On Friday, August 25, 2023, the Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program welcomed students, panelists, and leadership for the 7th Annual Inclusion Symposium, held in the Knight Campus Seminar Room and on the outdoor terrace. With its keynote address titled, “Navigating Bias and Stereotypes Through Cultural Experiences,” the event provided a space for reflection, connection, and shared learning.
The symposium is the capstone event of KCGIP’s summer Inclusion Workshop Series, which offers students opportunities to explore identity, allyship, inclusive mentorship, and anti-racist leadership. The event is open to students who attend four or more of the summer’s seven workshops, all of which aim to prepare students to lead inclusively in their future careers.
The afternoon opened with welcoming remarks from Leah Stromberg, a 2016 KCGIP Polymer alum and Technical Sales Representative at Azelis Americas. Known for her warmth and authenticity, Stromberg reflected on the Barbie movie and her journey from chemistry student to industry professional, and how lessons in inclusion, learned during her time in the program, have continued to shape her career.
Three student speakers, Nav Chidambaram, Dove Enicks, and Emma Speight, took the stage next, each sharing personal reflections on their scientific paths, the role of cultural identity, and their vision for inclusive science.
After a networking break, Sam Stansell (KCGIP Semiconductors, 2019) took the podium to moderate the Inclusion Leadership Panel. A Senior Quality Engineer at QuantumScape, Stansell brought the values of open dialogue and empathy to the conversation, guiding a dynamic discussion between panelists from across the science and tech industries.
Panelists included:
- Dr. Alex de Verteuil, a Ph.D. alum and Senior Scientist Program Manager at Abcam, who has shaped internal policy and global DEI efforts as the lead of a multicultural employee resource group.
- Carol Guerrero, J.D., Director of DEI at Neurocrine Biosciences, whose 20+ year career spans leadership roles in DEI at global organizations.
- Christopher Riley, 2018 alum and Staff Engineer at Lumotive Inc., who offered insight into startup life and inclusive engineering practices
- Boubacar Wane, a 2019/20 KCGIP Semiconductors alum now working at Covalent Metrology, who shared his experience with microscopy and cross-cultural transitions.
In the final session of the day, Tony Baylis, Director of the Office of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, delivered the keynote address. With decades of experience leading DEI strategy at national laboratories and advising federal offices, Baylis emphasized the importance of community-building, cultural humility, and consistent, values-based leadership.
“The Inclusion Symposium isn’t just about hearing stories, it’s about building the skills and relationships that help our students lead with empathy in the real world,” said Betsy Tanenbaum, Associate Director of Student Success and Alumni Engagement. “We see the impact of this work not just in the room but in the careers and cultures our alumni go on to shape.”
As the afternoon transitioned into evening, attendees gathered on the terrace for hors d'oeuvres and conversation. With views of campus trees and summer skies, the event closed not with a formal ending, but with a sense of momentum, rooted in community, shaped by vulnerability, and driven by the shared commitment to make science more inclusive for everyone.