SERVICE & ADVOCACY
I am passionate about supporting graduate students and our sense , promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM fields, science outreach, and engaging with the public through various service and advocacy roles.
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Women disproportionately face a low sense of belonging and retention in STEM fields, which, among other challenges, leads us to leave STEM fields at alarming rates, despite high interest and performance in STEM fields (Evans et al. 2018). The problem is exacerbated even further for women with other minoritized identities (Evans et al. 2018; Arnold et al. 2020). Activities and affinity groups on campus are needed to develop a sense of community, which is critical to retention and success (Wiseman et al. 2004; Brown and Burdsal 2012). I am the Co-President of Graduate Women in Science and Engineering (GWiSE) at Northeastern University, a student group with a mission to identify and break down the barriers limiting the advancement and retention of all women in STEM fields. My primary roles include meeting facilitation, strategic planning, and guiding event planning and inclusion of members in our activities.
I am also a regular volunteer with our department's Outreach program, sharing habitat restoration and conservation science with the public. I have enjoyed presenting at various venues, including Cambridge Science Festival, tabling at High School Marine Science Day, and participating in Skype a Scientist. At a Master's Student, I participated in the GK-12 program, developing and teaching lessons that incorporate my science in a biology and marine biology classrooms.
Mentorship is another important avenue to foster a sense of belonging in STEM fields. Along with another student organizer, I run a mentoring circles program in our department's Graduate Student Association. We meet monthly to discuss a variety of topics relevant to graduate students, including self-assessment, leadership, confident communication, and fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within our community.
References
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Arnold, A. et al. Examining the Effects of STEM Climate on the Mental Health of Graduate Women from Diverse Racial/Ethnic Backgrounds. in 2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access Proceedings 34617 (ASEE Conferences, 2020). doi:10.18260/1-2--34617.Brown, S. K. & Burdsal, C. A. An exploration of sense of community and student success using the national survey of student engagement. The Journal of General Education 61, 433–460 (2012).
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Evans, T. M., Bira, L., Gastelum, J. B., Weiss, L. T. & Vanderford, N. L. Evidence for a mental health crisis in graduate education. Nature biotechnology 36, 282–284 (2018).
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Wiseman, R. L., Gonzales, S. M. & Salyer, K. A cross-cultural analysis of students’ sense of community, degree of involvement, and educational benefits. Intercultural Communication Studies 13, 173–189 (2004).
