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Good morning!It's hard to believe we're at the end of yet another year! We're wishing you the best of luck with your final exams, papers, and presentations, and we hope you enjoy your summer. We want to congratulate all of our graduating students; you should be so proud of this accomplishment!
This is our last newsletter of the year, so we'll be back in your inbox in September!
- The CSD Team
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Table of Contents
1. Student Highlight
2. CSD Programs and Updates
3. Events and Flyers
4. Research, Internship, and Volunteer Opportunities
5. CSD Staff Bios
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Student Highlight: JaiLynh Yeo
MS in Human-Robot Interaction (Concentration: Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Class of 2026 (Expected)
What's a recent achievement that you're proud of?
Recently, I have been very proud of myself for balancing a full-time job alongside taking courses at Tufts, all while pursuing my other passions as an artist and violinist! I currently work as an electrical engineer for a defense company, and my department specializes in autonomous underwater vehicles. During the weekdays, I spend most of the day at my company's office creating wiring diagrams, designing PCBs, leading internal research and development projects, and much more. After my work day ends, I transition into student mode, spending most of my weeknights and weekends working on homework and studying for exams. When I have a moment to relax, art and music are my creative outlets, and I love creating custom pet portraits and practicing violin in preparation for upcoming auditions. With such a hectic schedule, it is easy to feel lost and overwhelmed, but learning how to balance work/school with personal hobbies is so important. I am extremely grateful to have all of these amazing opportunities!
What would you tell your undergraduate self?
My piece of advice would be to keep an open mind about the future, because some of the best things that happen for you are completely unexpected! During my undergraduate years, I spent a fair amount of time worrying about what I was going to do post-graduation. My biggest debate was whether I wanted to enter into the workforce or pursue a higher education. I knew that I loved the idea of diving head-first into industry and the exposure to all things "real world", but I also loved the routineness and the unbounded knowledge that a higher education offered. Upon applying to and being admitted to Tufts, I thought that the choice had been made for me, and that I would solely pursue my Master's degree as a full-time student. However, one of the people who wrote one of my reference letters to Tufts also unexpectedly offered to refer to me to a role within their company. After an inspiring and successful round of interviews with the company, I ended up starting my career as an electrical engineer, before I even finished my senior year of undergraduate studies! Juggling both a job and a higher education was something I had never even considered to be possible. However, I absolutely love what I am doing now, and would encourage all of you to remember that keeping an open mindset allows a diverse and often amazing set of opportunities to present themselves in our lives.
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Return Your Textbook!
As we approach the end of the spring semester, we ask that you please plan to return your borrowed textbook(s) back to the Center for STEM Diversity within the coming weeks. When returning your textbook(s), please drop them off at 20 Professors Row room 101 at the reception desk or directly to Grace Melo in room 202A.
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STEM Ambassadors
The STEM Ambassadors have completed another wonderful year in the program. The Ambassadors (pictured above) have made such an incredible impact on our surrounding communities!
We'd also like to officially welcome our Ambassadors for the 2024-2025 cohort!
Alexa Santa Cruz, Annika von Schoeler-Ames, Claire Lee,
Diana Nyugen, Jayleah Garvin, Lawer Nyako, Maheen Ali, Omar Da’darah
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Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
You are invited to set up a time to meet with our Diversity Program administrators, Simone Nicholson and Kasandra Yee, and Mafalda Gueta, Associate Director of Diversity & Inclusion Programs, at the links below to discuss how they can best support you. They are open to meeting in person or virtually.
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| Research, Internship, Scholarship, and Volunteer Opportunities
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All opportunities are listed in order of their deadline.
- Still looking for classes for the fall semester? Register for the Career Center's classes, EXP0068 Designing Your Career Journey, and TML/ENT-0014 Planning Your Career Pathway. Find more information on SIS!
- Magna is hiring two intern positions! Find more information about the positions here and here.
- Looking for an REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) for the summer? Check out this directory with over 150 different opportunities!
- Apply to become a summer leader for Girlstart, a non-profit org committed to empowering girls in STEM! You can apply here. Have questions? Email Annie from Girlstart at annie@girlstart.org.
- Apply to open positions at Boston Children's Hospital! Find more information at this flyer.
- Calling all graduating Chemistry and Biology students! Apply to be a Research Assistant at Boston Children's Hospital. You can find more information here and access the application here.
