Dr. Shirley Malcom, Distinguished Scientist and Pioneer for Access to Education in STEM, to be Olin College’s 2023 Commencement Speaker

November 3, 2022

Dr. Shirley Malcom, Senior Advisor and Director of the SEA Change initiative at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), to be the featured speaker at Olin College’s 2023 Commencement ceremony.

In her more than 40-year tenure at AAAS, Dr. Malcom has worked to improve the quality of and increase access to education and careers in STEM for all women, the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) community, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.

Dr. Malcom’s work at AAAS and as a member of the National Science Board is a powerful example of how one person, working with committed colleagues and allies, can improve the lives and systems of the people and communities around them. She has been active for decades in international efforts related to gender and science and technology, including developing initiatives to support women in science, engineering and innovation. Dr. Malcom continues to explore how science, technology and innovation can be applied to improve women’s lives.

Over the years, Dr. Malcom has received many honors, including the Public Welfare Medal of the National Academy of Sciences, the highest award given by the academy. In 2022, Penn State recognized Malcom by naming a building in its Innovation Park in her honor. Malcom is an elected fellow of the AAAS and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, where she also serves as international secretary. She holds 17 honorary degrees and is the 2021 recipient of the Gold Key Award of Sigma Xi.

Olin College is a founding member of SEA Change, an initiative to advance institutional transformation in support of diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education. Working toward a more diverse community is one of the central initiatives embedded in Olin’s new strategic plan.

Olin’s 18th Commencement will take place on May 14, 2023, at 1 p.m.