The National GEM Consortium played an invaluable role in shaping my graduate and post-graduate career, not only by providing financial support but also by surrounding me with a network of brilliant, like-minded individuals who looked like me. As a person of color in a highly demanding PhD program, having a community that truly understood my experiences was a source of motivation and encouragement during some of the most challenging periods of my academic journey.
GEM’s unique network of students and professionals opened my eyes to a broader range of career opportunities that I hadn’t considered before. Through mentorship and support from GEM alumni, I was able to navigate graduate school and chart a path toward a fulfilling career in research and beyond. The alumni were always eager to offer advice and encouragement, even long after they completed their degrees—a testament to the lasting bonds fostered within the GEM family.
GEM also provided an essential administrative backbone, helping with resources and information that streamlined my experience and allowed me to focus more on my research and less on the bureaucratic details. Without GEM, my experience would have been vastly different, and I’m incredibly grateful for the doors this fellowship has opened for me.
Being a part of the GEM family has not only shaped my career but also deepened my sense of responsibility to give back. I am honored to continue advancing in my scientific field, knowing that I stand on the shoulders of a community that has paved the way for future generations.
Thank you, GEM, for being more than just a fellowship—thank you for being a lifelong community of support, empowerment, and opportunity.
Sincerely,
Will J. Tomlinson, Ph.D.
Director, The Software & Application Innovation Lab (SAIL)
Boston University Rafik B. Hariri Institute for Computing and Computational Science & Engineering
willjt@bu.edu | 617-358-6689
The National GEM Consortium played an integral role as I worked toward completing my PhD in Chemical Engineering. GEM not only provided me with funding for my studies but also bridged a connection to 3M, offering two internships with the company along with an employment offer after graduation. The GEM staff has been exceptional in providing professional development webinars and hosting amazing and fulfilling conferences. The GEM family has been welcoming and helpful in creating an environment that fosters personal and professional growth, along with the ability to put one’s talents and skills to use to better the organization. I highly recommend that undergraduate and graduate students seek out The National GEM Consortium during their graduate studies.
The GEM Consortium allowed me to get matched with an employer that wanted to help me succeed. That opportunity opened my mind to new avenues to pursue for my research career in the future. The GEM consortium has also allowed me to tap into a network of professionals in science that support me and my journey!
GEM has grace me with an amazing opportunity to pursue higher education and fulfill my dreams. They have given me the space to share my ideas with people like me, representing underrepresented students like myself and our successes in STEM.
I had an amazing time. This was my first GEM Experience, and it set the standard. As a 3rd Year Ph.D. student at the University of Notre Dame, I was privileged to witness and enjoy the presence of peers and professionals who looked like me and who excel in their fields. The hotel, amenities, and career fair exceeded my expectations! I look forward to the Annual GEM Conference next year!
Great experience to network and meet with professionals from multiple fields of STEM. The venues chosen are perfect and memorable.
Through the National GEM Consortium, I had the opportunity to build a strong network of like-minded, aspiring scientists from across the country. I've ran into many of these individuals at various events, including workshops, conferences, and even at my own university. The connections I've made have improved my enjoyment of this journey and have invaluable for my academic and professional growth.
The GEM Foundation has been instrumental in making my dream of attending graduate school a reality. By covering my tuition and fees, the foundation has provided me with the incredible opportunity to pursue my studies full-time, which has been both a relief and a huge source of motivation. This support has not only lifted a financial burden but has also allowed me to fully dedicate myself to my academic journey without the stress of juggling multiple responsibilities.
What I value most, however, is the sense of community I've found through GEM. I’ve become part of a network of talented and driven scholars who are walking similar paths, which has been both inspiring and encouraging. It’s more than just academic support—it’s a shared experience that extends beyond the classroom. Knowing that there are people who genuinely care about my well-being, not just as a student but as a person, has made a significant difference. The foundation has created an environment where I feel seen, supported, and empowered to succeed, both academically and personall
My undergraduate career was plagued with loss and grief, and at times, I felt as if I did not have a purpose in the STEM field. Approaching the summer before my senior year of undergraduate career, I had the pleasure of meeting some GEM fellows during an internship at Argonne National Laboratory. Before then, I had never heard of the GEM fellowship since my university had not made it a well-known organization. The people I met there were some of the most brilliant, inspiring, like-minded people who also happened to look like me. From there, I applied to become a GEM Fellow and was accepted during my senior year of undergrad. The GEM Fellowship provided me with both a sense of purpose and a guide to help me reach where I wanted to be in my field.
The people I met after becoming a GEM fellow have always inspired me to reach the highest of my academic pursuits. GEM has always emphasized the importance of us as students, who are the future stars of the world and will innovate the future. Seeing people who look like me and have the same outlook on our future career aspirations inspires me every day. The reassurance, support, and connections provided by GEM are why I am proud to call myself a GEM fellow.
I am a first generation college graduate, currently pursuing my PhD in Chemistry. After a rocky start of my graduate studies due to lack of support and resources, I was left discouraged, thinking that someone like me simply did not belong in the research world, which I love so much.
My advisor noticed this and told me about the GEM Fellowship, and without a heartbeat I applied. This was the most life-changing decision I made thus far. Through this fellowship, I have gained not just countless opportunities but CONFIDENCE upon seeing that people of color are entrepreneurs, successful scientists and celebrated figures in science and technology.
