About Me

Samantha is a woman wearing large glasses with wavy hair. She is smiling over her shoulder at a bouquet of dried flowers in a professional headshot.

I am a disabled and neurodivergent science communications specialist with a drive to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion within STEM fields. I graduated Valedictorian from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Science Psychology in 2019, and from Laurentian University with a Master’s in Science Communication in 2020.

I combine my passions for psychology, my expertise in science communication, and my lived experience with disability and mental illness to advance equity in postsecondary and STEM environments. I want to learn new things, geek out, and share my passions with anyone who will listen. Ask me about anxiety, particle accelerators, and exploding seed pods.

Current Work

  • As Disability Inclusion Coordinator at the University of Waterloo, I work with a team advancing institutional accessibility for all and inclusion initiatives for the disability community. I am responsible for leading the strategic planning of community networks, as well as designing consultation and compensation frameworks.

  • I co-lead a visibility project for people in STEM with disabilities. The project hosted the first Ontario Summit for Students with Disabilities in February 2024.

    STEM With Disabilities website

  • I’m excited to be judging for the 2023 Science Writers and Communicators of Canada Science Writing award!

    Science Book Awards

Past Work

  • Science Slam Canada websiteScience Slam Canada engages science experts and enthusiasts from across Canada to share their passion for STEM as creatively as possible to a panel of judges and an enthusiastic audience!

    Science Slam Canada website

  • TGC conducts research and develops innovative programs to support women in STEM across Canada achieve economic equity. TGC shares their findings in beautiful, compelling, accessible ways. As a Canada Centre of Excellence for Immigrant Women in STEM, programs integrate feminist values to ensure equitability.

    Working on a small team as the Knowledge Mobilization and Communications Coordinator, I led TGC’s website, social media, partner and stakeholder outreach, and content development.

    2023

    Learn more at TGC.

  • At Western Engineering Outreach, we ensured all youth had equitable access to engineering and coding. I led initiatives including Queering Engineering, Western Engineering Beginnings for Black Youth, Just for Girls summer camps, and InSTEM programs to support Indigenous communities in finding STEM connections with their Land-Based Learning.

    Outreach Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Coordinator

    2021 - 2023

  • The ACHWM was designed with Two Eyed Seeing to support Indigenous communities in measuring their children’s wellness using both Traditional Knowledge and western scientific practices. I led the health education content development for Valuing Indigenous Emotional Wellness.

    ACHWM Coordinator

    2020 - 2021

  • Spinning an internship into a part-time contract, I developed and implemented the first organizational communications strategy for the Canadian Society of Soil Science. Emphasizing public outreach and member engagement, I shared the wonders of soil through social media, the Grounded in Soils blog, and a Science Rendezvous outreach project.

    Social Media and Blog Manager

    2020 - 2021

  • After four years volunteering with University of Waterloo Campus Wellness, I used my experience and creativity to re-imagine the Peer Health Education program for better efficiency and campus impact. I managed four volunteer teams in spreading harms reduction, evidence-based education about mental, physical, and sexual health.

    Peer Health Education Coordinator

    2015 - 2019

  • TRIUMF is Canada’s particle accelerator centre and emphasizes innovation in its research and communications. As part of a dynamic, creative team, I spent one co-op semester learning about science communications techniques to collaborate with topic experts to engage science enthusiasts, funders, and government regulators.

    Communications Assistant

    2017

  • It all began here, above a dinosaur museum, where I first fell in love with science communications as a Let’s Talk Science volunteer. I completed two co-op placements with Science Outreach, managing volunteers and fellow co-op students and leading science outreach development and delivery.

    Outreach Associate and Volunteer

    2015 - 2019