We’ve made it to March, which happens to be my birthday month, and Women’s History Month!
This week we’re learning about Liz Leitman – a fellow meteorologist. She works at the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman, Oklahoma. Recently, she made history as the FIRST female to issue a severe weather watch! I sat down with her to learn about her path to where she is now and what she wants other young ladies interested in the STEM fields to know!
Starting in high school, Liz knew she wanted to be a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. She decided to go to the University of Oklahoma (Boomer!). While at school, she enjoyed her classes and learning but had an advisor who doubted her. The advisor shocked her by questioning the success she would have at becoming a meteorologist.
Liz didn’t let that stop her. She continued through school, battling barriers we all have to do with:
Am I good enough? Maybe that advisor was right?
Imposter Syndrome
Self Doubt
She kept pushing through. She told herself, “if you want to get to where you want to be, this is something you have to get through”. She didn’t give up and she kept going.
After graduation, Liz went on to be a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Billings, Montana for a few years, moving to Louisville, Kentucky, and eventually to Norman, Oklahoma working for the Storm Prediction Center, where she has been for the last 13 years.
I asked Liz what it was like putting out that watch – not just for herself but as the first female to do so in SPC history.
She said it was a dream come true – as if she had finally made it.
There was a lot of anticipation about this happening as some of her training was happening and the storm season was ramping up. The night before she didn’t get much sleep with a lot of nerves to deal with.
She issued the watch and almost missed the opportunity to take pictures had it not been for her supportive co-workers taking behind-the-scenes pictures for her. When she got finished with all the prep to issue the watch and hit the submit button, she said there were cheers in the office and her co-workers clapped for her.
Liz tells me that all the publicity she has gotten recently has been a big shock to her. When she made the post about issuing the watch and being the first woman, she expected a few comments and some support, not for it to explode and become what it has.
She went on to say the comments have been truly inspiring for her as people shared the interest their children have in becoming a meteorologist, and how their little girls are inspired by her.
Liz wants everyone to know that she is proud to represent women in meteorology and more widely women in STEM because representation matters. Whenever someone that considers themselves to be an underrepresented population sees someone like them succeeding, it empowers them and that is important to Liz.
She’s been glad to see the number of women in the National Weather Service continue to increase since she joined, but she knows there is still work to do.
I hope you enjoyed this and are looking forward to more #WomenInSTEMWednesday posts!
TTFN!
-M
Fair Skies with Scattered Showers 