I was able to work at a national laboratory through GEM this past summer. I lived in Washington state and was able to experience government research in renewable energy, meet with giants in my field and earn money to save for emergencies and finally buy a car (I was commuting 1 hour each way before).
Through GEM, I felt seen and taken seriously as a woman in chemistry, and have been able to meet so many other fellows that are now my mentors. I cannot emphasize enough how much this organization has changed my career trajectory thus far.
This organization has truly changed my life. They gave me the opportunity to pursue higher education without the concerns of how I would afford tuition and a place to live. I cannot express my gratitude enough. I am excited to share my story once I complete my degree.
GEM is an amazing and pivotal program for underrepresented groups pursuing an advanced degree. Personally, the team I've had the pleasure to work with directly has been of great assistance when traversing personal issues and crisis that go beyond the academia.
GEM really is an organization that forwards their fellows through intimate rearing needed to become the sound future of STEM we seek to become.
I was directed by one of my teachers (a representative of the GEM Consortium) to apply to the program in my senior year of college. The GEM program allows for underrepresented students in STEM to attend graduate school and covers tuition expenses as well as providing an amazing network and support for its fellows. I had never heard of the program nor considered graduate school as a possible avenue for myself as it was always far too expensive. I decided to apply per my teacher's guidance and have been able to attend graduate school at Columbia University in New York City. This entire opportunity has completely changed the course of my life, I was going to be living at home in Massachusetts after having finished my undergraduate program in college and now I am living in New York City just starting a job that I would have never had an opportunity for if it weren't for grad school and I would not have the grad school opportunity if it weren't for GEM. I am extremely grateful to have had this amazing program in my life and for all that they have done. I am the first person in my entire family to have attended graduate school and it is all due to GEM. It makes me happy and so grateful knowing I have had the chance to make my parents proud of myself with what I have accomplished so far in life and earning the chance to go to graduate school has been a big part of that as well. The GEM Consortium is an amazing program making a difference in so many lives in the underrepresented STEM community.
I have the wonderful opportunity of going to graduate school for free and I completed two internships at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, all facilitated through the GEM fellowship. The fellowship also was quick to speak on my behalf to my university when it came to their notice that I was being underfunded for my semester-to-semester stipend payments. The leaders are passionate about the work they do, and it is a great organization and community to foster relationships. The annual GEM conference was also fun and well-planned. The fellowship has many industry and university partners that support the fellowship's mission, proving that they are an impactful and effective organization.
The National GEM Consortium has been a huge blessing. The organization paid my tuition, easing the financial burden from my family and I. Another thing that was incredibly helpful was the stipend. Receiving this compensation really allowed me to better focus on what was important and that is my education. GEM even took it a step further in setting me up for success, allowing me to take advantage of the necessary connections with summer internships. I will forever be grateful, thanks to The National GEM Consortium.
GEM is a great organization that has helped me afford a graduate degree at no cost, relieving the burden of loans and additional jobs. This has allowed me to focus on my studies without these distractions. The organization has also exposed me to top tiers at various universities and industries, which can be credited for tailoring my understanding of the job opportunities aligned with my research. It's a great concept that the GEM organization has adopted. I am appreciative of this organization.
GEM is an amazing organization with top talent from underrepresented groups. I have been affiliated with this organization for 2 decades, the impact it has had on STEM students' lives across the country is phenomenal! (5000 plus GEM Alums) "GEM Envision: a U.S. STEM workforce where all are valued and empowered to realize their fullest potential through parity of access to senior levels, leading to scientific advancement that drives global innovation and maximizes social and economic impact.” I whole-heartily support the National GEM Consortium and encourage tech companies, government agencies, foundations, non-profits, and universities to invest in this organization to identify top-talent for the technical workforce.
At Lam Research, we’re steadfast in our commitment to create a more inclusive and diverse culture. Lam’s partnership with the National GEM Consortium is one of the ways we bring that commitment to life. Through continued investment in the GEM Fellowship Program and engagement with Lam leadership, we’re proudly supporting the development and advancement of underrepresented students who are pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees in applied science and engineering. Overall, we have hosted more than 90 GEM interns since 2019 and nine alumni have been hired into full-time roles within Lam.
GEM has been very helpful to my professional development throughout my Master's degree! From the internships with my employer sponsor (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) to my success presenting my research at the Annual Conference, GEM has done so much to elevate me to be the scientist and leader I want to be.
I first found out about GEM after I applied for graduate school to attend the University of South Florida (USF). I had the good fortune to receive the GEM Doctoral Fellowship in 2010. My sponsoring company was Corning, Inc and I had an internship during the summer of 2010 in Corning, NY.
I can not express how thankful I am to have received the constant mentoring from GEM. I truly believe that the mentoring I received polished me more and more like a gem - pun intended.
While at USF, Mr. Bernard Batson (Assoc. Dean for Diversity) made sure that we attended every GEM conference. At one of the GEM conferences, I met some workers from Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) at the career fair - Ms. Brittney Odoi and Dr. Jacqueline Fairley. They helped me solidify my decision of postgraduate employment.
After successfully completing my PhD at the University of South Florida, I joined the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) in 2017. While there, Ms. Brittney Odoi was the Diversity Director and she made sure that the GEM graduates at GTRI had plenty opportunities to give back to GEM. At that time, the GEM dream team was Ms. Brittney Odoi, Dr. Jacqueline Fairley, Dr. Adilson Cardoso, and myself. We all gave talks at GEM and judged both the poster and oral sessions. And best of all, we formed an amazing bond around the center piece of GEM.
