Empowering Women in STEM Through Collaborative Innovation
MEMS and CS are ranked among the top 20 departments for women in STEM for their commitment to fostering inclusive, collaborative education and research.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Community
A Duke MEMS commitment.
Duke MEMS is committed to making our community a more inclusive and diverse place for faculty, staff and students.
Our DEIC committee meets twice each month to discuss issues and actions needed at the departmental level. The committee, in turn, reports through Pratt School of Engineering’s Committee on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Community to define a list of action items. Together, we work on these throughout the year.
The Committee
Includes representatives of faculty, staff, and graduate and undergraduate students. You’re invited to reach out to anyone listed below with ideas, comments, suggestions. Let them know you’d like to work on a project!
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Becky Simmons, ChairProfessor of the Practice
rebecca.simmons@duke.edu
“Undergraduate mindset, health & wellness, and growth is very important to me. It is essential that we create a space and experiences where students feel supported, safe, welcomed and have the confidence to work towards their best selves. I want students to feel proud of the different experiences, points of reference and diversity they provide and seek out in others diversity of thought, living and being.”
Olivier DelaireAssociate Professor
olivier.delaire@duke.edu
“Working together with our students, staff and faculty members to build a welcoming environment and thriving community is very rewarding. Across our wonderful Duke campus, we all have a shared passion and curiosity – we are curious to learn from each other, and seek to help one another. Through the MEMS DEIC committee, I am excited to engage with all members of our diverse community. I look forward to meeting you and working toward our shared goals.”
Stefan ZauscherProfessor
zauscher@duke.edu
“I felt that I can contribute to creating an inclusive environment in the department, particularly by addressing issues of equity, by helping to bring resources to the committee due to my experience with the Teaching for Equity Fellows program. The DEIC Committee in MEMS provides a learning experience to stay informed and to learn more about DEIC in the academic environment, as well as in the community.”
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Patrick McGuireSenior Lab Administrator
patrick.mcguire@duke.edu
“I am excited for the opportunity to lend my voice and support to the MEMS DEIC committee. My current role as a staff member on the teaching side of the department involves interacting with our students and faculty. I will strive to use this as an opportunity to assess and implement positive changes among all MEMS stakeholders. The department will only get stronger if we can become more aware of our shared community and strive to make improvements promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.”
Jamal MichelSenior Communications Specialist
jamal.michel@duke.edu
“What I’m most excited about in joining the DEIC committee is working alongside the amazing researchers, students and staff at Duke who are also advocating for equitable standards in our community. The spirit of collaboration here is what inspires me most, and it makes me even more hopeful for future students looking for an inclusive and welcoming space to pursue their passions in the field.”
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Luisa Piccolo SerafimPhD Student
luisa.piccolo.serafim@duke.edu
“One of the things that most surprised me when I arrived at Duke was the university’s awareness regarding building a more inclusive and supportive community. As a member of the MEMS DEIC Committee, I want to take part in this process and work closely with the Pratt School of Engineering members to implement the benefits that an inclusive, multicultural and diverse group can provide for its members, both personally and professionally.”
Prajakta PrabhunePhD Student
prajakta.prabhune@duke.edu
“My experiences have instilled in me a profound realization – that our perspectives, opinions, and capabilities are shaped by our unique journeys. Then, how do we promote equity in such diversity? By creating space for differences to co-exist; by not assessing everyone with the same ruler; the approach of one-size-fits-all falls short. By tailoring resources according to individual needs and contextual understanding of one’s circumstances, acknowledging that the path to success or failure is personal and unique. To me, understanding Diversity, striving for Equity, and facilitating Inclusion is a sign of a matured Community. I am thrilled to be part of this initiative at Duke MEMS.”
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Jack DugoniMechanical Engineering Major, Sophomore
jack.dugoni@duke.edu
“My interest in joining the MEMS DEIC Committee stemmed originally from my respect for Dr. Rebecca Simmons, the person who advocated for the group via email. I found that the Committee’s mission to support all MEMS students, regardless of backgrounds or identity expressions, is one that matches my interest in promoting inclusivity within the groups of which I am a part, especially a historically homogeneous field like engineering. I look forward to the conversations that will surely follow with like-minded individuals who also bring varying perspectives to the table.”
Kylie GancosBiomedical and Mechanical Engineering Majors, First-Year
kylie.gancos@duke.edu
“Even though MEMS DEI is my first experience as an undergraduate committee representative, I aspire to promote an environment of inclusivity within the engineering community stemming from my personal experiences as a woman in STEM. With this amazing opportunity, I hope to learn about the systematic challenges embedded in the engineering community to create an academic environment that recognizes the perspectives of all students!”
Swetha SekharMechanical Engineering Major, Sophomore
swetha.sekhar@duke.edu
“Being a member of DEIC is my first real experience as part of a DEI initiative or as a student representative. DEI has always been important to me, especially with my own experiences as a minority woman in STEM, so I’m really looking forward to being in MEMS DEIC with other like-minded engineers to be able to make a difference for the MEMS community.”
Affinity Groups
M.E.E.T.S—Mentorship, Engagement, Extracurricular Teams
Undergraduate students meet informally once a month to get to know one another and to share experiences and insights. Additional informal small groups gather to have fun, build community and support each other. Pictured above, students enjoy fellowship and a little relaxation with the help of Ollie the therapy dog.
Podcast: MEMS DEIC Spotlight
Hosted by Becky Simmons
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