Mission
To empower Wooster STEM faculty, staff, and students in cultivating an inclusive STEM community to better support the academic success and STEM identity development for students from historically marginalized groups.
Vision
Equity in STEM success at The College of Wooster.
Major Efforts
The STEM Success Initiative supports students directly by providing academic support, and indirectly via cultural initiatives and faculty development opportunities.
Academic Support
The Computer Lab
Inclusive Excellence
Professional Development
The STEM Faculty Learning Community (SFLC) – campus professors and staff meet regularly to discuss best practices for inclusive STEM teaching and learning at Wooster. Currently, this group meets on Mondays at 4 pm. For more information or to be added to the SFLC email list, please contact Missy Schen.
Support attendance of faculty at STEM-focused pedagogical conferences.
Participating Departments/Programs
As of Fall 2017, the STEM Success Initiative involves and supports all science and mathematics departments/programs at Wooster.
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BCMB)
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Earth Sciences
- Economics
- Environmental Studies
- Mathematics
- Neuroscience
- Physics
- Statistical and Data Sciences
Advisory Board for STEM Success Initiative
The Advisory Board (SSI AB) is a council of individuals across campus departments and programs that advise and direct programs to support the mission of the STEM Success Initiative. If you have questions, please contact us.
Members of the SSI AB (2025-2026):
| Name | Department | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Grit Herzmann (Chair) | Neuroscience | Associate Professor, Department Chair |
| Colin Davison (Incoming Chair) | Economics | Assistant Professor |
| Kara Melrose | STEM Success Initiative | SSI Coordinator |
| Nick Brandley | Biology | Associate Professor, Department Co-Chair |
| Kayla Campbell | Center for Belonging and Inclusive Dialogue | Director of Equity and Belonging |
| Laura DeGroot | Physics | Associate Professor |
| Karl Feierabend | Chemistry | Associate Professor |
| Kate Gullata | Learning Center | Assistant Director |
| Robert Kelvey | Mathematics | Associate Professor |
| Carlo Moreno | Environmental Studies | Associate Professor, Department Chair |
| Stephanie Sparks | Earth Sciences | Visiting Assistant Professor |
| Stephanie Strand | Biology; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | Associate Professor |
| Missy Schen | Academic Affairs | Director of Educational Assessment |
| Gretchen Tefs | Education | Visiting Instructor |