I am thankful for GEM and thankful for the representation and exposure that is affordable with GEM. The organization is deserving of all the praises!
Photo names (left to right) - Dr. Adilson Cardoso, Ms. Brittney Odoi, Dr. Nashlie Sephus, Mr. Ivan Walker, Dr. Michael Grady.
My experience with this non-profit has been nothing short of life changing. It reaffirmed the path I was on as a minority student making my way to change the world in the realm of STEM. Gem has allowed me to continue my education at a wonderful university. This organization has opened doors for me for even more academic opportunities, more easily than I would have been able to accomplish on my own. They have provided a community to help push others like me to the forefront of our respective fields. I have no doubt the world would not be the same without GEM. The relationships and network I have developed are priceless, and I continue to make the most of everything GEM has afforded me. I will be continuing to leverage the most of my degree and experiences in my masters degree. Utilizing all I have learned from the national lab internship they set up for me is a well of knowledge that will never run dry. And it has all only started to culminate since I was able to win an award for my internship research at the GEM conference and make more connections and learn even more. GEM is a boundless source of aspiration and knowledge resource and I can’t be thankful enough.
Even as a member of the most recent cohort of GEM fellows, The National GEM Consortium has already given me 2 invaluable gifts: connection and confidence. Connection with other scientists who care about changing the institutions we enter for those who come after us, connection with an employer that values my hard work and intellect as well as my background, and confidence in myself as researcher capable of doing meaningful science. GEM is building a network of brilliant, motivated people who are determined to become tomorrow's leaders regardless of whatever marginalization they have experienced. It is a community of minority STEM professionals who unapologetically bring their whole identity into the workplace and show that the result is amplified innovation. I am glad I am a part of this community.
GEM is like family. I truly feel the full support and sense of community within it. It's a fulfilling experience to be a part of such a close-knit and supportive network.
The National GEM Consortium has had a very positive influence on my graduate education. Having my own funding source as a PhD student allows me to work on projects that I'm passionate about outside the bounds of my advisor's grants. I also had the opportunity to intern at a national lab through my fellowship and receive mentorship from several senior scientists in my field. I am very confident that my connections both with my peers and with professional scientists through GEM will lead me to a challenging and fulfilling career.
A wonderful opportunity for students from underserved communities to have a fighting chance at becoming the top educated talent of the world. They sponsored me to study at the University Of Southern California (USC), which was an institution I got accepted into for undergrad, but wasn't able to study there for financial reasons. Now, with the GEM Fellowship through the National GEM Consortium, I was able to not only study my Masters program fully paid for at USC, but do research with Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This made a competitive individual as I near graduation in Spring 2024. Thank you National GEM Consortium for the support you have provided to all the admitted students and the ripples of impact you have done within our community. It is always lovely to see people of color within STEM fields at different universities across the nation.
I wanted to take some time to express my gratitude for the advocacy of the GEM Fellowship Program and how this GEM Fellowship has changed my academic and professional career. My name is Lucero Lopez. I am the oldest of three kids, growing up in our Mexican-American family in Southern California, I became the 1st of my very large extensive family to go to college at UC San Diego (UCSD) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering and a minor in Business. Like many 1st Generation students, my undergrad experience was full of ups and downs as I learned to navigate the unknown system. At the end, I left UCSD with a considerable amount of debt, but I knew my parents sacrificed quite a lot for myself and my siblings, thus I knew that graduate school would be on my dollar. When I first attended CMU, I was working remotely 40 hours to be able to afford the cost of tuition and living in graduate school while also in a full course-load of classes. This was a hardest six months of my life. At the same time, I applied for the GEM Fellowship and in January after the 1st semester, I received the notification that I had won. I quit my job, I finally felt like I could be a student first and not worry about the lack of income.
In additional to the financial liberation this fellowship offered me, I had the most impactful internship at IBM Poughkeepsie in the Department of Material Characterization and Failure Analysis, under IBM Systems at Fishkill, New York. My time was so fruitful that I stayed on as a Co-Op Intern through the year and joined again this last summer in Poughkeepsie. The summers and year I have spent at IBM really shaped my future at a microscopist and material scientist. I was even re-selected as an IBM GEM Fellow for my PhD as I study at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, so that I can continue my summers at IBM while studying at one of the tops programs in our nation for Material Science. All this to say, I am incredibly fortunate to have been a GEM Fellow and I cannot thank enough for all those who are advocating for this program. It changed my life and I know it continues to change the lives of many talented students.
GEM is, in many ways, the reason I'm able to be where I am. Through the Associate Fellowship, I'm able to fund my PhD. I learned about the Consortium in 2017 at the Georgia Tech Summer Undergraduate Research program as the opportunity for minorities in STEM to gain funding for their graduate program, and have them, and my mentors at the Auburn University Academic Excellence Program. Through their advice and recommendations, I am now able to pursue my own academic passions.
GEM has open doors for me that I never considered. They treat their members like family. Because if GEM, I was able to get an intership at a National Lab and I am going back there next year to finish my dissertation.
GEM attracts "the best and the brightest” students in the country. Founded in 1976, many top universities, government labs, nonprofits, and companies know GEM for training the next generation of superstars in engineering, science, and beyond. On a professional development level, I appreciate the internship experiences with Intel Corporation, one of GEM's many corporate partners. On a personal level, GEM gives me access to people who understand the financial struggle and other potential barriers in seeking an advanced STEM degree. People who (like me) navigate the STEM field as an underrepresented minority. On a deeper level, GEM helps me dream of becoming “Dr. Randall”.
