By David Cruz
Correspondent
Bloomfield College senior Samirah Abdus-Sabuur is a rarity: A woman of color, in a white lab coat, working towards a degree in Chemistry. But just how rare?
“One in 10 scientists and engineers – just one tenth – are minority women,” noted Sen. Cory Booker. “African American students make up only five percent – five percent! – of STEM college majors.”
Asked if she ever thought she would be a some kind of role model, Abdus-Sabuur said, “Of course not. I don’t think that anyone grows up thinking that they’re going to be a role model, but I do what I can. I have younger siblings who look up to me, so I do what I can.”
Getting more kids of color to major in STEM – that’s Science Technology Engineering and Math – subjects is the goal of a $3 million, Predominately Black Institutions Competitive Grant announced today by the state’s two US Senators at Bloomfield College, where STEM subjects are part of a college-wide push.
“They certainly are,” said Bloomfield President Richard Levao. “The college is a blend of both traditional liberal arts and the pre-professional programs, and science is the largest of them. Science, to me, is the future, and it is so important, not only for public health for the nursing aspect of what we do at the college, which is substantial, but for people who want to go into research and make the new discoveries that will alleviate suffering in the future.”
The 2,000-student college, whose enrollment is 75 percent minority, will receive $600,000 a year for the next five years. President Levao says it’s a game changer in that it will create an opportunity for students to get an early focus on STEM subjects, which is critical for developing future scientists and engineers.
“And it starts in the youngest age we think we can successfully reach, junior high school students, bringing them here for summer STEM programs. Then, in the high school it brings students here for early college,” added Leveo. “The when freshman start here, it’s going to pay for embedded tutors.”
The old model used to have students go to remediation courses, but the newer model – and one that Bloomfield College has adopted – is to have students start in college courses with embedded tutors. This will pay for tutors sitting in the classroom helping students with freshman Biology.”
Academic Affairs Vice President Tresmaine Grimestold said that STEM subjects will be a part of all well-rounded college educations going forward. “No more can you expect to get a Bachelor’s degree and just get a job and do the same thing for the rest of your life,” she said. “That’s because the world is changing so quickly that that phone that you have today, that you’re tweeting on, will be outdated by next month.”
And being an agent of technological change is an opportunity to which all students, regardless of background, should be able to aspire.