The
discussion centered on experiences the alumni had at ESF that set them up for
their current careers, as well as advice they could share for current college
students, especially women looking to enter traditionally male-dominated STEM fields.
All of the
panelists mentioned the importance of
communication in their roles, speaki
ng up against stereotypes that scientists
tend to be “lab rats” with “limited social skills.” “A lot of times in my job, I am
talking to people who don’t really speak my language, my jargon,” Berry said.
“Being able to be a translator for science is very rewarding.” The women also
noted that networks have been an especially rewarding and vital part of their
careers, and discussed the importance of support systems in building their
confidence within fields where they might be the only woman or person of color
in the room. “Finding your voice is really important,” said Ryan, “and then
once you’ve found it, it’s about helping others find theirs.” The alumni
credited some of their confidence to the hands-on, real-world problems they
were able to work on while at ESF, as well as to the open-minded community they
found while in school there. “There’s no ego at ESF,” said Hazer Álvarez,
“Everyone’s just focused on what we can do to move the world forward in a
better way.” This mission was echoed by the other panelists, who noted that
they’ve enjoyed seeing the world of science evolve over their time in the
industry, and that they look forward to being some of the next-generation
leaders who will continue to create space for future women, people of color, and
other minorities in STEM careers.
Each of the
four speakers is a graduate of SUNY ESF who has gone on to use her education,
skills and passion in a unique and rewarding career. Berry graduated from ESF
with a B.S. in Chemistry in 2015, and later pursued her Ph.D. in Chemistry at
the University of Texas at Dallas. After completing her Ph.D., she joined Dow
Performance Silicones in the fall of 2020, where she now works as a Senior
Research Specialist with a focus on application development for thermal
management materials. Gan received an M.S. in Sustainability Management from
Columbia University after graduating from ESF with a B.S. in Environmental
Science in 2013, and now works as an Energy and Sustainability Specialist with
NYU Langone, supporting its initiatives around sustainable food services, waste
reduction, energy and resiliency management, and more. Hazer Álvarez received
her B.A. in Landscape Architecture from ESF in 2006, and in 2013 received both
an M.S. in Public Health from ESF and a Masters of
Public Health from SUNY Upstate Medical University. She has worked on a
variety of public and private projects relating to green infrastructure and
public health and now serves as a City Planner for the city of Baltimore. Ryan
graduated from ESF in 2006 with a degree in Environmental and Forest Biology before
receiving her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Cornell University, and
she now works as an Attending Veterinarian with ViaGen Pets, the global leader
in pet and endangered animal cloning.
Current students can avail themselves of the services
of Career Services and networking and mentorship opportunities with the ESF
Women’s Caucus, student chapters of professional societies and cultural-based
clubs, as well as leadership and other trainings through Student Affairs,
Choose Action Network and the Office of Inclusion Diversity and Equity. Visit https://engage.esf.edu/events
for upcoming student-centered programs. Prospective students can talk with advisors
in Admissions or schedule a campus tour at https://www.esf.edu/admissions.
For more information about the ESF Alumni Association, please visit https://www.esf.edu/alumni. Information regarding upcoming public events within the ESF community can be found on ESF’s College Calendar, at https://www.esf.edu/calendar.
As part of the course requirements for FOR797 Perspectives on Career and Gender, students share responsibility of reporting on speakers in the campus-wide Women in Scientific and Environmental Professions Speaker Series. The preceding was prepared by Sara Dreibelbis, M.S. student in Natural Resources Management, anticipated graduation May 2024.
To view the full recording, click below