I initially became aware of the GEM Consortium in 2004 when I applied for a GEM fellowship. As a recipient, I was sponsored by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where I also completed my summer internship. Serving as my first interaction with the DOE national laboratory system, I was able to learn about the significant impact on the future of energy that national laboratory scientists have. After receiving my PhD in 2009, I became employed by my sponsoring organization and built a successful career in the national laboratory system over the course of 13 years. In addition to providing a springboard for my career, GEM has also significantly expanded my professional network of well-respected and diverse STEM professionals.
After beginning as a product developer at 3M 19 years ago, I feel fortunate to have had a diverse range of career experiences, including roles as an individual contributor and as a people leader. Our teams and market solutions have favorably impacted billions of people, enhancing workplace safety, business performance, and experiences at homes around the world. I presently serve as a senior executive leading a diverse international organization spanning dozens of countries worldwide. Our family is active in our community, and we have plenty of reason to be optimistic about the future.
From modest beginnings and especially the care of a devoted, sacrificial single mother, it was institution-funded engineering education that clearly served as the lever to open so many of these opportunities. It is therefore a deeply personal honor to serve as Secretary on the National GEM Consortium (GEM) Board of Directors. From this vantage point into GEM and its mission, I am delighted to see how the vision of institutional sponsors couple with the aspiration of brilliant students to help meet the nation’s need to maintain competitiveness in science and engineering disciplines.
- Dr. Cordell Hardy, Senior Vice President, Corporate R&D Operations, 3M Company
The National "GEM" Consortium is a great organization! Our collaborative partnership with GEM gives Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University an opportunity to work with top level diverse students, companies, and laboratories across the United States.
Tremayne “Trey” Waller, PhD
Director of Graduate Student Programs
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
GEM is an amazing organization with top talent from underrepresented groups. Our organization has partnered with GEM since 2015 and the support from GEM and students GEM recruits as part of the talent pipeline are exceptional! Since 2015, our organization has helped 75 GEM students go to graduate school. I'm thankful for the great work GEM does.
The National GEM Consortium has been invaluable in my pursuit of a graduate education by providing a network of incredible individuals and resources. As a GEM Fellow, a highlight of this honor is the opportunity to attend the annual GEM conference where fellows from all parts of the country convene to celebrate and honor the progress GEM has made in diversifying the STEM fields with amazing and talented individuals.
This is my first year, in my PhD. program. This transition in my life has been hard on me. Without the support I have received from GEM I wouldn't have been comfortable enough to relax and take things slow. As a Black woman, I have a deep appreciation to education, but there have been many obstacles trying to limit my access. The GEM offered an amazing conference that inspired many solutions to personal challenges. From the caring workshops and genuine networking, I gained the confidence to just try my best without focusing on perfection. Most of the students supported by fellowships like GEM are people who have been limited by societal shortcomings. We have had to make life-alternating compromises and deny opportunities. For example, I was only able to get a passport thanks to travel grant from Tougaloo College without it I would never have learned of my passion for water quality. With the support from GEM, I was able to make my interests top priority in choosing the best research group for me. With the support from GEM, I feel confident working outside the status quo. Thank you for providing me the flexibility and time to focus on myself!
I believe in the Gem Fellowship organization; it has been changing the world by directly increasing diversity in STEM for the last 46 years. I am honored to be a part of this organization and to interact with all of the talented students and professionals in this community.
The more time I spend in graduate and professional life, the more thankful I am to be apart of the GEM Consortium. They truly take you in and not only give you a support system, but also abundant resources for you to succeed. For me, having GEM allowed me to get into the graduate school that I wanted along with already having a community through other GEM fellows already there. GEM also hosts a yearly networking conference for all fellows, alumnus, universities, companies, etc. that far exceeded my expectations. I have never walked into a conference and felt more welcomed before. Attached is a photo took there! I will always recommend GEM to my peers and encourage them to apply. I'm very grateful to be apart of this family!
Hello!
I am a PhD GEM fellow, and I will be forever grateful for such a prestigious title. The mentorship, guidance, and support that I have received just within my first year is unmatched. I have a broad wealth of knowledge from mentors at my internship, GEM staff, as well as university support. I come from a single parent family home, with an absentee father. I have struggled financially from community college through obtaining ny Master’s degree.
When I applied to GEM, I was nearing by the end of my Master’s program at New York University (NYU). I yearned for a PhD, but I was unsure of how I could financially afford to go. After being accepted as a GEM fellow, I had the most amazing experience as an intern at Idaho National Laboratory. There I utilized my skills as a Mechanical Engineer developing new designs on CAD software for nuclear interim storage. I am proud to be a first year PhD student at Dartmouth College in the Materials department, all thanks to GEM. Here I will be researching Zinc and it’s alloys, determining which composition will work best on orthopedic implants.
I am so fortunate to have the financial responsibilities taken care of through GEM. Now I am able to focus solely on school now. I no longer have to struggle, juggling two jobs while being a full-time student. Because of GEM, I will be the researcher and Doctor of Engineering I’ve always dreamed of. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I am both a Master's and Ph.D. GEM Fellow. Being apart of this organization allowed me to travel world and meet people from all over, many of whom I am still in touch with until this day. Most important of all, being apart of GEM allowed me to give back and contribute to this whose hard work made it possible for my ascent from through academia and into the career i have now.
