Members of the Summer Enrichment Scholars Program (SESP) from 2019. This past year, events were held virtually, but BIPOC students were engaged and launched into the fall with enthusiasm! Images from the inaugural Leadership Retreat for CEMS 50 mentors and student club leaders this fall.
DONOFRIO FAMILY STEM ENRICHMENT FUND SUPPORTS BIPOC STEM EXCELLENCE BY GEEDA SEARFO ORCE
The College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences has received a generous gift from the Donofrio Family STEM Enrichment Fund to support BIPOC STEM excellence. Initiated by Nick Donofrio, IBM Fellow Emeritus and EVP Innovation and Technology, Retired, this support already has helped first generation and students of color start to build their community here at UVM, gain invaluable early resources, tutoring and faculty connections and gain college credit in a summer math course, satisfying a university requirement. This year, the support program continues with events for the STEM BIPOC student population at UVM featuring guest speakers, networking, career services/resume review, access to faculty, and a speed-mentoring event with faculty to connect students with undergraduate research experiences—inspiring academic curiosity and greatly increasing retention rates. There are over 600 BIPOC STEM students in the Colleges of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences; Agriculture and Life Sciences; Environment and Natural Resources; Nursing and Health Sciences; and Arts and Sciences at
the University of Vermont. With the help of the Donofrio Family STEM Enrichment Fund’s support, CEMS and UVM can help bridge the gap between their fields of study and future career endeavors and to: • Assist them in making meaningful connections with researchers on campus, their college deans, and STEM experts in the field • Help them prepare their résumé and portfolio materials for interviewing and networking • Hear from corporate partners and allow those partners to connect with students • Inspire confidence in BIPOC STEM students • Introduce students to research opportunities, internships, and co-ops in with they may participate • Build community among BIPOC STEM students with the ultimate goal of increasing retention among these students • Reduce BIPOC STEM students’ feelings of isolation on campus and in the field
WANT TO BE A PART OF BIPOC STEM SUPPORT IN CEMS?
Email Alli.Lambert@uvm.edu to find out more. / 28
U V M. E D U/C E M S
CEMS.SUMMIT2021.final.singles.indd 30
10/14/21 6:11 PM
