EXP’s Women in STEM Career Day 2026

Thursday, March 5, 2026, at Los Angeles Harbor College

On March 5, 2026, about 400 high school students from across Southern California participated in the inspirational STEM career discovery day at Los Angeles Harbor College. After a high-energy keynote from Dr. Jacqueline Sanderlin, students explored STEM career possibilities with 31 exhibiting organizations, more than 80 volunteers, and more than 40 breakout career panelists! The students loved every component of the event. Thanks to our sponsors and volunteers for making a day of learning a wonderful experience that they won’t soon forget!

Here’s what the students are saying about the 10th annual event:

  • My favorite part is listening to the ladies about what their careers are and what they went through to achieve it, especially the career I want to do made me more motivated

  • My favorite part of the event was getting to personally talk to people during the expo and get a little one-on-one about different careers and what drove them to pursue such paths.

  • Listening to and seeing someone with the same background as me being successful in their careers is super motivational!

An INSIGHT Into Diversity 2023 Inspiring Programs in STEM award-winning program, EXP’s Women in STEM Career Day, introduces high school students to STEM-related careers with a special focus on inspiring girls and non-binary students. School participation is coordinated directly with EXP to support students interested in STEM and who would benefit from the experience.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jacqueline L. Sanderlin, Educator / Speaker / Author

Dr. Jacqueline L. Sanderlin, also known affectionately as Dr. Jackie, is an accomplished educator, leadership expert, and author renowned for building powerful, sustainable school-community partnerships. With over 25 years of experience as a special education teacher, curriculum specialist, assistant principal, principal, and senior director of school and community engagement, Dr. Jackie brings both depth and authenticity to her work with educators, executives, and community leaders.

Formerly the K12 National Leadership Executive Manager at Apple, Dr. Jackie has a proven track record of bridging education, business, and community. She is the Founder and CEO of The Why Not? Incubator, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing opportunities for youth and helping them discover their full potential. Through her work, she has helped establish more than 350 sustainable partnerships between corporations, local businesses, and underserved schools nationwide.

Dr. Jackie is also the CEO of Impact Leader Enterprises, where she deepens leadership impact through empowering keynote speeches and results-driven professional learning experiences. Her work goes beyond traditional philanthropy—she demonstrates how embracing entire communities fosters authentic connection, unity, and shared success. Her trademark question, “Why not?”, challenges leaders to adopt a growth mindset, think creatively, and recognize the limitless potential of collaboration.

In her acclaimed book, The Why Not Challenge: Say Yes to Success with School-Community Partnerships, Dr. Jackie shares proven, practical strategies for building lasting relationships among schools, organizations, and companies. Her impactful work has been featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and she served as a consulting producer for NBC’s School Pride.

A highly sought-after keynote speaker, Dr. Sanderlin delivers powerful, uplifting, empowering messages that inspire action and leave audiences asking, “Why not me?” - and ready to reimagine what’s possible through community connection.

She has served as a main-stage speaker for organizations including CABE, CASC, NABSE, MTSS, Microsoft, and Amazon, among many others.

Thanks to our 2026 Sponsors

Innovator Sponsor

 
 

Destination Sponsors

 
 

Compass Sponsors

 
 

Beacon Sponsors

 
 

Special Thanks

La Piñata Party Rentals · Snap Inc.

Exhibitors

  • AGC of California / Build CA

  • AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles

  • Children's Dental Health Clinic (CDHC)

  • Clark Construction

  • Cosm

  • DemoChicks

  • Edwards Lifesciences

  • Griffith Company

  • Hensel Phelps

  • LA Metro

  • Latinas in STEM

  • Los Angeles Maritime Institute

  • Los Angeles World Airports

  • Marathon

  • Marine Mammal Care Center

  • Marshall B. Ketchum University

  • Minding Your Mind

  • The Pasha Group

  • Poppy Bank

  • Royal Electric Company

  • SCA Strategic Partnerships International

  • Shawmut Design and Construction

  • Sully-Miller Contracting Co.

  • Tetra Tech, Inc.

  • Toyota

  • Union Pacific Railroad

  • Valero

  • Water Replenishment District

  • Webcor

  • WINTER

  • WTS LA Transportation YOU

Career Panelists

  • Chloé Adrien, Westways Staffing

  • Jordon Alcaraz, Marathon LA Refinery

  • Erin Baldwin, Marathon LA Refinery

  • Caroline Cailloux, Sully-Miller Contracting Co.

  • Karen Caswelch, bridgED manufacturing

  • Dr. Mina Desai, The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

  • Michelle Do, Marathon LA Refinery

  • Bailey Freeland, Marathon LA Refinery

  • Arodi Garcia, SPEC Services Inc

  • Mia Giunta, Marine Mammal Care Center

  • Stacey Graham, Providence

  • Korrina Guerrero, Marine Mammal Care Center

  • Zheantezsa Guizar, SPEC Services Inc.

  • Lisa Hadley, RailPros

  • Pearl Hanks, PEnterprise Consulting Services

  • Kirstin Harper-Smith, Shawmut Design and Construction

  • Jacqueline Herd, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAONL, FACHE, Little Company of Mary San Pedro

  • Kristen Hermosillo, Snapchat

  • Karina Hernandez, Sully-Miller Contracting Co.

  • Samantha Jackson, Shawmut Design and Construction

  • Mary Jreisat, Shawmut Design and Construction

  • Tracy Kleinow, Marathon LA Refinery

  • Monika Maldonado, Sully-Miller Contracting Co.

  • Dr. Mackenzie Martin, DDS, MPH, Children's Dental Health Clinic (CDHC)

  • Paige Melendrez, Griffith Company

  • Ghina Pradina, Marathon LA Refinery

  • Michelle Quirante, Clark Construction

  • Zakiyah Roberts, Edwards Lifesciences

  • Diana Rosas, Sully-Miller Contracting Co.

  • Tatiana Samuel, Webcor - LAX Wayfinding Project

  • Christina Serrano, Griffith Company

  • Anastasia Shepherd, Netflix

  • Lucero Silva, Providence

  • Maria Vasilchikova, Netflix

  • Shelly Vasquez, Marathon LA Refinery

  • Dr. Joycelyn Yamzon, Marshall B. Ketchum University College of Pharmacy

  • Iris Yoon, Marathon LA Refinery

  • Marvel Zhao, Experian

Event Volunteers

  • Laura Avila, LA Move

  • Cathy Engles

  • Maria Flores, Watson Land Company

  • Elizabeth Machuca, SPEC Services (EXP Alum and Board Member)

  • Maria Melendrez, ACTA

  • Celina Swift, Friends of the Banning Museum