For more than 40 years, GEM has been the pre-eminent graduate school funding organization for under-represented students seeking advanced degrees in science and engineering. I first learned of GEM from Dr. Howard Adams when I was an under-graduate engineering student at Purdue University in 1984. Dr. Adams and the GEM program changed the course of my life. With the help of GEM, I received my Master's in Electrical Engineering and later completed my PhD in Electrical Engineering at Purdue University. The GEM program gave me the confidence that I could take on technically difficult challenges and complete them successfully. The program provided access to experienced professionals and academic experts that pushed me to achieve my career goals. With this firm foundation, and with the continued support of the GEM family, I am now Vice President of Technology Development at IBM Corporation. The GEM program enabled me to achieve my aggressive professional goals and because of their support, I proudly serve on the Board of Directors of the GEM Foundation. I am committed to give back to the community and organization that helped me when I was just beginning my journey. Thank you GEM Foundation!!
The National GEM Consortium has been very influential in my development as a scientist and a professional. The internship that I had at Princeton Plasma Physics Lab taught me numerical and experimental methods that will help me in my PhD dissertation research. GEM also provides guidance to fellows on entrepreneurship and how they can commercialize their ideas. I am very grateful to be connected with GEM fellows and GEM alumni for professional development and networking.
I was an undergraduate majoring in Materials Science and Engineering when Graduate Dean John Turner introduced me to the National GEM Consortium and the GEM Fellowship. At the time during my junior year, I was applying to my department's five-year program that awarded bachelor's and master's degrees by interspersing credit-bearing internships in industry with experiential research supervised by MIT faculty members. The GEM Fellowship supported internships and my thesis research with IBM where I went to work after graduation as a Systems Engineer.
The fellowship mitigated the cost of graduate school, broadened my professional network, and provided me with lifelong role models and mentors who inspired and encouraged me throughout graduate school and even now well into my professional career.
I returned to MIT after 12 years in industry to run the very programs that inspired me as an undergraduate. I eventually earned a Doctorate in Education and was promoted to Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education and Director of the Office of Minority Program. After a stint as the chief academic officer with UNCF (United Negro College Fund), and seven years as Executive Director of the National Society of Black Engineers, I now have the privilege of leading diversity efforts at Northeastern University as Senior Vice Provost and Chief Inclusion Officer. I am also the PI for an NSF-funded national alliance, the Engineering PLUS Alliance, which will work with 150 educational institutions over the next 5 years to foster systemic change in engineering education to increase the degrees awarded to BIPOC and women students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. GEM is a strategic partner in this effort.
It goes without saying that GEM has been a catalyst in my career which has enabled me to lift as I climbed.
I applied to GEM last year, and I am exceedingly grateful that I have become a GEM Fellow. Thanks to this organization, I have had the opportunity to intern with the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. I had an amazing experience over the summer working as an intern. I gained so many new and invaluable skills necessary for my career in applied mathematics. I also built great relationships with my supervisor, my fellow GEM intern, and the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Business Partner at PPPL. I had a wonderful time volunteering with other GEM interns at the annual conference this year. I met so many amazing and warm people who are excited for my journey and eager to help. The conference also gave me a strong sense of affirmation because I met so many people with similar backgrounds who have all gotten to incredible points in their lives and careers and who believe fully in my potential. GEM has also provided me with secure funding for the rest of PhD studies. This organization has positively impacted my life in various ways, and I am so grateful for the support and opportunities that I have been afforded by GEM.
GEM has served as a significant role in my career journey thus far. I was granted an amazing opportunity to gain experience in my field through my employer sponsor Chrysler and earn my Masters degree from Texas A&M Univ. The GEM personnel are so supportive and caring. Without my GEM Fellowship my education and career path would be dramatically different. I tell anyone that is interested in earning an advance degree in STEM to look into getting a GEM Fellowship.
“Delayed but not denied!”
I dreamt of earning a doctorate in hopes of pursuing a career in research developing prostheses for economically challenged children and innovative technology for defense, aerospace, and aviation applications. Unfortunately, I began pursuing my doctorate in materials science and engineering when there was a significant national decrease in research funding. My research funding was cut, and I experienced challenges obtaining funding to support my dissertation research. As a child of a single parent from the Southside of Chicago, I feared that my dreams to utilize my talent to develop technology to help people and ensure the nation’s security and space exploration would be cut short. Through a NASA sponsorship, National GEM Consortium made my dream of earning a materials science and Ph.D. from the University of Maryland College Park possible.
I was elated that GEM and NASA believed in me by supporting my doctoral research on novel emerging structural materials. I passionately pursued my research with a great sense of pride and responsibility for GEM, NASA, and society. My GEM advisor Dr. Darryll Pines was extremely supportive of me during my doctoral study at the University of Maryland-College Park. He was always available, patiently answering my multiple technical research questions. Through Dr. Pines’ mentorship, I gained a strong work ethic, continued curiosity, and a love for STEM research and innovative technology. (Dr. Darryll Pines, also a GEM alum, was Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering and is now the President of the University of Maryland College Park.) Unfortunately, during my doctoral studies, I faced significant personal challenges. My mother unfortunately passed on the day I was supposed to submit my dissertation to the committee. After the loss of my mother, I struggled with completing my Ph.D. We sacrificed our lives for the pursuit of my dream as a Ph.D. engineer. Sometimes, I missed several meals, but it was worth it. I am most humbled and thankful for the continued encouragement I received from my GEM mentor and fellow Alum Dr. Pines (President of the University of Maryland), my NASA/GEM sponsors, the GEM staff, Ms. Valerie Washington, Forestine Blake-Jackson, and others that I pressed on to complete my Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from the University of Maryland.
