The Future of Work is Diverse, Inclusive, Just and Equitable
GlobalMindED closes the equity gap by creating a capable, diverse talent pipeline through connections to role models, mentors, internships for low-income students, returning adults, First Gen to college and inclusive leaders who teach them, work with them and hire them.
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April is STEM Month and we celebrate the leaders in our community who are making a difference in this important field, impacting health, science, space, technology are the arts and creativity which intersect yielding innovations that improve our world. |
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Turning Personal Tragedy to Triumph, First Gen Forensic Scientist Creates His Dream Job: Meet STEM Star and Inclusive Leader Ever Olivas
What is your Personal Story?
I grew up in a small town in Chihuahua, Mexico. My mother was a single mother of three children because the war on cartels in Mexico killed my father. When I was six years old, my mother decided to come to the United States to create a better future for my siblings and me. We moved to California not knowing anyone or anything about the culture of the United States. Living in a place where everything seemed to be a complete 180 from my hometown was very difficult. However, I have always been gifted in Science and Mathematics.
As I transitioned through school, I noticed that I was not getting the education level I should have received because of the language barrier. Most schools in the United States tend to hold children back a grade, even two when they come from other countries. This was the case with me as my family only spoke Spanish, so learning English was challenging. Even now, I struggle with comprehending some of the words in the English language. Thankfully by the time I was in 6th grade, one of my science teachers, Mr. Cox, took a particular interest in me. Mr. Cox would tutor me after school and teach me things I would otherwise not learn in his class. Because Mr. Cox was a Latino teacher, he was able to guide me in Spanish, which made learning a lot better for me and made my comprehension of the subject 20 times greater. I would not be here if it weren't for him. I will forever be grateful for him and will continue to have him in my life.
Now, I am 30 years old and working my dream job. I had the fantastic opportunity and privilege to attend UC Irvine and get a Bachelor's in Chemistry and a Master's in Biotechnology. When I graduated, I entered many departments, knowing I wanted to be a forensic scientist for the NYPD and LAPD. However, when I moved to Colorado, I met my family at the Denver Police Department. I've been with DPD for over six years and wouldn't have it any other way. Because of this department, I can create new scientific developments and study some of the most compelling cases in the forensic world. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity the police department has given me.
What led you to pursue forensic science as a career?
While attending college, I realized I had never fully recovered from what happened to my father. I realized that if we had a forensic scientist look into the case of my father's death, we could have caught the people responsible. It was then that I decided I wanted to be that person for those families mourning their loved ones. The gratification you get when you solve a case based on science is an unexplainable feeling. It is terrific what technological advances have made possible, and because of this, the recent cases get solved and cold cases as well. It is an excellent opportunity to have this career, especially now during the time of advanced technology, where the possibilities are endless and new advances are coming out every day.
What were some of the struggles you encountered during your career?
Because I was Latino and my English was botched, people chose not to believe in me. Science has been my passion since I was a little kid; as an introvert, I heavily relied on facts to keep me going through some of the harshest times. Both chemistry and biology are based on facts, so it was easy for me to get lost in those and let go of the emotion behind being a forensic scientist. It is essential to realize that although my job involves getting DNA, fingerprints, etc., it also relies on human nature and personal experiences. I am neurodivergent, so stepping back and putting my personal beliefs, thoughts, and experiences into my career was very difficult. However, with the help of my loving family, colleagues, and friends, I am moving past this and learning to adapt to all the forensic world has to offer.
How can GlobalMindED help your personal and career goals?
Most people shy away from the idea of becoming a forensic scientist because of the possibility that you might have to encounter some of your triggers. However, with an organization like GlobalMindED, more people can view the importance this has in our society. Without the advancements of forensic scientists, the police departments, FBI, and all national security agencies would not be at their current level. In today's society, when people think of a scientist, they think of someone working for a more prominent company in a lab. Although we work in a lab, we also do research studies, teach courses, and venture outside of science. Forensics has a lot to do with all aspects of STEM. GlobalMindED can enable people to learn the reality of it, thus opening the doors to others like myself who want to make a difference and still work in a STEM field.
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If you missed STEM Stars: Stellar Success Stories
STEM students need to see themselves in the leaders they can become. Dr. Ryan Ross interviews leaders who are role models for the emerging talent pipeline of STEM students who will lead our nation and our world.
You can meet many of these leaders at the conference June 7-9 in Denver.
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STEM Stars: Stellar Success Stories, a Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable presentation Click HERE to view
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Dr. Ryan Ross; Assoc. V. Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity, & Inclusion, Colorado Community College System
Praveen Mamnani, Co-Founder and CEO, Ninja Focus
Tommie Pittman, Founder and CEO, Global Diversified Biosystems
Trina Jefferson, Systems Engineer Sr, Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space
Natasha Herring, Senior Client Success Manager, EnergyHub
Patty Beach, Chief Executive Officer, LeadershipSmarts
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Join us in Denver June 7-9 for GlobalMindED 2023 |
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This unique event builds the bridge for students of all ages from education to employment and promotion pathways. If you are an educational leader or faculty, you can attend and also bring one or more students with you.
