About Us

Encouraging girls to excel in math, science and technology

"Why don't more girls take Math and Science courses? Math and Science are not just for boys." In 1975 a group of professional women wondering about the reasons for this decided that not enough girls knew about women who had careers in math and science. They started brainstorming and their plan became the first "Expanding Your Horizons in Science and Mathematics" conference.

The first conference was held in March 1976 at Mills College in Oakland, California. More than 200 young women attended and met women who were physicists, engineers, scientists, and physicians. Most of the girls came away from the conference with new ideas and the feeling that math and science were "okay".

Expanding Your Horizons conferences have been held in cities across the United States. More than 625,000 young women have attended, participated, and enjoyed learning about career possibilities in the math and science fields in EYH events around the world since 1975. In Washington State, conferences are held in more than 15 cities throughout the year.

The Expanding Your Horizons conference in Olympia is held in the fall. Organized and presented by a group of interested volunteers, our local conference has grown in attendance each year. Every fall more young women have an opportunity to explore what it might be like to have a career in math and science.

Conference Goals

Increase young women’s interest in mathematics, science and technology.
Provide an opportunity to meet women working in non-traditional fields.
Foster awareness of careers for women in mathematics and science-related areas.

Who are we?

We are a group of people who believe that these issues are important and who have committed time and resources to building a better future for the girls in our community.

2008 Committee Members
Nancy McKinney, Chair	Sharon Guile
Sue Berg	Nancy Johnson
Donna Ching	Reesa Nelson
Nancy Deakins	Vicki Ogden
Shaila Fisher	Rebecca Teter
Sandra Gordon	Jeanette Whitcher

The organizing Committee welcomes new members. If you are interested, please email Nancy McKinney or check the appropriate box on the registration form.

Community Supporters

We have been generously supported by businesses and volunteers in the surrounding community. Their donations of time or money have been a great asset to this organization. We are so thankful for every one of our women mentors, for without them we would not have a conference to present!

Thurston County Expanding Your Horizons extends a special thank you to Rich Hamack of Razorbox.com for all of his help in designing our online registration. Razorbox.com is based in Olympia and is proud to support Expanding Your Horizons.