Bonded by belaying a high ropes course as newly arrived freshmen, the first cohort of NexSTEM scholars lifted themselves, and the program, to new heights over the past four years.
This May, seven NexSTEM scholars representing an array of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines will earn their bachelor’s degrees from Illinois State University. Many of the scholars already have careers or graduate programs lined up post-graduation.
“I’m just so excited to see them go off into the world and fulfill their career dreams and their personal dreams,” said Dr. Sheri Glowinski, director of the NexSTEM program.
Funded by a National Science Foundation grant, NexSTEM has awarded scholarships to talented Illinois State, Illinois Wesleyan University, and Heartland Community College applicants with financial need since the program launched in 2019. Financial assistance is paired with mentoring and academic support that follows NexSTEM scholars through graduation.
“From day one, they had wraparound services that were part of the program,” Glowinski said. “And they participated in faculty-mentored research as freshmen, which is unique. We get them involved on day one.”
The scholars also honed their communication skills by presenting at the biannual NexSTEM Research Symposium. And they learned to network and build cross disciplinary teamworking abilities through group activities, such as tackling Illinois State’s high ropes course.
Even after the scholars completed their two years of NexSTEM-required research, many continued their work as upperclassmen. Several scholars also volunteered to mentor NexSTEM freshmen and sophomores through the program’s peer mentoring program.
“That has been personally meaningful to see those students going the extra mile in their own academics and their own co-curriculars, and then also wanting to give back to the younger generation,” Glowinski said.
Shira Archie
Among the first cohort of scholars, molecular and cellular biology major Shira Archie chose Illinois State because of the opportunity to join the NexSTEM program. The Bloomington native and Normal West High School graduate said the experience has been life-changing.
As a freshman, she initially conducted research with Dr. Catherine O’Reilly, a professor of geology. Archie then joined Dr. Alysia Vrailas-Mortimer’s biological sciences lab where she studied neurological disorders and muscular dystrophies.
“If I hadn’t had that push, through NexSTEM, I don’t think I would have even known about research opportunities or looked into research opportunities as a freshman,” Archie said. “I became more familiar with the departments and all the research opportunities that ISU has to offer. So, it was very beneficial in that way, and then also, the connections and the friendships I made within NexSTEM.”
As a peer mentor, Archie helped two NexSTEM scholars acclimate to the rigors of college. Archie said the mentorship was mutually beneficial, as she grew leadership skills whiles guiding her mentees through their first two years at Illinois State.
“I loved it,” Archie said, “It allowed me to mentor them on a peer-to-peer level where they could talk to me about anything and everything.”
During the summer of 2022, Archie expanded her research experience by traveling to the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City to study potential genetic therapeutics for rare, undiagnosed diseases.
Post-graduation, Archie plans to merge her passion for research and medicine into a career as a physician assistant (PA). She is currently applying for PA programs, and she believes her work as a NexSTEM scholar will help her application stand out.
“I just have so much love for the NexSTEM program, and I feel so much love in return from the program,” Archie said. “I would love to be involved with a similar program, in some way, in the future—just being an active mentor who helps individuals get from point A to point B.”
Evan Hazzard
Computer science major Evan Hazzard gained knowledge and confidence as a NexSTEM scholar that led to an internship, and eventually, a career. After graduating with his cohort of scholars this May, Hazzard will begin a full-time position as a software developer with OSF HealthCare in Peoria.
“I definitely don’t think I would’ve been as successful without the NexSTEM program,” Hazzard said. “The research experience and the connections I’ve made have been huge.”
Hazzard was first drawn to information technology as a teenager. For his 13th birthday, he was gifted parts for a computer that he and his father assembled from scratch.
“I was like, ‘Oh, I kind of understand this. And I’m kind of good at it,’” Hazzard said. “I think by the middle of my freshman year studying computer science at ISU, I thought, ‘Oh, this is really fun. I really enjoy it.’”
For his NexSTEM-required research, Hazzard developed a predictive regression model to analyze student retention in the School of Information Technology (IT).
“The goal was to identify factors impacting student retention and try to increase the likelihood that a student would stay,” Hazzard said.
As a peer-mentor, Hazzard learned how to communicate technical data, which is important in software development, according to Hazzard. In his role with OSF HealthCare, he collaborates with clients to automate business processes.
“I found that I really enjoy talking to people about what I’m building—and how what I’m building can help them,” Hazzard said.
He credits his research and coursework as a computer science major for making his transition from college to his career relatively seamless.
“In my internship, there were a lot of times where it was like, ‘Oh, I’ve seen that diagram. I’ve seen that concept. I’ve seen this design principle,’” Hazzard said. I think it’s really allowed me to step ahead of some of the other interns, because I’ve seen these concepts before.”
Russell Roberts
After beginning at Heartland Community College, graduating NexSTEM scholar Russell Roberts transferred to Illinois State where he double majored in physics and computational physics.
Even before arriving on campus, Roberts began working with Dr. George Rutherford, an associate professor of physics, studying nonlinear dynamics—systems, such as the weather or neurons, that often appear chaotic.
“Right out of the gate, I had an introduction into lab work, working with Dr. Rutherford,” Roberts said. “Getting that hands-on experience helped a lot during the transition from Heartland to ISU.”
NexSTEM’s peer-mentoring program was also beneficial, according to Roberts.
“It was really nice to have somebody to talk to,” Roberts said. “We’re all students, and we’re all going through this together.”
While Roberts enjoyed his coursework, he loved working in Rutherford’s lab. They collaborated on research involving the Malkus-Lorenz chaotic water wheel, and Roberts had the opportunity to present their work.
“Dr. Rutherford helped me grow in the aspect of talking and explaining physics to people,” Roberts said. “Because it’s one thing to do science, and it’s another thing to explain science.”
After graduating from Illinois State, Roberts will move to Coral Gables, Florida, where he has been accepted into a physics Ph.D. program at the University of Miami.
“There are a lot of really great students in my NexSTEM cohort, so I’m just glad that we all had the opportunity to go to college together,” Roberts said. “It’s sad to say goodbye to everybody, of course. But I’m happy that I got the experience.”
This story is one of a series of profiles on Redbirds who are celebrating graduation this May. For more information about how Illinois State is celebrating commencement this semester, visit the Graduation Services website.
