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WSSU prof taking these GEMS to White House
Program's big objective is to spark enthusiasm among girls for math and science
Denise Johnson is the director of the Girls Empowered by Math and Science program.
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Published: July 3, 2009
Updated: 07/03/2009 12:40 am
Next week, Denise Johnson and 25 young girls who spent part of their summer thinking about algebraic equations and statistics will visit the White House.
The girls recently finished a summer math-and-science program that Johnson directs. She is an assistant professor of education at Winston-Salem State University and specializes in math education.
Johnson found out Tuesday that a request she made in January to visit the White House with the girls had been granted. She doesn't know many details about the visit except to show up at the White House on Tuesday at 11 a.m.
Meeting President Obama or first lady Michelle Obama would be a thrill, of course. But Johnson said she is telling the girls to keep their expectations in check.
"I want them to know what kind of honor it is to be inside those gates," Johnson said. "Hopefully, they will think, ‘If I can go to the White House as a kid, what else can I do?'"
One of Johnson's big goals is to spark enthusiasm among girls about math and science. Often, young girls score as well as boys in these subjects, but they experience a shift in attitude around middle school.
"There's this geek-squad mentality," Johnson said. "It's not sexy or cute."
Johnson, who grew up in Lexington, discovered early that she liked math. She was often one of just a few girls in her advanced- math courses in high school.
"It was clear that we weren't supposed to be smarter," she said.
Johnson said she considered going into computer programming but decided that what she really wanted to do was teach. She started at WSSU in 2007, and shortly after, started GEMS, which stands for Girls Empowered by Math and Science.
The program has two components -- a year-round program and a summer program. Both are open to girls from sixth to 10th grades.
Some of the goals include introducing girls to different math concepts and getting them to start thinking about a career in math, science or technology. They have worked on cryptology, dissected pigs and worked on Geographic Information Systems.
The year-round program was open to any girl, regardless of math aptitude.
"We did not prescreen for academic ability at all," she said.
And the summer program was open to any girl who would benefit.
Johnson tapped two students -- now graduates -- to help her with the program.
One of those graduates, Nikki Westmoreland of Rural Hall, said that Johnson inspired her to switch her career goal from teaching elementary school to teaching middle-school math.
"She's like an inspiration to me as far as math," Westmoreland said. "She made me love math more."
About the time that Obama was inaugurated, Johnson thought it would be a great to have the summer program culminate with a visit to the White House. She submitted a request through Rep. Mel Watt's office and waited. She called Watt's office each week to check on the status of her request.
It was never denied, but as camp came and went (it ended June 26), Johnson was resigned that she and the girls would not be going to Washington.
On Tuesday, a representative from Watt's office called -- her request had been approved.
"It's just utter excitement," Westmoreland said.
Johnson has been scrambling to set up travel plans. WSSU has arranged to pay for the girls' travel and lodging.
Johnson said she has no idea why the group was chosen. The request form asked only for basic information about her group.
"What I hope played a role in their decision was that they saw that there was a group of girls in this age range who could be the wave of the future and could make a difference in the lives of Americans," she said.
"And I truly believe that."
■ Lisa O'Donnell can be reached at 727-7420 or at lodonnell@wsjournal.com.
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