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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A Natural at Physics, Meet Melissa Woods: Leading the Way for Women in Engineering at Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy
What is your personal story?
I was born and raised in rural Utah on a farm where I learned informal physics from repairing farm equipment with my brothers and my Dad. When I first took a physics class, I felt as though I intuitively knew it and my love for physics was sealed. I graduated from University of Southern California with B.S. degrees in Physics and Astronomy and started my scientific career doing research in the Electronics Development Laboratory at Sandia National Lab in Albuquerque, NM with several scientific publications.
I realized that I wanted my life's work to truly give to my community so I decided to become a teacher. I attended University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) and was awarded an M.Ed. specializing in physics education. I have since participated in several National Science Foundation grants to further science education through UCSB and have received numerous awards for my teaching. In 2005 I helped create the documentary Power of The Sun and appeared on camera in the segment titled “Science of the Solar Cell.”
In 2016, I joined the staff at the Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy. I currently teach Engineering Physics and Mechatronics Design. This year, I will become the Director of the Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy overseeing curriculum, teachers, interns and students as well as the design and manufacturing of professional quality STEAM exhibits.
What makes you a remarkable STEM leader?
At the Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, California, I effectively engage my students in innovative project-based instruction to learn physics, machining, art, and computer-aided design through the creation of professional-quality interactive exhibits. I also guide prospective teachers, UCSB STEM undergraduates, and Santa Barbara city college students in how to effectively teach K-12 students engineering ideas and practices. I am an adjunct professor at UCSB instructing preservice secondary science and mathematics teachers in industrial and technology education, a strand in career and technical education.
As a beginning teacher, I participated in a three-year research project to identify ways to teach science as more equitable, diverse, and inclusive. I also participated in a Research Experience for Teachers at UCSB, where I conducted research on semi-conducting materials and then translated that research into innovative lessons for my high school students. To deepen my own understanding of physics and engineering, I explored weightlessness and conducted experiments as part of Northrop Grumman Flights of Discovery.
I was an author and presenter of the PBS documentary Power of the Sun, working with Nobel Laureates Alan Heeger and Walter Kohn to explain the potential of the sun to serve as a renewable and reliable source of energy using photovoltaics.
I have served as senior personnel or as a co-principal investigator on a number of grants funded by the National Science Foundation – to help improve the education of secondary students, undergraduates, and/or preservice teachers. For example, as Co-PI on our current COASTAL grant, I mentor UCSB and Santa Barbara City College undergraduates considering a career in teaching as well as in teaching an Industrial and Technology Education methods course for preservice science and mathematics teachers. In my role as a COASTAL Co-PI, I have helped both prospective and preservice teachers better understand how to integrate different STEM disciplines and how to teach core STEM ideas and practices to high school students.
I am the lead for the Professional Learning Community and Director of the Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy. In our academy we serve over 400 students each day of which 50% are women and I am very proud to continue to break down barriers for women and other underrepresented people in engineering. In our newest endeavor, we are creating community-facing public exhibit galleries to showcase our student's professional-quality interactive exhibits.
What advice do you have for others who want to break through barriers?
My advice to others is to work hard at something you love and find mentors that will support your learning. It is important to create a strong community in which to live and work.
How can GlobalMindED advance your goals as an inclusive leader?
We hope to bring our team of students to the GlobalMindED conference in 2024 to present our work. We would love to showcase our students' STEAM exhibits and interact with the GlobalMindED community.
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Join us in Denver June 7-9 for GlobalMindED 2023
Register Today, Prices Go Up May 1st
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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.
See the K-12, Higher Education, STEAM, and Health tracks below.
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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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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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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