Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Outreach

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Why is it important?

Underrepresented and marginalized individuals and groups of people bring invaluable richness to all domains of society, especially education and research
Promoting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive space not only benefits marginalized communities – it benefits us all! Maintaining a diverse institution and laboratory propels us forward by allowing us to see multiple perspectives for better problem solving

Disability is an often overlooked and forgotten about group that is critical to DEI
More often than not, disability has become an afterthought in DEI initiatives
As a scientist and educator, I am passionate about making materials accessible to all. Because of this, I have long been committed to making my classroom suitable to all needs

It has been an honor for me to serve as an expert consultant for the International Alliance for Ability in Science (IAFAIS). IAFAIS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded and ran by disabled women in STEM
I have consulted the board of IAFAIS on engineering topics and laboratory needs for individuals taking courses or doing a wide variety of research in engineering and computer science
IAFAIS has produced outstanding educational resources for disabled students and researchers in STEM. Of these, I have aided in free 1:1 tutoring for STEM students with specific learning disabilities (SLDs) such as dyscalculia and dyslexia
I have aided in grant writing consultation and fundraising for the group, which has resulted in an incoming $15,000. These funds have been used solely to provide scholarship and financial aid opportunities for disabled students and researchers in STEM fields

I served as a PhD student volunteer and organizer with I-MRSEC to device science demos for middle school students from lower income families
With I-MRSEC, I also provided mentorship for undergraduate students as a part of I-MRSEC Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

At the University of Manitoba, I served as an undergraduate student volunteer by generating supplemental educational materials and individualized course notes for disabled students
I Received the Randy Futros Memorial Award for outstanding service for disabled students