S-STEM Scholars Community Workshop: An Introduction to Professional Societies

Daniela Bernal serves SACNAS as the Director of Member Services, where she is responsible for strategic recruitment, engagement, retention, and growth of SACNAS’ national network of ~10,000 college students and professionals in STEM. This includes serving a national network of over 150 chapters, overseeing year-round online career services, managing the virtual member community, and oversight of internal databases and processes for membership management, customer service, listening, and reporting. A staff member since 2016, Daniela is experienced in working with members at large to connect them to ongoing programs, services and events to advance their education and careers in STEM across the United States. This includes direct service with volunteers including Board Members and committees to understand and enhance the member experience. Additionally, Ms. Bernal manages collaborations with national organizations and partners to further enhance the experience for and impact of members year-round. Prior to joining SACNAS, Ms. Bernal worked for the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, the Southern California Earthquake Center, the American Red Cross, and graduated from the University of Southern California with dual degrees in Journalism and Earth Science. Originally from Santa Cruz, California, she is a proud Native Spanish speaker to parents from Chihuahua and Jalisco, Mexico. Ms. Bernal is honored to serve SACNAS members for nearly 10 years in finding their path in STEM, elevating their voice, giving back to their people, and advocating for their communities.

Mariah Beyers, AWB®, joined The Wildlife Society staff in 2014. Initially, she served the organization as the Unit Services Manager, overseeing TWS’ sections and chapters, but now manages membership engagement and is the primary contact for TWS’ working groups.

Mariah received her B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Management from the University of Maryland. Prior to joining TWS, she worked as an intern and biological science aid for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She also co-founded a student chapter of The Wildlife Society at UMD, serving as Vice President and then President.

In her free time, Mariah enjoys birding, yoga, thrifting, and reading. She lives in Maryland with her husband Sam and their yellow lab Wren.

Emileigh Clare joined the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) as Director of Member Engagement in 2019. In her role, she leads efforts to connect members with meaningful opportunities to advance science and serve society by engaging, volunteering, and growing within the AAAS community.

She earned her B.A. in Communication Studies from Hollins University and began her career in journalism, covering breaking news before transitioning to health reporting, and later public health and science advocacy roles. Emileigh holds an MPH from The George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health, where her research focused on women’s educational backgrounds and their attitudes toward science and scientific institutions.

In her free time, Emileigh enjoys traveling and running after her two-year old toddler! Often, she is doing both of those things at once!