For more on the conference experience, watch this brief video by The PhD Project, and check out the 2022 Program
The 2022 Conference:
- 800+ attendees
- 140 students from 41 universities/colleges
- 300+ speakers from 65 universities/colleges and 47 businesses
- 130 universities/colleges represented
- Majority of panels featured at least one student
- 74 % diverse speakers
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Congratulations to the 2023 GlobalMindED Inclusive Leader Award Winners!
Celebrate them in Denver on Wednesday June 7 at 7:00 pm to open the 2023 GlobalMindED Conference.
We will recognize the most inclusive leaders in these key categories for their innovations and bold actions to promote access and equity for women, people of color, and underrepresented populations in their recruiting, development, in senior management, on their boards, and in their pipeline strategies from education to employment.
You can use the QR codes below or register here for the dinner and/or the conference
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We are delighted to announce the following Inclusive Leader Award Winners:
Early Childhood Education:
Miriam Calderon, Chief Policy Officer, ZERO TO THREE
K-12 Education:
Dr. David Miyashiro, Superintendent, Cajon Valley Union School District
Higher Education:
Carrie Billy, President & CEO, American Indian Higher Education Consortium
Government:
Afua Bruce, Founder & Principal, ANB Advisory Group
Health & Wellness:
Dr. Elena Rios, President and CEO, National Hispanic Medical Association
Banking & Finance:
Hassan Salem, Head of Commercial Banking, U.S. Bank
Energy & Sustainability:
Mary Nichols, Professor in Residence, UCLA Institute of the Environment
Space & Aerospace:
Greg Robinson, Webb Space Telescope Program Director, NASA
Technology:
Michael Campbell, General Manager, EdTech Innovation & Transformation, Intel
Entrepreneurship:
Diego Mariscal, CEO and Chief Disabled Person, 2Gether-International
Media & Arts:
Mario Carrera, President & CEO, CLLARO
Foundations & Funders:
Nasruddin Rupani, Chairman, Ibn Sina Foundation, RUPANI Foundation
Non-Profit:
Kimberly Bryant, Founder, Black Girls CODE
Leadership & Equity:
Guillermo Diaz Jr., Founder & CEO, Conectado Inc
Global Impact:
Rosanna Durruthy, VP, Global Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, LinkedIn
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Female College Presidents: Breaking Barriers in Higher Education, a Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable presentation Click HERE to view
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Dr. Ryan Ross; Assoc. V. Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity, & Inclusion, Colorado Community College System
with:
Dr. Colleen Simpson, President
Front Range Community College
Dr. Cynthia Lindquist, President
Cankdeska Cikana Community College
Dr. Rochelle Ford, President
Dillard University
Sandra J. Doran, JD, President
Bay Path University
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The GlobalMindED Inclusive Success NetworkTM had another banner year of growth, impact, and outcomes for First Generation, poverty-affected and minoritized students. Here are some of the highlights:
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Return of in-person GlobalMindED conference with record attendance and the largest First Gen Leadership Class ever of 122 student leaders. See PhD Project brief video of the event.
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Our fourth annual Inclusive Leader Awards recognized 15 DEIB leaders across sectors.
- Almost all our 100+ panels and sessions of 2022 featured a student.
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Of the 300+ speakers, 73% were diverse leaders sharing their thoughts.
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We held our first Industry Marketplace Career Exploration Arena at GlobalMindED 2022 with 40 companies, giving K-12, college students, educators, and leaders a way to learn about emerging fields and careers. Join us for the next one at GlobalMindED 2023.
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Our first satellite event at Georgia Institute of Tech was livestreamed via the Atlanta PBS affiliate.
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We became an official initiative of the Foundation for the Support the United Nations (FSUN) and will hold our first UN event on March 22, 2023.
- ·We served ten colleges with the GlobalMindED Success Collaborative connecting students at each HBCU, MSI, HIS and Tribal College with role models, mentors, internships, and jobs.
- We had partners/volunteers from Microsoft, Salesforce, Rubrik, HP, Stanford MBA and more.
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We spoke at the White House Initiative for HBCUs with sponsor Hewlett Packard.
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Our team, Board, Colorado Board and Executive Leadership Council are all majority diverse serving a majority diverse population of emerging leaders.
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We continued to publish our daily newsletter and conduct monthly virtual Equity events, led by people of color with majority diverse panelists and students. These are the role models for our students.
- Our annual operating budget increased by 67% emerging COVID strong.
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We doubled our staff from four to eight as we grow to scale our impact.
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Our Young Professionals grew to 40 strong, with a ten-person leadership cabinet made up of, but not limited to, graduates of our programs who are now working professionals.
- Since 2015, we have successfully connected 1,200+ students to internships and jobs.
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Our founder, Carol Carter, was recognized as one of the Most Powerful Women in Denver by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce and one of the Most Admired CEOs by the Denver Business Journal.
We are grateful for the support, inclusive leadership, and financial contributions of our community and sponsors who work tirelessly to open doors for the students we serve, the institutions who support them, and the businesses and non-profits who are committed to hiring a capable, diverse talent pipeline. We look forward to seeing all of you June 7-9 at our best event yet, GlobalMindED 2023 - Transforming Boundaries: Creating Systemic Access and Equity. The Inclusive Leaders Awards Dinner is June 7, followed by the conference June 8- 9 at the Denver Downtown Sheraton.
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