Women’s Equality Day: Honoring the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage with the Office of STEM Engagement’s Elaine Ho
Women’s Equality Day is celebrated annually on Aug. 26, commemorating the passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the constitutional right to vote in the United States. In a joint resolution in 1973, Aug. 26 was officially designated as Women’s Equality Day. The celebration of Women’s Equality Day goes beyond suffrage, celebrating the full equality of women in all aspects of life, from the polls to the workplace.
Ratified on Aug. 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment just celebrated its 100th anniversary, with a long track record of equality and empowering the next generation. An incredible example of its legacy in action is NASA Office of STEM Engagement’s own Elaine Ho.
Ho holds a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from Duke University, a law degree from the University of Florida, and an executive certificate in strategic diversity and inclusion management from Georgetown University.
Her career has shown exceptional service to not only the country, but a true commitment to diversity and inclusion. Ho started her career as an active duty officer in the Air Force, serving as a criminal prosecutor and legal advisor to commanders. She went on to practice law in the private sector, specializing in employment law, litigating cases involving race, gender, and disability discrimination. During her time in private practice, she developed a passion for diversity and inclusion work, which led her to leave the practice of law to do this full time. Ho had the opportunity to serve as director for diversity and inclusion, first for the Department of Agriculture, and then for the IRS. Her entrepreneurial approach to diversity and inclusion caught the eye of the IRS commissioner and chief of staff, and she eventually served as the deputy chief of staff for the IRS.
Ho then held a number of positions at the White House, beginning in First Lady Michelle Obama’s office and then working as the U.S. Digital Service chief of staff. Following her time at the White House, Ho joined NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, initially as the senior advisor for STEM transformation before stepping into her current role as the deputy associate administrator.
Her career, however, was not without its challenges. From overcoming the skepticism of others to her own self-doubt, Ho had to adapt to her environment and allow herself the room to grow.
“Whether it was working alongside those in the military, in large law firms, or formerly in Silicon Valley, I had to navigate challenges. Whether it was subtle comments or overt actions, there were certainly occasions that made me question things, [like] whether my work product was good enough or whether I should speak up and offer my opinion,” Ho said. “But as I progressed in my career, experienced different workplace cultures, and successfully took on [increasingly] challenging roles, I became more comfortable in my skin to know the value I brought to the table.”
One of the most influential points of Ho’s career came during her time working for First Lady Michelle Obama, leading Let Girls Learn, a government initiative to help adolescent girls around the world get a quality education that empowers them to reach their full potential.
“To say that this was the most transformative year of my professional career is an understatement,” Ho said. “I can’t help to recall the surreal experiences of riding in the first lady’s motorcade, flying in Air Force One, regularly walking through the Rose Garden for meetings and, of course, interacting with the first lady herself. For me it was a year that tested my limits [and] pushed me well beyond my comfort zone, under special and intense circumstances that left no room for error.”
Even as her job title and location changed, Ho’s end goal has remained the same: to promote an inclusive environment where everyone, especially women, felt like they had a seat at the table. Today, Ho is committed to bringing her diversity and inclusion experience into the world of STEM engagement. She wants young girls to know there is a place for them in STEM, as well as at NASA.
Elaine Ho with female leaders in STEM during a TechWomen event. Image courtesy of Elaine Ho.
“First, you can do it – and you should do it,” Ho said. “STEM fields need you! Diversity in STEM fields isn’t just a ‘nice to have,’ it is an imperative. Second, you don’t have to do it by yourself. Build a support structure around you. Find role models who may inspire you, like superwomen Melinda Gates or Katherine Johnson, and find mentors, like teachers or professors, who can show you the way and connect you with opportunities and resources. Lean on friends with similar interests to get you through those tougher times.”
The women of our country’s past left big shoes to fill, from those who fought for women’s suffrage, to NASA’s hidden figures and everyone in between. As an agency, NASA is looking forward to a new milestone for women – landing the first woman on the Moon – along with the next man – in 2024 as part of NASA’s Artemis program. We are grateful to the trailblazers of the past 100 years. If women like Ho are any indication of what the next 100 will bring, we are on the path to extraordinary progress.
More on Women at NASA can be found here.
More on Women in STEM at NASA can be found here.
