B.Sc. Cell and Molecular Biology and Bioethics, University of Toronto, 2023
Jessica is passionate about making STEM education more accessible, especially for learners from historically marginalized communities. Throughout her undergraduate degree she worked closely with the University of Toronto’s Transitional Year Programme to help them improve students’ access to STEM undergraduate pathways and as a mentor. Her undergraduate thesis,
Bridges to Success: How Access Programs Create Pathways to STEM Education has been presented at multiple conferences, including Access & Equity in Higher Education for Mature Students (AEHEMS) and the Victoria College Research Day where she won the Science, Technology and Society Award for her work. She’s spoken at numerous events to help mentor both young women and adult learners in navigating STEM undergraduate programs. Currently, she is being co-supervised between the Department of Botany & Curriculum and Pedagogy.
Jessica’s research explores access programs across Canada, with a focus on how they facilitate entry into STEM education. She aims to contribute to STEM curriculum development that enhances inclusivity and provides comprehensive resources for diverse student populations.
SSHRC Canadian Graduate Scholarship, Master’s 2024
BCGS 2024
Adult education, Access programs, STEM education, Botany