GEM alumni, staff, and fellows were supportive during my challenges back then and continued throughout my professional career. I could not be more humbled and thankful to GEM’s support then and the continued support of my professional career today. Thanks to GEM, I’ve pursued a federal career of service implementing technologies ensuring security and helping people. My career achievement was acknowledged in which I was recently honored for 2021 Women of Color in STEM for Technical Achievement in Government. I am thankful to my GEM family!
Great job GEM!
Candi Hudson, Ph.D.
GEM has been a family that has supported me since I started my graduate school journey. In addition to providing funding for my MS/PhD program and pairing me with a summer internship at a Fortune 100 company, GEM has mentioned me each step of the way! The staff is dedicated, passionate, and relentless when it comes to helping push GEM fellows ahead and support them.
During my summer internship at the sponsor company, a member from GEM took time out of his busy day to travel to my location, see how I was enjoying the role, as well as connect with my supervisor to tell them more about The National GEM Consortium and how they support STEM talent. This motivated others within the company to also try to create new opportunities for underrepresented interns and support them as they move up the ranks in the company.
Said GEM mentor also visited me at my university once classes began to check in on me and create more of a support system within the school. I remember making the decision to stay for my Ph.D., it was my GEM mentor who spoke to me that night and made me feel confident, that I could accomplish anything.
Today I have a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and can thank my GEM family for the support and continuing to help push me to advance. More recently, I have entered the field of entrepreneurship and am taking advantage of resources that GEM offerers such as the GEM i4 program which helped prepare me for the NSF I-CORPS program. I won a $50k grant in this program to use for customer discovery and derisking my business idea. I was also nominated and won the GEM Young Alumnus of Color recognition through BEYA where I was given an opportunity to accept my award at the Women of Color in STEM conference (there I got to meet remarkable women in STEM).
The GEM family continues to be involved as I continue down my professional path and am searching for full-time positions. The National GEM conference has been one of the best places to network and I've noticed that the companies and schools that attend the events have GEM fellows that go ready to recruit and make a difference! The conferences are a great opportunity to meet talented people that will remain lifelong connections and work together to support our community.
If you are contemplating joining our GEM community, donating, or simply sharing the word- please do! We are a family of passionate members (many which have been active for over 30 years!), that understands the importance of continuing to build our presence to nurture future leaders in STEM.
I can't say enough good things about the GEM program. Not only did the GEM Fellowship help me financially through my doctoral program, but the networking and connections I made have proven invaluable. These connections are what led me to my current job. I also had the wonderful opportunity to intern at the Institute for Defense Analyses for a summer through the GEM Fellowship program. The skills I gained helped broaden my dissertation work and further developed my skills in coding and statistics.
The National GEM Consortium has supported and continues to support me in my PhD journey. I am extremely grateful to them for all they have provided me.
I truly believe that without GEM's support, I would not be in the Electrical Engineering Ph.D. program at the University of Michigan today. GEM along with Lam Research, my industry sponsor, have both equipped me with the financial and professional support to feel a part of a larger community of advanced scholars. GEM's commitment to diversity has not only allowed me to further my studies with their support, but it has also given me the opportunity to feel supported in my own efforts to advance diversity within my field because there's no doubt that diversity strengthens EVERY field.
It's been a great joy for me to reconnect with the National GEM Consortium as a 12 year alum. This program jumpstarted my career by providing employer sponsorship and financial assistance for graduate studies. Today, I am a technology manager in my organization and I am thankful to GEM for paving the way for me to get to where I am today.
This organization continues to inspire me through its community of STEM excellence from underrepresented backgrounds . The existence of GEM reinforces the fact that diversity in STEM talent can exist with the right type and amount of nurturing.
The GEM Consortium has been one of the best organizations I have been a part of throughout my 10 years in STEM. It provided me with great industry connections with MIT Lincoln Laboratory and opened the door for a collaboration with my research group at MIT.
I am now leading a startup venture that started with my GEM Fellowship and internship. Moreover, I am working with GEM and it's Inclusion In Innovation Initiative (i4) program to build connections with the rest of the entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Boston/New England region.
Lastly, the GEM Conference has provided me with fantastic conversations with top PhD students, faculty, and senior administrators that want to recruit, develop, and retain underrepresented talent.
I will part an active GEM member for the rest of my life!
Lam shares GEM’s belief that, “greater diversity amplifies the technology industry’s positive impact on our communities,” Seeing first-hand the energy and dedication that GEM fellows and interns have brought to Lam. “Partnering with GEM is about opening doors for the next generation, while advancing innovation within the semiconductor and technology industries.”
Tim Archer, President/CEO, Lam Research Corp
and 2020 GEM Board Chair
Partnering with GEM is about opening doors for the next generation, while advancing innovation within the semiconductor and technology industries.
