Celebrating STEM Week 2025
STEM Week 2025 will be held from March 31 to April 4, 2025.
STEM Division’s tenth annual STEM Week connects students to opportunities, academic pathways, and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Students can explore STEM fields and careers through fun research talks, career panels, hands-on activities and demonstrations, and a field trip. Participants can prepare for success with skill-building workshops, information panels on scholarships, and College resources, and get crucial tips to promote their success and overall well-being.
All sessions are free!
Schedule of Events
Click on each date below to see the full event listing.
- Choose question
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Monday, March 31
Resilience in STEM
11 a.m.–Noon
Presenter: Dr. Cassandra Moore-Crawford (Professor, PGCC)
Format: Virtual
Introduction to Generative AI
Noon–2 p.m.
Presenters: Kunle Adeleke (Field CTO and Senior Solutions Architect, AWS); Olatunji Awgobemi (AWS); Sesan Komaiya (AWS)
Location: CAT, Room 213 | Limited Seats
Becoming a Competitive Applicant
2-3 p.m.
Presenters: Professor Paul Assanah (PGCC) and Michelle Klein (PGCC)
Format: Hybrid — Chesapeake Hall, Rm. 309 and Virtually
Using Fossils to Track the Evolution of the Senses
3-4 p.m.
Presenter: Dr. Kelsey Jenkins (Paleontologist, the Smithsonian Natural History Museum)
Format: Virtual
3D Printing Steps and Possibilities
4-5 p.m.
Presenter: Joe Nader (Information Center, PGCC)
Location: Chesapeake Hall, Rm. 307
Panel: My Internship Experience
5-6 p.m.
Presenters: Sokhna Animata (UMD, PGCC Alumna); Okezie Eleweanya (UMD, PGCC Alum); Daniela Herrera-Michaca (UMD, PGCC Alumna); Seth Henderson (PGCC); Clint Hinostroza (FSU, PGCC Alum)
Format: Virtual
Panel: Careers in Chemistry
6-7 p.m.
Presenters: Adriana Bankston, Ph.D. (US House); Makaya Chilekwa, B.S. (JHU); Diana Lutz, Ph.D. (ISS); Carlos Toro, Ph.D. (ACS Pub); John-David Ray Rocha, Ph.D. (ACS); James Yan, Ph.D (EPA)
Format: Virtual
Your First Hack
6-7 p.m.
Presenter: Betta Lyon Delsordo (Ethical Hacker, OnDefend)
Location: Center for Advanced Technology, Rm. 213
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Tuesday, April 1
Ethnomathematics
10-11 a.m.
Presenter: PremRaj Ruffin (Associate Professor and Adjunct Professor, PGCC)
Format: Hybrid — Chesapeake Hall, Rm. 309 and Virtually
Panel: My Passion for STEM
11 a.m.-Noon
Presenters: Zainab Ali (UMD, PGCC Alumna); Mirna B. Araujo (PGCC); Joshua Budram (PGCC); Daniel Ipaye (UMD, PGCC Alum); Guylianne Claire Nguebou Kwajo (PGCC); Elio Raimundo (PGCC)
Format: Virtual
Panel – Breaking into Tech: Strategies for Landing Your First IT Job
Noon–1 p.m.
Presenters: Alli Alliu (Cloud Engineer, Effectual); Makyla Ferrell (Penetration Tester [SME], Leidos); Adrian Kelley (Cyber Security Operations Manager, Sands Corp); Nijel Redrick (Director of Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance Services IBSScorp)
Format: Virtual
Overcoming to Become
1–2 p.m.
Presenter: Deborah Bowles (Instructional Designer, eLearning and Academic Coordinator, PGCC)
Format: Hybrid — Chesapeake Hall, Rm. 309 and Virtually
Satellite Oceanography
2–3 p.m.
Presenter: Dr. Tony Song (Principal Scientist, NASA JPL, Caltech)
Format: Virtual
Engineering for Fire Safety
3-4 p.m.
Presenter: Dr. James Milke (Professor Emeritus, Fire Protection Engineering, UMD)
Format: Hybrid — Chesapeake Hall, Rm. 309 and Virtually
Resumé, Interview, and Dressing for Success
4–5 p.m.
Presenter: Dr. Paul Van Cleef (Academic and Career Advisor, Embedded STEM Advisor, PGCC)
Format: Hybrid — Chesapeake Hall, Rm. 114
Panel: The Chemistry of Discovery: Past and Current Students' Perspectives on Research & Learning
5–6 p.m.
Speakers: Amari Johnson (PGCC); Samantha Mitchell (PGCC); Daisy Navarro (UMD, PGCC Alumna); Victor Omoniyi (JHU, PGCC Alum)
Format: Virtual
Fundamentals of Python Programming
6–7 p.m.
Presenter: Dr. Homer Sharafi (Professor, PGCC)
Format: Virtual
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Wednesday, April 2
Internship Application Process
10–11 a.m.
Presenter: Dyone Payne (PGCC)
Format: Virtual
Pathway to Becoming a #FutureDoc
11 a.m.–Noon
Presenter: Mr. Tony Mancuso (Sr. Specialist, Communications and Outreach, AAMC)
Format: Virtual
Minimizing Bias and Enforcing Fairness in the Machine Learning Workflow
Noon–1 p.m.
Presenter: Professor Matthew Brems (General Assembly)
Format: Virtual
Panel: Why I Love My Student Organization
1–2 p.m.
