Fellow Projects Overview

2021 Fellows

Headshot of Sara Gutierrez in a beige button down shirt wearing glasses

sara Gutierrez

Sara Gutierrez (she/they) is a Colombian-American Planetary Geophysicist, artist, and community organizer. Sara’s project, "Just Science for [You]th", is a political education program that will support migrant high schoolers of Cleveland, Ohio, as they develop projects and develop transnational solidarity with students in Colombia.

Headshot of Kendra Krueger in a light pink embroidered shirt, wearing glasses.

Kendra Krueger

Kendra Krueger (she/her/hers) is an intersectional scientist, educator, artist and woman of color on many edges. Kendra’s project, "The Community Sensory Lab", seeks to empower students and community members to be environmental advocates using Do-It-Yourself sensing technology.

Headshot of Janina Jeff in a black blouse and pink lipstick. Green foliage and a yellow wall in the background.

Dr. Janina M. Jeff

Dr. Janina M. Jeff (she/her/hers) is a population geneticist, bioinformatician, STEAM-activist, educator, motivational speaker, and podcaster. Janina’s project, "In Those Genes", is an independent podcast that uses genetics to decode the lost histories and futures of African descendants.

Headshot of Syrita in a yellow jacket and white tshirt.

Syrita Steib

Syrita Steib (she/her/hers) is the founder and Executive Director of Operation Restoration. Syrita’s project, "Operation Restoration: Lab Assistant Program for Currently and Formerly Incarcerated Women", provides training and courses for currently and formerly incarcerated women to enter the workforce as lab assistants.

Headshot of Jessica Tran with a forest and mountains in the background.

Jessica tRan

Jessica Tran (she/her/hers) is an American Geophysical Union Thriving Earth Exchange Community Science Fellow. Jessica’s project, "Mapping the Extent of the Tar Creek Superfund Site", aims to hold the EPA Region 6 Office, local politicians, and state-level agencies accountable and spur greater remediation efforts.

2020 Fellows

Rose Bear Don't Walk in a black blouse with a blue and copper necklace

Rose Bear Don’t Walk

Rose Bear Don't Walk (she/her) is an Indigenous Ethnobotanist and rotating host of SciShow. Her current project, “Recovering our Roots”, is centered on working with the Salish people to revitalize and reintegrate traditional food plant knowledge in the hopes of improving tribal health and cultural longevity.

Dr. Jasmine Drake

Dr. Jasmine Drake (she/her) is an Associate Professor at Texas Southern University is a Governor-appointed commissioner for the Texas Forensic Science Commission. Her "STEM-U-SPHERE" project is a CSI-themed summer science training academy at the Texas Southern University Forensic Science Learning Laboratory for middle school girls from disenfranchised communities around Houston, TX.

Dr. Seanna Leath

Dr. Seanna Leath (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia specializing in experiences of Black youth and young adults. Her project, “Black Girls L(earn) E(xplore) A(nd) P(lay)-Black Girls LEAP” will build a science and social community for K-5 Black girls living in the Westhaven public housing development through field trips and community center workshops.

Kelly Montgomery

Kelly Montgomery (she/her) is Ph.D. candidate at UCSF and a digital storyteller. Her “I see you, Women in STEM” project involves writing graphic novels featuring the diversity of STEM women who exist at the intersection of multiple identities. Copies will be distributed to schools and libraries in Madison WI; San Francisco, CA; and Philadelphia, PA.