Profiles of Arab Women in STEM
- 📖 All Together Spotlights Arab Women in Engineering.
- 📚 Arab Women Rising — profiles of Arab women leaders across sectors – Authors interview.
- 🛰 NASA Women @ Work.
Reflection
Diversity in STEM increases results, understanding and knowledge. We encourage you to reflect on these questions as you consider increasing inclusion in the STEM field.
💬 In what ways can you encourage the amplification of diverse women in STEM fields?
💬 How can we continue to work as a community to bring equity to career fields traditional overrepresented by men?
Join us tomorrow, our last day of celebrating Arab American Visionaries as we look to the future of Arab American contributions to society.
Learn more: Medium shares the stories of 5 Arab Women Leaders in STEM.
#UU #UUA #CelebrateDiversity #30DaysOfHonoringArabAmericans #ArabAmerican #ArabAmericanHeritageMonth #ArabWomenInSTEM #STEMTrailblazers #ScienceForAll
Discover more from SepulvedaUU
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.