Jessica Mora began her academic journey in 2015 when she graduated from high school and enrolled at MiraCosta College. Initially, she faced significant challenges due to a lack of support, which hindered her ability to succeed in her studies. As a result, she made the difficult decision to leave college and work full-time. In 2022, however, she was fortunate to return to higher education, this time with a renewed commitment to achieving her goals. As a woman in the STEM field, she still grappled with feelings of not belonging. Nevertheless, over time, she became actively involved in various programs and initiatives at MiraCosta College. Eventually, she had the privilege of finding a mentor who played a crucial role in encouraging her to create the community she had been seeking. With this guidance, she took the initiative to help establish a support network specifically for women of color in STEM, addressing a significant gap that had existed on campus. This experience not only helped her find her place within the academic community but also reinforced her dedication to pursuing a master’s degree in electrical engineering. Ultimately, her aspiration is to return to MiraCosta College as a professor, aiming to give back to the community that had supported her growth and development.

Anastasia Egoudine grew up in San Diego and has always had a deep affection for her hometown. Currently, she is in the process of completing her junior year at UC San Diego, where she is studying Mechanical Engineering. After earning her bachelor's degree, she plans to pursue a master's degree to further her education. Anastasia has always been actively involved in various clubs and enjoys applying the concepts she learns in class to hands-on projects. Her experiences range from collaborating on robotics projects with friends to participating in club activities and engaging in research. She thrives on the challenges of learning and problem-solving, which fuels her passion for engineering. Looking ahead, Anastasia is excited about continuing her education and hopes to focus on engineering applications within the medical field, where she can make a meaningful impact.

Mingi Kim is a Ph.D. student in the Neuroscience program at Scripps Research. Her research focuses on understanding how specific synapse structures, such as Multi-Synaptic Boutons (MSBs), contribute to memory formation by regulating connectivity within local neural circuits. She received both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in chemistry from Korea University, where she specialized in biochemistry. During her master’s research, she investigated how structural changes in bacterial molecules enable them to evade the host immune system, which sparked her broader interest in how molecular architecture shapes biological function. With this foundation, she brings an interdisciplinary perspective to studying how structural diversity at the synapse level shapes brain function. Outside of research, she enjoys quiet moments by the beach, watching musicals and animated films.

Annapurna is a Ph.D. student in Computer Science with a focus on computing education research. Her work explores how generative AI tools like large language models (LLMs) are transforming the skills students need to succeed in programming—especially in introductory courses where LLMs can often complete entire assignments unaided. She investigates how to design pedagogy that supports foundational skills such as debugging, testing, and problem decomposition, even when AI is present. Her research also uses quantitative techniques to evaluate learning outcomes across different student demographics, with a particular emphasis on improving outcomes for underrepresented groups in computing. Passionate about inclusive teaching and mentorship, she plans to become a teaching professor of computer science. Her long-term goal is to ensure that computing education evolves to meet the realities of the AI-assisted workplace and prepares all students. In addition to her research, she has founded and led outreach and mentorship efforts supporting students who are underrepresented in STEM.

Abril Hernandez is a dedicated student pursuing a dual degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering with an emphasis on Sustainability at the University of San Diego as a first-generation college student and single mother. Her early life experiences growing up in Tijuana, where issues of water scarcity and pollution were common, inspired her passion for sustainability and problem-solving. Abril initially studied Chemical Engineering at Instituto Tecnológico de Tijuana before transitioning to continue her education in the United States. Throughout her academic journey, Abril has participated in research internships at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the University of San Diego, focusing on environmental sustainability projects such as tracking mercury levels in seawater and investigating sustainable lithium extraction methods. In addition to her academic and research pursuits, Abril is committed to community building. She founded a student-led Book Exchange Program and served as President of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) chapter at Southwestern College. She continues to mentor and support women in STEM through her involvement with the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). Abril aspires to create positive change by integrating sustainable solutions into industry practices while empowering future generations in STEM.

Ramya Chandrasekaran (she/her) is a graduate student at San Diego State University pursuing a M.S. in Civil Engineering. She works under Dr. Alicia Kinoshita at the Disturbance Hydrology lab, where she mentors undergraduate students new to research and field work. Her research is focused on the changes in surface and subsurface flows in different wildfire affected environments. She is interested in studying urban disturbances on public water resources and strategies to create sustainable water management systems.

Originally from Toronto, Canada, Andrea Rodriguez-Marin Freudmann grew up on the Toronto Islands. She completed her undergraduate studies at Harvard University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Magna Cum Laude with departmental honors in Mechanical Engineering, along with a minor in Applied Mathematics. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD in Oceanography at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, as part of the Multiscale Ocean Dynamics Laboratory. Her research focuses on the effects of energetic internal waves on the inner shelf off the coast of California, specifically examining how changing water depth influences the cross-shore momentum budget and the presence of the internal surf zone. With experience in both fieldwork and ocean modeling, she is eager to share her knowledge with emerging scientists, ranging from fellow graduate students to younger children. In her free time, she enjoys reading a variety of genres, including science fiction, murder mysteries, and books on the history of science. Additionally, she finds joy in sewing and knitting, which provide her with creative outlets outside of her academic pursuits.