HWS News
11 December 2023 • STEM New STEM Scholars Inducted By Katelyn Oswalt '24
HWS welcomed 10 students to the STEM Scholars Program during an induction ceremony with keynote speaker biologist Craig Johnson.
During a ceremony led by Provost and Dean of Faculty Sarah Kirk, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Development and Associate Professor of Geoscience Nick Metz and Associate Professor of Chemistry Kristin Slade, the Colleges welcomed 10 students to the STEM Scholars Program. Founded in 2021, the program recognizes and supports racially and ethnically underrepresented students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Biologist Craig Johnson served as the ceremony’s keynote speaker. With more than 45 years of experience, Johnson has held leadership positions for institutions including National Marine Fisheries Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior, where his focus has been studying the effects of human activities on endangered species.
Johnson shared insights for the new inductees based on his observations as a biologist.
“You have the ability to fundamentally change how we as a species live with nature, live with each other, and live with the world, just by being rigorous,” he said.
Kirk, who is also a professor of chemistry, reflected on the supportive nature of the STEM Scholar Program. “The goal of this community is to provide academic support and peer mentoring and provide programming that is supportive, educational, and fun,” she said.
This year’s inductees include Juliza Ariza ’27, Olufisola Babalola ’27, Maryfei Berrigan ’27, Mark Dosu ’27, Jasmine Ho ’27, Jazzmyn Lewis ’27, Kayla Mosqueda ’27, Christopher Robles ’27, Nicholas Short ’27 and Jacques Watteau ’27.
During the ceremony, held in the Common Room, STEM Scholars from the three previous classes of 2026, 2025 and 2024 participated in welcoming the new members.
“The STEM Scholars Program opens a lot of opportunities to get to learn about different STEM careers, network with other students and get support from your classes,” shared Mosqueda, a new inductee. “It’s a great support system.”
In addition to providing academic support, the HWS STEM Scholars Program provides a public event each semester with a speaker to deliver an address on the state of diversity, equity and inclusion in different fields of STEM. To be eligible as a STEM Scholar, a student must self-identify as a student from an underrepresented racial or ethnic background in the STEM community or a first-generation student and have a demonstrated interest in pursuing a major or minor in either biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, geoscience, mathematics or physics.
The HWS STEM Scholars Program is a joint initiative between the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Office of Academic and Faculty Affairs.
Pictured above, Nicholas Short ’27 is inducted into the STEM Scholars program.
