This essay appeared in the 2021 Fueling Discovery special section of the Wisconsin State Journal on 10/17/21. View the full 2021 Fueling Discovery PDF here.
About the author
DeVon Wilson is the inaugural Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the College of Letters & Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Throughout his 30-year career, he has advanced strategic inclusion, equity and diversity priorities in areas that include systems and innovation, program administration, and policy.
DeVon: On April 6, 2021, I jubilantly received my second vaccination shot, and then sat for those necessary 15 minutes of observation feeling happy and relieved, yet bittersweet. I reflected on the past year navigating life with a mask on; working remotely using new technologies; quarantining away from family and friends; missing those who passed away in isolation; and thinking I would not see this day of vaccination because of my own struggles. I remembered the frustration of trying to convince family members to get vaccinated, and the sadness for those who died because of the virus.
Shortly after this, I learned that one of the scientists whose work is responsible for the life-saving vaccine is Dr. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett, a Black female viral immunologist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Vaccine Research Center (VRC).
At a time when the number of Black undergraduates receiving degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields is rapidly declining, I felt enormous personal gratitude that Dr. Corbett refused to quit on her dream. We can all be thankful to those faculty, staff, mentors, sponsors, family members, fellow scholars, and friends who supported Dr. Corbett’s journey in science.
About the author
Hannah E. Bailey is Director of the Undergraduate Research Scholars program and an Assistant Dean in the College of Letters & Science. A 2010 graduate of UW-Madison, she is now writing a doctoral dissertation that explores racial and ethnic identity formation during the Atlantic slave trade and the implications those colonial identities have today.
Hannah: In the College of Letters & Science, we are committed to supporting the next Dr. Corbett by engaging in high-impact practices such as undergraduate research under the guidance of world-class faculty. The Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) and the Undergraduate Research Scholars (URS) program are co-leading an effort to broaden participation in STEM. Our “STEM Runway” offers students in the College of Letters & Science the opportunity to identify their pathway in STEM, by participating in experiences such as a summer “bridge” program, a STEM-focused arrival program in August, STEM-focused learning and living communities, faculty-guided research experiences and opportunities for career exploration.
L&S faculty are examining issues that impact society, from developing healthy minds to climate change. We attract students who are also committed to pursuing these important questions, as well. Those who participate in research early in their undergraduate journey refine their academic interests, build a strong scholarly network, and are more likely to pursue challenging opportunities after graduation.
Research indicates that these trends are even more significant for students who are mentored by faculty and near-peers, and for students from historically underrepresented groups, including BIPOC, first-generation, LGBTQ+, and low-income students. With enthusiastic support from L&S Dean Eric Wilcots, colleagues from CAE and URS relaunched the Letters & Science Summer of Excellence in Research (LASER) program this year, providing course credit, financial support, and continued mentorship for students conducting research during the summer between their first and sophomore year.
As these students studied tumor immunology, gas bubbles in galaxies, and early diagnostic testing for Alzheimer’s disease, they gained confidence and a sense of their power as producers of knowledge and leaders on campus, as well as pride in their embodiment of the Wisconsin Idea.
DeVon: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed society. We have all faced the threat of this virus and seen how science can offer a way forward and out of danger. As we pursue solutions to society’s greatest problems, we have created opportunities for those compassionate and inquisitive young people from Milwaukee, Bad River, Rhinelander and many other locations around our state, who may be dreaming of running experiments, analyzing data, or discovering new frontiers in science. We offer them the guidance, support and space to flourish in the College of Letters & Science at UW-Madison.
