DEI in CCE
Incoming Cohort of CCE Graduate Students by Self Identified Sex, Fall 2024
Males
Females
Underrepresented Minorities
Rising Tide
Rising Tide is a research techniques training program directed at increasing the participation of students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in science and engineering Ph.D. programs by making Caltech's programs more visible and accessible to students not traditionally exposed to Caltech. The program is extended, but not limited, to historically underrepresented minorities, first-generation college students, geographically underrepresented students, educationally or financially disadvantaged students, women in science, and students with disabilities. This program is open only to visiting (non-Caltech) students with little to no prior research experience.
In its second year, Rising Tide added an additional days for a chemical biology rotation and increased its number of participants from six to eight Pasadena City College students.
A program-end celebration with students, mentors, faculty and staff took place at the Athenaeum on August, 23, 2024 where participants received their certificates.
Caltech Connection
Caltech Connection is a near-peer mentoring program, started by Professor Scott Cushing, that pairs Caltech graduate students and postdoctoral scholars one-on-one with undergraduate students drawn from four local community colleges (Pasadena City College, Compton College, Santa Monica College, and East LA College), Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Dominguez Hills, and Charles Drew University, a historically Black graduate institution in South Los Angeles. More than 60% of mentees in the program come from low-income households and some 70% work at least part-time or as interns to pay for their education.
Caltech Connection completed its third full year in May. During the 2023–2024 academic year, the program gave nearly 50 students an opportunity to see what research is like at an institution that is fully equipped for state-of-the-art scientific work and with mentors who engage in that work daily.
Photo Credit: Sydney Garstang
Preer Gift
This summer, the Preer gift supported two WAVE students, Deron L. Donald Jr. of Fayetteville State University and Robert E. Russum of Howard University.
The CCE DEI Committee received a gift in honor of Dr. James Preer (Chemistry PhD '70) who taught at the University of the District of Columbia for 33 years. This gift is focused on supporting two undergraduate students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).
Deron L. Donald Jr.
"This summer has been a great experience for me. Being at Caltech, as a Wave Fellow, over these last ten weeks has improved my research skills and increased my knowledge of graduate school."
Robert E. Russum
"Being a Wave Fellow has been truly amazing, giving me the opportunity to experience living and working on Caltech’s campus, allowing me to connect with its renowned faculty, graduate students, and fellow interns from across the globe. I grew tremendously as a person and as a researcher becoming more confident in my capabilities and a more independent thinker."
Melissa Ramirez Named a C&EN Magazine Trailblazer in Chemistry with Latin American Roots
In the Trailblazers issue of C&EN magazine, Melissa was one of 18 Latin American researchers featured. These profiles celebrate the selectees' cultures as well as their personal successes and impact.
2023-2024 DEI Committee Annual Report
The CCE DEI Committee continues to focus on improving inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility in the division. We are committed to working to developing new initiatives, stewarding ongoing programs, assist in coordinating efforts across the Division, plus interfacing with Institute level activities that enhance DEI efforts across campus.