COS Senator

Hello! I’m a first-year PhD student in the College of Science (COS), and I’m running for the College of Science Senator position because I care about making our academic community supportive, inclusive, and responsive to student needs. During my undergraduate years at Haverford College, I stayed actively involved in student leadership. I served as Treasurer of the Black Student League for two years, where I handled budgets and helped plan events that built community and supported students. I was also Co-Head of the Physics Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access group, working to improve access and belonging within the department. Outside the classroom, I was CoHead of the Judo Club, which taught me a lot about teamwork, discipline, and leading people with different backgrounds and goals. Currently, I’m the Vice President of the National Society of Black Physicists RIT Chapter, where I continue to advocate for representation and community in science. My research is in granular materials, and my favorite class is undergraduate thermodynamics (yes, I actually enjoy it).

As your COS Senator, I want to bring my experience in leadership and advocacy to the table, listen to student concerns, and work to make sure our voices lead to real action.

As a candidate for College of Science Senator, my platform is rooted in one core belief:

scientific excellence is strongest when everyone has equitable access to opportunity, community, and support. I am committed to fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and well-connected College of Science that actively serves its diverse student body.

Inclusivity is foundational to my vision, particularly for BIPOC and disabled students who are often underrepresented or underserved in STEM spaces. I will advocate for stronger communication between students, faculty, and administration to ensure accessibility concerns are addressed proactively rather than reactively. This includes pushing for clearer visibility of existing disability resources, inclusive event planning practices, and intentional support spaces that center marginalized voices within the College of Science. Representation and accessibility should not be afterthought, but rather they should be embedded into how our academic community functions.

I also want to strengthen interdisciplinary community involvement across the College of Science and beyond. Many of the most exciting scientific problems live at the boundaries between disciplines, yet students are often isolated within their departments. I will work to support cross-departmental events, shared seminars, and informal academic mixers that encourage collaboration between students of different focus. Building these connections not only enriches learning but also prepares students for the nature of modern research and industry.

Access to research and co-op opportunities is another major priority. Too often, valuable information is passed through informal networks, leaving many students unaware of paths

available to them. I will advocate for regular panels, info sessions, and centralized communication that highlight research groups, faculty opportunities, co-op pathways, and alumni

experiences.

Finally, I will push for better access to collaborative studying and academic support. This includes advocating for more shared study spaces, peer-led study groups, and structured collaborative help sessions that promote collective learning rather than isolation. Science thrives on collaboration, and our academic support systems should reflect that reality.

As a College of Science Senator, I will listen, advocate, and work to ensure our college is inclusive, connected, and empowering for all students.