Image courtesy of @stempathy_ on Instagram
In the recent years, diversity and inclusion have become integral parts of any institution. To create positive change for a more inclusive world, many different groups and committees are formed to accelerate this change. STEMpathy is doing just that.
Created by Alyssa Ramsay ‘21 and Jordana Weinberger ‘21 in October of 2020, the group focuses on increasing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in all 10 STEM departments. Being in a predominantly white institution, Weinberger and Ramsay saw an immediate need for change. They are aiming to address the lack of representation among professors in the natural sciences departments, as well as influence students of color to pursue careers in STEM by bringing in guest lecturers. According to STEMpathy, “Our intent as a committee is to help rectify problems that exist between BIPOC students and Skidmore faculty, which differs from the intent of our guest lecture series.”
The goal of the guest lectures is to provide students with mentors and role models in fields of STEM that are taught by white professors at Skidmore, and are very white in the real world. In the words of the committee, “STEMpathy’s guest lecture events are intended to allow students to meet professionals that they relate to in STEM fields. The guest lecture space could be used by students to seek guidance or advice regarding their own relationship to racial inequity in STEM.”
For Ramsay, these lectures are incredibly important because they provide a space “where students of color can see someone - a professional - in their fields.” Since the STEM departments at Skidmore are predominantly white, there is no representation for students of color. With the guest lectures, students are able to listen and talk to “somebody who might have gone through the same experiences” and can be someone for the students to turn to that can help get them through tough moments.
In conjunction with the guest lecture series, the group has put effort into providing open student forums that give updates to students on progress with faculty, a safe space to speak about DEI and racism/biases in predominantly white STEM departments, and dialogue on what the future holds in store for STEMpathy at Skidmore. It is most importantly a space to gather student input, because change cannot be made for the students if they are not included in these conversations. As Ramsay says, it’s “a space for people to be involved and participate and have their own experiences heard and questions brought up and answered,” which also helps inform the actions and discussions the committee has with the faculty.
By meeting with faculty members and getting ideas about what kinds of DEI work is already being done, the group had the ability to have open discussions with staff and voice their concerns about the work that still needs to happen. Ramsay and Weinberger have gotten positive feedback from faculty about the work they are trying to accomplish, and have expressed that they have been well supported in creating change. “It's a more open environment than expected just because when you look at the natural faculty, it is majority white and you kind of think that they may not be thinking about this as much as you think.”
DEI work is not only dire for faculty, but it is also important for all students to feel valued. According to EdSurge, “Students need to feel valued and affirmed, and educators and others whose work impacts them should espouse those values by exploring and honoring differences.” In predominantly white institutions, inclusivity and feeling valued become even more important for BIPOC students.
As the year is coming to a close, STEMpathy is doing more outreach to students to ensure that the committee will continue next year, since most of the leadership are seniors. Although there will be a large turnover, Ramsay and Weinberger are confident that they are setting a solid foundation for the years of intense and extensive work to come. They have “started [to] change professors' mindsets on how they approach certain topics,” which is a huge achievement for a group that has only really been active this semester. In terms of change, STEMpathy has “planted the seed. It just needs time to grow.” And students need to remember that they are able and allowed to hold their professors accountable.
To keep up to date with the work STEMpathy is doing and to follow their events, be sure to follow them on Instagram @stempathy_ and don’t hesitate to reach out to them with any questions, comments, or concerns. They are open and want to hear from people!