Diversity from field to classroom and museum

How we treat each other fundamentally matters. This core principle of interrelatedness is why we need to dismantle structural inequalities, which create implicit biases that disproportionately impede the scientific training pipeline for Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and LGBTQ scholars. Recognizing my normative position as a white-passing, heterosexual male has been a key motivation to engage in outreach and mentorship with students from diverse backgrounds in the field, classroom, and museum collections. As a faculty member, my group has promoted opportunities through ASU's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, including the summer Biocollections Scholar Program (biodiversity career experiences to underrepresented students; organized by Kelsey Yule), and the DEI Inclusive Teaching Program (increasing the accessibility of material in the foundational Evolution course that I teach). Prior to coming to ASU, my outreach and mentorship experiences in Chicago Public Schools, at the Field Museum, and in the communities surrounding McMaster and Yale worked to provide supportive models for scientific careers to K-12 students.

Outreach

Tempe, AZ

• Guest speaker / mammal trapper, DEI Biocollections Summer Program (Summer 2021, 2022)
• Presented mammal specimens, ASU Earth and Space Open House, School of Earth & Space Exploration (2022).

Program facilitator for the Brothers4Science program (2012).

New Haven, CT

• Science Fair judge at Worthington Hooker Middle School (2017, 2018).

Hamilton, Canada

• Weekly tutor, Empowerment Squared program for Liberian immigrants (2014-15).
• Weekly tutor, Reading Buddies & Homework Help, Hamilton Public Library (2013-14).

Chicago, IL

• Program Facilitator, Project Exploration’s “Brothers4Science” program for 6-8th grade boys at Ariel Community Academy (10 weeks, 2012).

Showing specimens to students in the Sisters4Science program (2010).

• Host for “Talk to the Scientist Hour” programs, Field Museum’s Pritzker Laboratory (2012-13).
• Curated content for digital touch-screen, Field Museum’s DNA Discovery Center exhibit (2012-13).
• Lecturer on anatomy for Project Exploration’s Junior Paleontologists course (8-12th gr.; 2012).
• Discussed science careers with 7th grade class, Young Women’s Leadership School (2012).
• Lecturer on mammalogy for Project Exploration’s All Girls Expedition course (8-12th gr.; 2011).
• Presented specimens to 7-8th graders, Project Exploration’s Sisters4Science courses (2010-2012).
• Weekly tutoring in 8th grade geometry, Canter Middle School (2010).
• Public presentation of mammal specimens, Field Museum Member’s Nights (2009-12).

Trappers unite at Apache Box for DEI sampling in May 2021 (right to left): Savage, Faith, Luiza, Laura, and Nate.

DEI Scholars at Haigler Canyon in June 2021 (right to left): Savage, Mary, Faith, and Marcus.