OUR STORY
Students for Equity in and Advocacy in STEM (SEAS) was created by a cohort of Biochemistry, Biology, and Chemistry majors during the Summer of 2020. Upon the national call to critically evaluate and reimagine the operations of existing systems, from policing to academia, these students gathered virtually to discuss tangible actions that can be taken to make the Biology and Chemistry Departments at Occidental College more equitable and just spaces for underrepresented groups in science.
Although initially a group focused on science, SEAS has grown to include members from other STEM departments and underwent a rebranding from Students for Equity in Science (SES) to Students for Equity and Advocacy in STEM (SEAS) in November of 2020. Nevertheless, recognizing the manner in which STEM fields collectively continue to exclude members from marginalized communities and the numerous ways in which they uphold white supremacy, this cohort of students came together to advocate for intentional community-building for students from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM.
Our Vision
Our shared vision integrates the following:
Culture
Foster an intentional and accessible space for students from varied backgrounds and abilities to build community and find a sense of belonging within STEM.
Empowerment
Advocate for the needs of marginalized students and for the integration of a social justice lens in scientific curriculum at Occidental College.
Community
Collaborate with faculty, alumni, students, and community members to elevate accessibility to resources and opportunities that will support marginalized students’ educational, professional, and personal goals in STEM
Action
Set out with tangible and intentional action plans for long-term change
Student & Alumni Spotlight
Check out our future and current leaders!
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Departments engaged in our work -
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Alumni in our CATALYST program -
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Ongoing Projects -
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Students in SEAS
"Hello! I am Michelle Huang, a First-Gen student at Oxy. I am currently in my sophomore year, majoring in Chemistry. My passion for chemistry started in high school when I took AP Chemistry. Though it was challenging, understanding phenomenas from an atomic level was so exciting. Everything felt like magic. As I continued my interest at Oxy, I joined The Hill Lab during my freshman year and have taken part in exploring the malleability of the eye’s cornea ever since. Since I am pretty new to the field, I am still exploring different disciplines but I am thinking about pursuing a career that intersects chemistry with sustainability. To be honest, any career that allows me to travel would be great. Outside of academics, I enjoy beach days with friends, eating dim sum, and thrifting. A fun fact about me is that I was the captain of my high school’s flag football team!"
Michelle Huang First-Gen, Sophomore, Chemistry Major
"Mudaser Basam graduated from Oxy in December of 2018 with his Bachelors of Arts (Honors) in biology. As an undergraduate, he joined Dr. Zellmer’s lab to research the distribution of slender salamanders across the urbanized environment of Los Angeles and explored his interests in computational biology. His first post-graduate job was at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center as a research associate studying the correlation between aging and breast cancer risk via in-silico research. Currently, he is a first-year medical student at the California University of Science and Medicine in San Bernardino, California. Mudaser’s motivation to become a physician comes from stories he heard about his open-heart surgery at 18 months old to repair a congenital defect. His mother recalls the profound impact the surgeon’s kindness and compassion had on her, both before the surgery when he explained the procedure and after carrying the stroller to the car. As a Middle Eastern woman who was not proficient in English, felt discriminated against because of her hijab, and relied on state-sponsored programs like Medicaid and WIC to support the family, compassion from a stranger was something out of the ordinary. He hopes to show that level of compassion to other underserved communities through his medical practice. Currently, he enjoys landscape photography, hikes along the Santa Monica mountains, exploring new restaurants, and misses playing volleyball."
Mudaser Basam Alum, 1st year medical student