S-STEM Scholars Coffee & Conversation – Thriving in Change: Strategies for Seizing Opportunities and Navigating Challenges

Walter C. Lee is a professor in the Virginia Tech Department of Engineering Education and executive director for the Center for Engineering Excellence and Discovery (CEED). He holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Clemson University, an M.S. in Industrial & Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech, and a Ph.D. in Engineering Education from Virginia Tech. In addition to his educational background, Lee’s career vision is to be a driving force in the national effort to ensure that institutions provide students, regardless of their personal background, with the necessary support to succeed in STEM. His research has also earned him a National Science Foundation CAREER Award focused on advancing the understanding of how marginalized students navigate undergraduate engineering programs and make decisions about seeking help.

Malini Josiam is a Ph.D. candidate in Engineering Education at Virginia Tech. She has a M.S. in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech (2023) and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UT Austin (2021). She is interested in improving the engineering environment where engineers are trained and socialized. Specifically, she is interested in improving engineering culture, sociotechnical impact, and student support for all students in engineering classrooms and beyond.

Callum J Hetherington is geologist who pursues teaching and research in the application of mineral science to understanding crustal processes, with applications to igneous and metamorphic rocks and critical mineral resources. Through his experiences as a Graduate Program Director and leadership of an academic department, he is an advocate for providing and supporting services that advance and promote successful student outcomes.