Q&A with Janel Roberge
As the Operations Manager for Vermont EPSCoR's Center for Workforce Development and Diversity (CWDD), Janel Roberge often takes the lead on outreach to Vermonters. Her visits help engage students and teach them essential scientific processes, hopefully planting a seed that will grow into an increased passion for the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Janel often brought BREE researchers into Vermont classrooms to show students how science worked in the field. The lockdown of 2020 necessitated a change in format, but Janel still connects with students remotely, continuing the opportunity for science education. These visits combined with scholarship programs, internships, and a high school research program make the CWDD an invaluable part of Vermont EPSCoR.
What is your role with Vermont EPSCoR?
For almost seven years now I have been a member of the VT EPSCoR CWDD and in that time I have held various roles for the Center. Currently, I am the Operations Manager. In this role, I get to do all sorts of groovy things: I am the lead on some of our programs and collaborate with the CWDD Coordinator to support their efforts for our other programs. I meet with colleagues located at the University of Vermont regularly to ensure that our programs are seamlessly supporting the research efforts of the grant. Fun fact: I was an intern for VT EPSCoR during my undergraduate years!
What is the CWDD?
The CWDD is housed at Saint Michael's College in Colchester, VT and is dedicated to growing and sustaining a diverse STEM workforce in Vermont. We accomplish this through our various programs: BIPOC, Native American, and First-Generation student scholarships, undergraduate internships, a high school research program, and our K-12 education outreach efforts.
What sort of local benefit does the CWDD provide for Vermont?
This is a really poignant question; I'd like to think that we provide many benefits to our state. I tend to think about workforce development and broader impacts of our grant: Our scholarship program supports Vermont students studying in STEM fields, while our undergraduate interns are frequently students from Vermont or are attending Vermont institutions. Our high school research program has Vermont students doing real, hands-on research before they even graduate!
You do a lot of outreach to middle schools and high schools. Why are those visits important?
Not only are they an absolute blast, but they provide a really great reason to connect with area teacher and students. It's no surprise that teachers are extremely busy people, and these visits benefit both the teacher and the students involved. I'm sure if we think back far enough to our student days, we can all remember at least one cool guest speaker or assembly or special class that is still with us in some form today. We do these visits with all types of schools, regardless of their district budget or class size, so there is an aspect of equity here, too. From a grant perspective, these visits are huge in terms of broadening our impact. These visits not only enhance student learning and help teachers, they also get the word out about VT EPSCoR and its research! Not to mention the practice it gives our scientists with communicating their research to different audiences.
What does a typical visit to one of these schools entail?
Teachers and myself collaborate on what the best course of action will be so these visits do vary on an individual basis, but typically the teacher will let me know what their students will be studying and when. Then I get in touch with one of our wonderful graduate research assistants and/or post-doctoral candidates and work with them to figure out how their research best fits in with what the teacher is looking for. After that, we figure out how a visit or a special field trip could enhance the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) the class is working on. Finally, it's time to pack up all the necessary equipment and hit the road, heading to the school or field site! (Or, in the times of a global pandemic, arrange a Zoom webinar.)
What is your favorite part about the outreach you do?
I enjoy so many aspects of the K-12 outreach that I get to do for the CWDD, but by far my favorite part is knowing that perhaps, even in some small way, I possibly contributed to a young person's confidence that they, too, can pursue an education or career in a STEM field. A close second favorite is meeting and getting to work with some absolutely incredible teachers we have here in our beautiful little state.
Do you have any parting thoughts you would like our readers to come away with?
If there is anyone reading this that isn't quite sure that being a scientist is within reach, please know that it is! Regardless of your background and current education level, if you have the passion and the drive, you can make it happen. We all have moments of doubting ourselves, but do your best to quiet that negativity as you pursue your dreams.