Research shows that marginalized scientists are more likely to persist in STEM fields when they have a strong science identity and a strong sense of community. I use these two pillars as a basis for all of my efforts towards building STEM environments that better reflect our diverse, multi-faceted selves. This includes speaking engagements, workshops, and consulting for audiences ranging from K-12 students to national lab scientists. Read below for more details.
"I was able to stand on the shoulders of those women who came before me, and women who came after me were able to stand on mine.”
- Dr. Christine Darden
Speaking Engagements
Building a strong science identity requires the reconciliation of personal and professional identities, which can be particularly difficult for emerging scientists who do not relate to the dominant STEM culture. I learned to weave together my personal and professional identity by seeking external communities of support and by learning to see myself as my own role model — all while falling more in love with the Universe every day.
Through non-profits like DreamWakers, and diversity-focused STEM initiatives in higher education, I’ve shared this journey and my lessons learned with over 500 people, intentionally weaving in exciting themes of self-empowerment and scientific exploration along the way. Interested in hearing my story? Contact me to learn more.
Workshops
I’ve boiled down some of my biggest lessons learned on my journey as a marginalized student in STEM into several workshops. Each of these workshops engages in active self reflection, collective problem solving, and community connection, with the overall aim of strengthening both science identity and sense of community among attendees. My most popular workshops are as follows:
Building Your Mentor Network: In this workshop, I will teach you how to build a mentor network that works collectively to support you — all parts of you.
Banishing Imposter Feelings: In this workshop, I will teach you how to recognize the roots of your imposter feelings, and develop the tools to remain grounded in your awesomeness.
& More! I have workshops for many different topics, contact me to learn more about what I can do for your event!
Mentorship
As a mentor, my ultimate goal is to help my mentees achieve their goals in a sustainable and supportive environment. I have used these guiding principles to build and/or lead several mentoring initiatives, including the UC Irvine Physics and Astronomy Community Excellence (PACE) peer mentoring program and the STEMNoire 2021 Guerilla Mentoring Event. Recently, I joined the VanguardSTEM non-profit organization to continue this important work on a national scale. Schedule a consultation or a 1-1 Mentoring Request here.
Previous Collaborations
