2023
Impact Report
ADDSTEAM seeks to increase the workforce participation and success of early-career individuals from underrepresented groups working in science, technology, engineering, agriculture, and math (STEAM) fields.
Because of you
What your support made possible
- $10,000 in scholarships were awarded!
- Twelve Scholars were awarded a travel scholarship to our groundbreaking Career Summit in Los Angeles, CA!
- We’ve grown our team by welcoming two passionate part-time members!
- Fresh ideas were ignited at our Innovation Summit, championing diverse talents entering the workforce!
- Our monthly webinars now offer a platform for continuous professional growth within our vibrant community!
Natalea Cohen
Thanks to your support, Natalea Cohen’s journey into the STEM industry has been a success story. Just after finishing her MS in Geology, Natalea worried about finding a job where she could put her field skills to good use in emergency planning and scientific outreach.
Because of you, Natalea got the help she needed. Through personalized coaching sessions and participating in a mock interview, she learned how to ace each stage of the interview process. After her full-day interview, she was offered the job within hours. But her support from ADDSTEAM didn’t stop once she got the offer. ADDSTEAM provided her with additional support and guidance to negotiate a higher starting salary needed for her to be the most successful employee possible as she tackled critical emergency management problems in her work. Currently, Natalea is an Emergency Mitigation coordinator in Lewisville, CO and open to career opportunities that more directly use her experience in the field.
“ADDSTEAM is the first scholarship I have received where I felt true financial, academic, career, and emotional support.”
What world problems does STEAM tackle?
Problems worth solving
STEAM addresses critical issues like diagnosing diseases in children using artificial intelligence, purifying water, exploring deep space, reducing the impact of wildfires.
Your support helps ADDSTEAM Scholars continue working on those problems and others like it.
Samantha Deasy
Samantha Deasy’s journey has taken an amazing turn, all thanks to your kind support as a donor to ADDSTEAM. Samantha graduated with an MS in neuroscience from Georgetown University, but she felt unsure about her next steps. Originally, Samantha thought she might become a clinical psychologist, but her love for lab work made her consider researching cellular aspects of neuroscience. Last year, she wasn’t sure which path to take.
Because of you, ADDSTEAM was able to work closely with Samantha to explore her interests and strengths. Together, we discovered Samantha’s passion and next steps, helping her find great graduate programs that matched her goals.
Samantha stands as proof of how your generosity can change lives and impact careers. With your help, what was once a future full of uncertainty and worry has turned into one of excitement and empowerment. Samantha will start graduate school at Duke University in the Fall 2024 studying neuropsychiatric conditions and other aspects of mental health.
Jean Claude Iradukunda
In 2016 Jean Claude Iradukunda moved to Nebraska to pursue Agricultural Science studies on a government scholarship and in 2020 moved to earn his PhD at UC Riverside. He’s excelled academically, and will be graduating at the end of 2024. He dreams of a career as an environmental scientist, but making connections outside of school has been tough.
Because of you, Jean Claude received individualized mentoring and tips to grow his network. As an ADDSTEAM Scholar, he’s received individualized mentoring and tips to grow his network, gain confidence, and discover job opportunities. Because of your donation, Jean Claude was able to participate at the ADDSTEAM Career Summit, where he met people who work in his field and are now a part of his professional network. He is actively looking for his first job where he is able to apply his knowledge in artificial intelligence and remote sensing to improve irrigation water use efficiency or other environmental sciences occupations.
Because of your generosity ADDSTEAM was able to provide $10,000 in financial awards, over 40 hours of individualized 1:1 mentoring, and a number of introductions to job opportunities to diverse early-career individuals pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, agriculture, and mathematics (STEAM).
Thank you · Sponsorship
We are immensely grateful to our corporate and foundation sponsors for their generous support of ADDSTEAM. Your commitment and contributions have been pivotal in advancing our mission.
Career Summit
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our donors and supporters for your generous contributions towards funding our Career Summit and webinars. Your support has been instrumental in providing our scholars with networking events and opportunities for growth. The Career Summit held at the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce featured four impactful sessions on financial planning, networking, interpersonal career skill-building, and confidence enhancement. Each session was designed to empower our scholars and equip them with the tools they need for success. Your generosity has made these transformative experiences possible, and we are deeply grateful for your commitment to our mission. Thank you for investing in the future of our scholars and helping them achieve their full potential.
Leadership
We are thrilled to announce the addition of five incredible new board members: La’Shaye Cobley, PhD, Reuben Ayala, Jessie Quinn, PhD, Andrew Kosydar, PhD, and Raslyn Rendon. Each of them brings a unique blend of skills and experiences that significantly enhance the depth and talent of our board.
Learn more at www.addsteam.org