- Google is offering scholarships to attend conferences for students who come from backgrounds that have been historically excluded in tech! Find more information at this link: https://buildyourfuture.withgoogle.com/scholarships/google-conference-scholarships
- Apply to the Norson BUILDS Scholarships, which range from $4,000 to $10,000. Plus, scholarship recipients get exclusive primary access to internship opportunities and employment opportunities after graduation! Learn more information on their website, and email any questions to OFIC at scholarships@ofic.org. Application deadline is May 15.
- Check out this list of companies hiring STEM students for internships and jobs!
- Read EduMed's online guide on how minority healthcare students can excel in healthcare fields! Find more information about scholarships here and read about EduMed here.
- Check out undergraduate scholarship and research opportunities from the Chemistry department here.
- Check out updates from the Chemistry department here!
- Building Audacity is looking for volunteer drivers and food packers to help distribute groceries to over 500 food-insecure families throughout Greater Boston. To learn more email foodjustice@buildingaudacity.org and join the volunteer email list at bit.ly/BAVolunteerSignUp.
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Dr. Grace CaldaraDirector of the CSD | she/her/hers
Dr. Caldara is from upstate New York and holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of California, Irvine. She previously worked at Supermajority and Pantsuit Nation Foundation leading national leadership trainings, and developing diversity training for online communities. In her downtime she loves to spend time with her family and read.
As Director of the CSD, she works to support the CSD staff, all programmatic work of the center and co-teaches the RISE Seminar.
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Grace MeloAdministrative Coordinator | she/her/hers
From Malden, MA, Grace graduated Boston University with a degree in Special Education: Disability Studies. As the Administrative Coordinator for DSDI, Grace helps support the eight identity centers, but specifically shares her time with the CSD.
Outside of Tufts, Grace's enjoys making flan, sewing, and at the moment, watching Ugly Betty.
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Kasandra Yee Diversity Program Administrator | she/her/hers
Kasandra is passionate about diversity & inclusion in STEM education. Prior to her role at Tufts, she was an electrical engineer at Draper Laboratory in Cambridge, MA. At Draper, she co-founded the Asian Pacific American employee resource group (ERG) and co-led the LGBTQIA+ ERG.
She received her Master’s degree in Learning Experience Design and Technology at Northeastern University in 2023. By joining Tufts in Winter 2024, Kasandra will apply her interest in the learning sciences and experience in organizational planning to implementing diversity & inclusion best practices. Kasandra works directly with students and faculty of the Tufts Gordon Institute, Derby Entrepreneurship Center, Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering department.
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Mafalda Gueta Associate Director of Diversity & Inclusion Programs | he/him/his
Mafalda earned his BA in Liberal Arts from the University of California, Riverside followed by a Master of Education degree in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University. He is currently a candidate for a Master of Arts in the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Leadership program here at Tufts.
As an Associate Director, Mafalda currently works to support Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Civil & Environmental Engineering towards building an accessible, inclusive and diverse culture within each department by partnering directly with faculty. From talking to students to learn more about their experiences in the department, to training faculty and adapting curriculum, Mafalda works to make sure students feel safe and successful while at Tufts.
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Sehba Hasan Associate Director of the CSD | she/her/hers
Sehba is an Electronics and Telecommunications Engineer, hailing from Maharashtra, India. She did her MBA in Management here in the US. Coming from a culturally rich and diverse landscape of India, Sehba has found inspiration in her background to contribute meaningfully to the DEIJ work.
In her role at the CSD, she is dedicated to supporting and championing the cause of underrepresented minorities, BIPOC communities, low-income, and first-generation students across various majors within the School of Engineering and Arts and Science. She is involved in co-teaching the RISE seminar class and oversees the management of the BEST program, among other responsibilities.
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Simone Nicholson Diversity and Inclusion Program Administrator | she/her/hers
Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Simone Nicholson completed her bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering at North Carolina A&T State University. Currently, she is a third year Engineering and Computing Education Doctoral Student with a minor in women and gender studies.
In her role as a DIPA, she supports students, faculty, and staff within the CS and ECE departments with diversity, equity, and inclusion related areas through programs, trainings, personalized learning needs, etc.
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Sophia Hamdan Program Administrator | she/her/hers
Originally from Leesburg, Virginia, Sophia earned her Bachelor's degree in English and Philosophy from the University of Mary Washington and her Master's degree in Higher Education Administration from Boston College. She is currently pursuing her second Master's degree in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Leadership here at Tufts.
In her role as Program Administrator, she advises the STEM Ambassadors program, supports the BEST Summer Program, serves as an academic advisor, writes the CSD's monthly newsletter, and collaborates with colleagues on and off campus to support all the incredible students at Tufts.
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