Simply put, if it weren't for GEM pursuing my Masters degree in Data Science at Columbia University would not have been possible. This organization has holistically supported me through several avenues in the course of my graduate experience. From providing funds (ex: tuition, room/board stipend, internship payment), mentorship (University GEM Rep, GEM Employer, GEM Alum), and a sense of community (GEM Weekly Calls, group chats, etc.), GEM has taken special interest in my growth, development, and overall success in what could've been a scary and isolating experience for an underrepresented student like myself. Every step of the way, GEM has made me feel safe and supported, and I will be forever grateful for the experience that it has given me.
GEM put their faith in me and opened the door for me to both a university (Cal) and a company (The Aerospace Corporation) of the highest caliber. Their monetary support is immensely helpful in allowing me to focus on my studies, work, and research, and the peers and mentors I have gained through the GEM network have made my experience in graduate education many times greater than it would have been without.
There is not enough good I can say about the GEM Consortium and the mission they serve to put underrepresented minorities through higher education.
By attending the GEM conference I was able to practice my research skills. Won 2nd place overall in the Ph.D cateogry. Was able to present to the whole GEM conference. This brought alot of attention from people in universities and national labs for future jobs.
The National GEM Consortium has been instrumental towards my desire to pursue graduate studies. I first learn of GEM during my first internship, where my supervisor was a GEM alumnus. And I was amazed at the possibility of joining a cohort of peers that were experts in the STEM fields and came from similar underrepresented backgrounds. It was through one of GEM grad labs that I started becoming familiar with the Graduate School Application process and understood how essential the PhD was for my desired career path. GEM was a key part of allowing me to become a graduate student through their resources and financial support. And finally through their conference I have been able to learn and share my research passions.
Through GEM I was able to do research at Lawrence Livermore National Lab right before my graduate program, from which I gained valuable experience in building data pipelines and state machine simulation (I'll be returning next summer!). GEM has allowed me to attend Carnegie Mellon without concern for funding, allowing me to choose the labs and projects that best suit my career goals without having to compromise. This is hugely important to me, as I intend to take what I've learned and directly apply it to real-world business functions.
I first heard about the National GEM Consortium when I attended a GradLab hosted by GEM through the LSAMP program offered at my university. The event was centered around the importance of graduate school and highlighted important information on how to gain admission with financial support. As a Latina Engineer, it was refreshing to see how much the organizers cared about ensuring both the recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups pursuing higher education in STEM. I then applied to the GEM Fellowship as a second year pH student in bioengineering and received fellowship support the following year. Since receiving the fellowship, I have been awarded invaluable opportunities to connect with technical professionals in my field and was awarded the opportunity to receive a fully paid internship at my top employer of choice. Although circumstances surrounding COVID prevented me from completing the internship, the GEM consortium has been incredibly helpful in serving as a liason with my employer to ensure that I can complete the internship at a future date. More recently, I was able to present my research at this year's National GEM Consortium Conference. This gave me the opportunity to present my research at a national level while receiving feedback from key industry leaders. This type of continuous academic, professional, and networking support/experience I have received throughout my tenure with GEM has been incredible and serves as a testament to the GEM consortium's dedication to ensuring the academic and professional success of their fellows. Without a doubt, GEM has helped me develop my professional career and I would highly recommend this program to anyone considering applying.
It has been an amazing honor to be a GEM Fellow. I never really saw myself going into graduate school in the early stages of my undergraduate career. However, after discussing career and educational goals with mentors and GEM representatives at their events, I began to see the benefit of pursuing a masters degree, and then a PhD in Mechanical Engineering. GEM also the opened the opportunity for me to intern and collaborate with the The Aerospace Corporation. I have the freedom to work on challenging and interesting research projects, and meet amazing individuals and leaders within the space industry. I'm truly grateful for all that GEM has done for me, and many talented students and alumni in all facets of academia and industry within the nation. I'm truly looking forward to completing my PhD in Mechanical Engineering as a GEM Fellow!
GEM has given the amazing opportunity to complete my MS, where it would have been financially impossible otherwise. Furthermore, the network and internship connections have brought opportunities that will likely be life-changing.
Had a great time doing The National GEM Consortium annual conference. It was an all virtual event. A well planned and executed event.
I am a GEM University representative and on behalf of the students we serve, I want to say that it has been a pleasure working with the National GEM Foundation. This organization and the GEM team work extremely hard to support students on their graduate academic journey and through their efforts, the success stories are numerous. I am proud to be a part of the larger GEM team!
Dr. Ellise LaMotte
Tufts University
The National GEM Consortium has been a key enabler of my career and my life. This organization gave me the opportunity to obtain a master's and doctorate in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Through GEM, I had the opportunity to intern at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, an experience that changed the conjecture of my career and made me realize what I wanted to do with my life. Eventually my experiences at Oak Ridge led me to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), where I serve as the associate laboratory director for Mechanical and Thermal Engineering Sciences.
GEM is an incredible network of corporations, laboratories, and research institutions that enables qualified students from underrepresented communities to pursue graduate degrees in applied science and engineering. After more than forty years, the program has an outstanding record of identifying and supporting talented graduate students who later become highly successful academics, business leaders, and scientists. I’m proud of the strong partnership that NREL and the GEM program have created and equally proud to be called a GEM Alum.
Johney Green Jr., Ph.D.
Associate Laboratory Director
Mechanical and Thermal Engineering Sciences
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
A native of South Bend, Indiana, and single parent of two I relied on God to lead the way for me. I have a son and a daughter; my son is gifted and was an excellent reader at age four. I had no financial resources that enabled me to set money aside that would promise a secondary education for my children.
