PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
In service to the scientific community, I am a peer reviewer for three journals and have served on several committees for the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation.
COMMUNITY SERVICE & ADVOCACY
I am passionate about promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM fields.
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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). As 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, I sought to increase the sense of belonging and advancement of my peers in their chosen fields. My primary roles included meeting facilitation, strategic planning, and guiding event planning and inclusion of members in our activities. These activities led to an Outstanding Graduate Student in Leadership Award, among the highest bestowed to a graduate student by Northeastern University.
I am also a regular volunteer with outreach programs, sharing habitat restoration and conservation science with the public. I have enjoyed presenting at various venues, including in person events, longer-term classroom participation, and participating in remote opportunities (e.g., Skype a Scientist). As a graduate student, I participated in an NSF GK-12 program, developing and teaching lessons that incorporate my science into biology and marine biology classrooms.
Mentorship is another important avenue to foster a sense of belonging in STEM fields. I have served as a mentor through various scientific societies and co-led a peer mentoring group to foster community and confidence among graduate students. Topics I have as a mentor have included self-assessment, leadership, confident communication, and fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within scientific communities.
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).
