UVM SACNAS Awarded Chapter of the Year

University of Vermont students Krizzia Soto-Villanueva, PhD candidate in Food Systems, and Zenllaze Gomez-Merlo, undergraduate in Engineering, attended the 2022 Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) National Diversity in STEM (NDiSTEM) Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico with support from VT EPSCoR. The UVM chapter was recognized with one of two Chapter of the Year awards in recognition of its accomplishments including offering professional development workshops, panel discussions, and community activities. The UVM SACNAS chapter was represented by 12 student members at the national conference. It was the first in-person conference to be held since 2019 due to restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I went into SACNAS not really knowing what to expect," said Krizzia Soto-Villanueva. "I knew it was a large conference, so I figured everyone would kind of blend in, including myself. What I encountered from the moment I walked in was the total opposite. Almost all my interactions at SACNAS were profound and personalized. At SACNAS, folks were excited to hear about each other as individuals, not just as another researcher. People were excited to share their experiences, their science, and their cultures. Personally, the SACNAS NDiSTEM conference showed me how powerful it is when researchers of color stand their ground push the boundaries of systems designed to hold us back. Additionally, I had never made so many research connections in such a short time. In just three days at SACNAS, I met over a dozen potential collaborators for my dissertation research. I also met potential employers directly and tangentially related to my research. SACNAS was infinitely valuable to me as a human and a researcher. Just weeks after, I am already looking forward to next year's NDiSTEM conference."

Zenllaze Gomez-Merlo had a similar experience, stating, "There is no doubt that BIPOC students in STEM face a lot of hardships and conferences like this serve an important purpose to uplift the spirit. Having the opportunity to connect with faculty, and undergraduate and graduate students with the same experiences and the same goals made me feel supported. For me, it is of the utmost importance that my actions are driven by passion and belief in the goals I want to reach. I was able to see that same passion and determination in many other individuals attending the conference and it nurtured my own. I felt inspired and grateful to see the work of talented professionals working to impact their environment and community. I became aware of new resources, and opportunities, and had the chance to connect with people that shared their insight on decisions I must take in my career. I found the mentorship that I was looking for and I am happy to come back and keep doing the work I have always wanted to do knowing that there are people just like me that are doing it now."

For more information about the 2022 SACNAS NDiSTEM conference, please visit sacnas.org/conference.