2023 Award: Peter G. Pauw Award for Distinction in Biology
Major: Biology, Honors Program
Minor: Special Education, Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership
Hometown: Berkeley, California
Extracurricular activities: I enjoy dancing, spending time with my friends, and attending Black Student Union meetings.
More about Jazmine
Future plans:
I aspire to be a prenatal or pediatric genetic counselor who emphasizes equity, access, and connection within healthcare. I was just accepted into the Master’s of Science in Human Genomics and Genetic Counseling (MSGC) at Stanford University where I will be attending in the fall!
How has your major contributed to your professional or personal development?
My major has allowed me repeated opportunities to engage with science in critical and engaging ways. I now place a large emphasis on "humanizing the science" and re-connecting the information we are learning to the people who it affects, in contrast to constantly favoring objectivity.
What has been your proudest or most significant accomplishment during your 91³Ô¹ÏÍø career?
My proudest moment has been completing my honors senior project. I wrote an undergraduate science class that demonstrates a tangible, realistic embodiment of equity-based teaching. After writing the class, I had the privilege to share my work with faculty and encourage them to adopt my approach.
Why Jazmine was selected as one of this year's winners of the Peter G. Pauw Award for Distinction in Biology
Haylee [Pollard], Jazmine [Newson], and Emiliano [Soto-Romero] together founded and then led the 91³Ô¹ÏÍø chapter of SACNAS, the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science. This student group works to support diversity and inclusion in STEM programs at 91³Ô¹ÏÍø, and creates a welcoming community for students from minoritized groups in science. It has been the single largest community-building event in Biology of the last several years. Emiliano represented the chapter at a national SACNAS conference in Puerto Rico. Haylee and Jazmine have been active in both the Black Students' Union and the Bridge Program, and all three have been great examples of leadership and mentors to other students in the department.