The Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program (KCGIP) hosted it's 9th Annual Inclusion Symposium on August 22, 2025, at the University of Oregon Ford Alumni Center, bringing together students, alumni, faculty and industry partners for an afternoon of storytelling, discussion and inspiration. Guided by this year’s theme, “Flourishing Through Community,” the program focused on how belonging and inclusivity shape stronger science and stronger communities.
Last year’s keynote speaker, chemist, award-winning educator, and social-media maven André Isaacs, returned as this year’s opening speaker. He offered reflections on the role of community in scientific discovery, inviting those in attendance to view inclusion as an active practice. His message framed a series of moving stories from KCGIP students Kevin Collins (Optics), Meg Callahan (Polymers), Manasvi Lingampally (Bioinformatics & Genomics), and Ava Komons (Molecular Sensors & Biotechnology), who spoke openly about resilience, representation, identity, and accessibility.
The Inclusion Leadership Panel, moderated by Rose Marie Yasuda of Women in Science–PDX, featured alumni and industry professionals including Samira Brooks of Amgen, semiconductor professional Josh Hanna, R&D process engineer Kate Schilke, and Nisha Wilson of Oregon Physics. Panelists shared their experiences building inclusive environments in the workplace and highlighted the impact of mentorship and advocacy.
Keynote speaker Kimfer Flanery-Rye, founder of Inclusion Equals, shared her story of navigating financial hardship, identity and belonging, reflecting on how community is about being seen and known for who you are, not just being included. She encouraged attendees to “show up unasked,” and remember that every breakthrough has the power to either widen equity gaps or help close them. Yvette M. Alex-Assensoh, UO’s Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, closed the program by calling on participants to carry the lessons of the day into their academic, professional, and community lives.
Through open dialog and shared reflection, the 2025 Inclusion Symposium brought the day’s conversations full circle, centering on how inclusion and community foster empowerment and growth for individuals and the collective.