Event Details
Thursday, February 11
6 - 7:30 p.m. CT
Join the panel via Zoom at z.umn.edu/WomenSTEMPanelZoom.
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Panelists will share their stories and experiences of being in a STEM field. This event is part of a number of events that CBS is hosting to celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11. View all events.
Panelists
Becca Huebsch | Huebsch graduated from CBS in 2014 with a B.S. in Biology. During her time at the University of Minnesota, Becca served as President and International Trip Coordinator for the student group Biology Without Borders, was a CBS Nature of Life Peer Mentor, a Dean's Scholar, and active on the CBS student board. After graduating, Becca worked as an Emergency Medical Technician while completing her degree in Paramedicine, then worked as a Paramedic for an ambulance service in West Central Minnesota. Inspired by the work of others in public health, Becca enrolled in Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to pursue a Master's Degree in Public Health. As part of her studies, Becca completed a practicum in health policy with CDC and a capstone in South Sudan on alternative health systems designed for insecure environments. Upon returning to the U.S., Becca joined the Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 response as an Epidemiologist. In her current role, Becca supports the COVID-19 response team for congregate living facilities, and leads the teams for Youth Homeless Shelters and Correctional Facilities, and for Federal Prisons.
Dr. Priya Kamdar | After completing her undergraduate degree in CBS, Priya Kamdar (B.S. Biology, ’07) received her doctor of dental surgery (DDS) degree from the University of Minnesota in 2011 and joined the faculty of the University’s School of Dentistry in 2013 where she currently serves as a clinical associate professor. Kamdar’s research focuses on providing dental care for medically complex patients including those with heart transplants and head and neck cancer. She also practices dentistry at Boynton Health Services.
Dr. Leslie Schiff | “I want my classroom and educational objectives to be dynamic and collaborative. As a research scientist, I can’t help but experiment, and use my research skills to analyze the educational outcomes. Classroom activities, assignments, approaches are all subject to evolution. Every year I try something new to improve the teaching and learning experience. At the core of my teaching is the fact that it depends heavily on relationships. Whether I am teaching a small writing group or the full class of 50, it can’t be a place where students lurk anonymously behind their laptop screens or deep in their hoodies. I teach in an active learning classroom where I can wander amongst the tables and get close to the students. I cajole, implore, question, model and explain. Although I am by nature an introvert, I want the students to see how much I enjoy what I do and how excited I am about helping them learn new information and new skills.”
Commissioner Sarah Strommen | Formerly the DNR’s assistant commissioner, she now oversees a DNR staff of about 2,700 located in St. Paul and around the state, with the mission of working with Minnesotans to conserve and manage the state's natural resources, providing outdoor recreation opportunities, and providing for commercial uses of natural resources in a way that creates a sustainable quality of life. Prior to coming to DNR, Strommen served as Assistant Director at the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) before becoming acting Deputy Director. She previously served as Policy Director for Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness and as Associate Director of the Minnesota Land Trust.
Strommen holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Grinnell College, where she majored in Biology and Latin American studies. After graduating from college, she used a Fulbright research scholarship to do field work in Costa Rica, and subsequently earned her Master’s Degree in Environmental Management from Duke University. She served several terms on the Ramsey city council and was elected mayor in 2012, a position she stepped down from in May 2018.
Angela Trepanier, MS, CGC | Trepanier is a certified genetic counselor who graduated from the University of Michigan with a BS in Biology and from the University of Minnesota with an MS in Genetic Counseling. Ms. Trepanier is a Professor (Clinician Educator) and Director of the Genetic Counseling Graduate Program at Wayne State University. In addition, she works with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on a CDC cooperative agreement aimed at improving appropriate access to cancer genetic counseling and testing. Ms. Trepanier’s research interests include utilizing alternative service delivery models to improve access to genetic counseling services, integrating genetics into primary care, and investigating psychosocial aspects of genetic counseling. Throughout her career she has been a strong advocate for the genetic counseling profession and has had the honor of serving on the boards of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors, the National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics, and the American Board of Genetic Counseling.
Dr. Lauren White | A first year AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow, Dr. White is working at the USAID Office of HIV/AIDS. Dr. White has a background in infectious disease modeling and disease ecology with an interest in the intersections of human, animal, and environmental health. Most recently, she worked as a post-doctoral research fellow at the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) at the University of Maryland. Dr. White finished her Ph.D. in 2018 at the University of Minnesota in the Department of Ecology, Evolution & Behavior.
This event is hosted by CBS Student Services.