The Society for the Advancement of Hispanics/Chicanos and Native Americans in Science, or NCSU SACNAS , Chapter joined N.C . State’s campus last spring.
Since its inception, NCSU SACNAS has created a resource for all University students who are interested in pursuing higher education in the sciences. The University’s chapter of SACNAS came to campus to promote the pursuit of graduate degrees and academic careers, as well as industry careers.
“Our goal in starting this chapter is to bring the amazing opportunities that SACNAS provides to our student population here at NCSU ,” Gina-Maria Pomann , president of NCSU SACNAS , said.
Although there are SACNAS chapters across the nation, the University’s chapter is the first and only chapter of SACNAS in North Carolina. Having SACNAS on campus will give students the opportunity to continue their education efforts on a graduate level, while gaining valuable leadership skills, according to Pomann .
Through the mission of NCSU SACNAS to ‘increase the number of students of diverse backgrounds that pursue graduate degrees in the STEM fields, the group will hold different events, partnering with other student organizations to promote the ideal of networking and diversity.
“We hope to promote a mentoring network between graduate and undergraduate students, provide seminars focused towards the promotion of diversity and academic excellence and increase the attendance of NCSU students at the SACNAS conference,” Pomann said.
Opportunities offered by SACNAS include seminars and workshops, cosponsored by WE CONNECT NOW and the University Graduate program. The activities focus on leadership development through the seminars and workshops by highlighting skills such as networking, Pomann said.
Prior to the seminars, there will be half-hour network sessions where students have the opportunity to meet with professors in their desired fields. This meet and greet will give students the chance to engage with professors who could potentially help them as they continue their education on a graduate level.
“We are trying to emphasis diversity in the sciences, but we also want to promote diversity in higher education. By holding different activities like are workshops for undergraduate students, students will also be able to gain skills like professional development,” Edgar Lobaton , Advisor of NCSU SACNAS and assistant professor in electrical and computer engineering, said.
Future seminars will include topics such as graduate student panels on funding sources for graduate school. Students who are interested in learning about different funding resources will have the opportunity to ask questions to graduate students who have received different fellowship awards and funding.
“I am very excited about SACNAS coming to campus; I actually got involved with the organization as an undergraduate. I got to meet a lot of people from diverse backgrounds in STEAM, something that I have not experienced or witnessed before. Connecting with other people with similar backgrounds has been really exciting for me,” Lobaton said.
The national organization SACNAS also holds a conference every year that focuses on the continuation of promoting diversity in the sciences. SACNAS offers around 1000 student travel scholarships available for both undergraduate and graduate students in the STEM fields. These scholarships cover expenses such as travelling and housing.
“We will partner with other groups on campus for our events. That is one of the goals of SACNAS , to link with other organizations on campus to further the advancement of students in diverse backgrounds,” Pomann said.
SACNAS has been named by the National Science Board as the “premier organization promoting diversity in science careers.” The national organization also was the 2004 winner of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring.
To find out more about SACNAS , you can visit them online at their facebook page, as well as through ORGSYNC . More information about the national organization is available at sacnas.org .