Presenters: Zainab Aorowana (PGCC); Hawantu Kamara (PGCC); Zareb Pierre Michel (PGCC)
Format: Virtual
From Hip-Hop to Microbe Fighter and Public Health Advoate: A Scientist's Journey
2–3 p.m.
Presenter: Ross Johnson, Ph.D. (Claflin)
Format: Hybrid - Chesapeake Hall, Room 309 and Virtually
Panel: Careers in Health Sciences
3–5 p.m.
Presenters: Alyssa Burnett, M.Ph. (Project Manager, Division of Health Policy and Insurance Research, HPHCI, HavardU); Dr. Cynthia Cheng, Md. (Family Medicine Physician); Dr. Tammy Tran (Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellow, MUSC)
Format: Virtual
Building Your Future: Research, Resilience, and Financial Empowerment
5–6 p.m.
Presenter: Mr. Heath Carelock (MPS, PMP®, AFC®; Program Director, FEC PGCC)
Format: Virtual
What is Undergraduate Research and Why Should I Do It?
6–7 p.m.
Presenter: Dr. William Miller (Professor of Chemistry, Sacramento City College)
Format: Virtual
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Thursday, April 3
The Astonishing Subatomic World
10–11 a.m.
Presenter: Dr. David Simpson (Physicist, NASA GSFC)
Format: Hybrid — Chesapeake Hall, Rm. 309 and Virtually
The Importance of Academic Advising
11 a.m.–Noon
Presenter: Janghyuk Lee (Academic and Career Advisor, PGCC); Dr. Devin Richards (Academic and Career Advisor, PGCC); Dr. Paul Van Cleef (Academic and Career Advisor, STEM Advisor, PGCC)
Location: Chesapeake Hall, Rm. 115 and Virtually
Contagion Nation: Tracking the Latest Infectious Disease Trends in the U.S.
Noon–1 p.m.
Presenter: Dr. Glenn Gebler (Professor, PGCC)
Format: Hybrid — Chesapeake Hall, Rm. 109 and Virtually
Panel: Pharmacy School and Pharmacy Careers
1–2 p.m.
Presenter: JuliAana Brammer (Director of Admissions, Records and Registration, UMSOP); Dr. Leah Sera, Pharm D (Clinical pharmacist and Associate Dean of Recruitment, Admissions, and Integration, UMSOP); Dr. Ana Trinh, Pharm D. (Clinical Pharmacist, Adv. Health)
Format: Virtual
Physics is Fun!
1–2:30 p.m.
Presenters: Sinthia Alhawamdeh; Joshua Budram; Farid Cruz; Estenia Garcia; Jennifer Moreno; Kajon Noble; Jonathan Portillo; Elio Raimundo; Marco Rodas (General Physics III Students, PGCC); Thomas Wysocki (Adjunct Professor, PGCC)
Location: Chesapeake Hall, Rm. 305
Panel: Benefits of Student Organizations
2–3 p.m.
Presenters: Dr. Godson Chukwuma (Professor); Dr. Lorraine Clarke (Associate Professor); Tracy Ring (Associate Professor); Dr. Nilanthi Yasapala (Associate Professor); all PGCC
Format: Virtual
Panel: Careers in Engineering
3–5 p.m.
Presenters: Samuel Adegbosin (Controls Engineer, Intralox, PGCC alum); Rocco Mennella (Professor, PGCC); Dr. James Milke (Professor Emeritus, FPE, UMD); Dr. Jonathan Ransom (NASA LaRC); Dr. Jessye Talley (MSU); Michael Walder (PGCC alum)
Format: Virtual
M^3: Making Math Magnetic
5–6 p.m.
Presenters: Julia Gordon (Associate Professor, PGCC); Kameswari Tekumalla (Professor, PGCC); Maria Jane Thoundayil (Associate Professor, PGCC)
Location: Chesapeake Hall, Rm. 109Registration is not required.
Innovative Research and Patents are the Roots Out of Which STEM Grows
6–7 p.m.
Presenter: Dr. Walter Friedrich Schmidt (Senior Scientist, USDA BARC)
Format: Virtual
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Friday, April 4
Positive Psychology: A Healthy Mindset
10–11 a.m.
Presenter: Luis Castellanos MSc ACUE, HC Dr (Associate Professor, PGCC)
Format: Virtual
Panel – STEM'S Brightest Stars: Our Students
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Presenter: Abraham Cacique (PGCC); Farid Cruz (PGCC); Martha David (B.S., PGCC alumna); Julie Melong (PGCC); Basir Mercer (PGCC); Bernard McCargo (PGCC); Sara Negussie (M.S. in Astronomy; Post-Masters, LANL, PGCC alumna); Emil Venegas (PGCC)
Format: Virtual
A Tour of the Smithsonian Institution's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
12:30–6:00 p.m.
Limited Seats
Register below. You will receive further instructions via email.
STEM Career & Internship Fair
Noon–2 p.m.
Organized by: The Office of Career Development and Internships (PGCC)
Format: Virtual
View the Flyer
View our STEM Week 2025 flyer for session details and event highlights.
Previous STEM Week: 2024
STEM Week 2024 was an incredible success, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who participates and makes each STEM Week memorable every year.
STEM Week 2024 Recorded Sessions
Please contact Dr. Neeharika Thakur at thakurnx@pgcc.edu or call 301-546-0605 to request access and view previously recorded sessions.