Forestine Blake-Jackson, a childhood friend, held a secretarial position at the National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science, Inc. (GEM) then housed at the University of Notre. GEM employees were staff members of the Universities and entitled to full benefits the most desirable of them was the education benefits: full tuition and fees for the children of employees. Thank you God for answering my prayer.
GEM’s mission sealed the deal, to enhance the value of the nation’s human capital by increasing the participation of underrepresented groups (African Americans, American Indians, and Hispanic Americans) at the master’s and doctoral levels in engineering and science. Of equal importance was being able to work in a family friendly environment. So when Forestine told me about a position I knew that the GEM Program would be my life long career, currently, the Executive Administrative Assist to the CEO.
Dr. Howard G. Adams, former Executive Director at GEM, mentored my son, and purchased his first leather briefcase while my son was still in high school. Dr. Adams taught my son how to gain respect. He instilled in him the importance of “Always dressing for success.” That meant not every wearing jeans while in high school and at all times carry yourself in a professional manner. In so doing you would let teachers and future instructors know you were about business.”
With God’s blessing and the GEM organization, today my son Dewan L. Simon is the CEO & Founder at Global Continuous Improvement Experts (GCI Experts). He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and is a License and Certification Six Sigma Master Black Belt, and Master of Business Administration (MBA), Thunderbird School of Global Management International Business. My daughter graduated with a Medical Technician degree, Ivy Tech Community College.
My being a part of the GEM Program has had a tremendous difference in my life and the lives of my children and grandchildren as well. I am very proud of the relationships I have established with not only University and employer representatives but with the GEM Fellows and Alum I have grown to know and love. There is no going wrong with participation in the GEM Program.
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I have been affiliated with this organization for 28.5 years, the impact it has had on STEM students' lives across the country is phenomenal! (4000 plus GEM Alums) "GEM Envision: a U.S. STEM workforce where all are valued and empowered to realize their fullest potential through parity of access to senior levels, leading to scientific advancement that drives global innovation and maximizes social and economic impact."
The National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering is an exceptional program that affords minority students a Fellowship to pursue graduate degrees in engineering, science and computer science. As the former Fellowships Administrator I worked with the best and the brightest students, university personnel and many CEOs in corporate America.
When I read success stories of students like that of Dr. Kyla McMullen I am in awe at the very notion that I rubbed elbows with such a legend such as Dr. McMullen, a product of the Consortium. If you do a google search on Dr. McMullen you will find an array of awesomeness such as her being a tenure-trak assistant professor in the Department of Computer and Information Science & Engineering at the University of Florida. As of this date she is currently the first and only woman of color to earn a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan.
The Consortium pours out a number of successes on an annual basis. They are a tremendous resource for universities seeking professors and fortune 500 companies looking to hire the best and the brightest.
I am so proud of my affiliation with the National Consortium.
Forestine Blake-Jackson, Retiree
University of Notre Dame
Former Fellowships Administrator
The National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science
The National GEM Consortium represents the epitome of academic excellence! For 40+ years, GEM has successfully opened doors of opportunity for people of color to obtain advanced degrees, instill students with confidence, and equip fellows with the skills, competencies, and technical experience to become experts in their fields.
I learned about the National GEM Consortium from a classmate that was affiliated with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). In 2007 I traveled to Las Vegas, NV and attended the Future Faculty and Professionals (FFP) Symposium, and learned about this great organization. It was amazing to be in the midst of technical professionals of color in both academia and industry who openly shared their triumphs, and shared strategies so that I too can join the field. There was a deep commitment to my academic success and it was reflected in every aspect of the symposium. Immediately, I knew that I had to be a part of this organization and I submitted in my application.
Because of GEM, I was able to obtain my PhD in Materials Science & Engineering at the University of Florida and acquire industrial experience through my sponsorship with the Eastman Kodak Company. I appreciate the financial support, mentorship, career opportunities, and access to a network of leaders. The benefits of GEM extend far beyond graduate school. As a proud GEM alum, this organization has positively enhanced my career trajectory in the government, industry, and academic sectors GEM has provided support, connections, and partnerships that have resulted in new collaborations, partnerships, and projects.
I whole-heartily support the National GEM Consortium and encourage tech companies, government agencies, foundations, non-profits, and universities to invest in this organization to identify top-talent for the technical workforce!
Dr. Kyla McMullen at the University of Michigan PhD 2012, is the first African American woman at the University of Michigan to graduate with a PhD in Computer Science and Engineering. Her achievement was outstanding but not surprising as she is one of the many young people whom I met as the former Fellowships Administrator at the National GEM Consortium. The Consortium has provided minority students in engineering, science and computer science awesome opportunities that resulted in them working in corporate America at Fortune 500 companies or prepared them for promising futures in academia. Founded and formerly housed at the University of Notre Dame, the Consortium continues to afford minority students with many opportunities to pursue graduate degrees. Each year since the Program left Notre Dame in 2007, I continue to direct students to GEM in hopes that they will be able to secure the Fellowship. It is such a great program and I am so proud to have been a part of it. I would recommend the Consortium to minority students everywhere and without hesitation. Forestine Blake-Jackson (1997 - 2007)
My GEM Story
As a GEM ALUM and Employer I only have great things to say about GEM National Consortium. GEM was life changing for a kid who grew up poor in the inner city of San Francisco. First generation in my family to go to college, but not just any college Stanford University. First in my community and peers to leave the inner city for a top university. The idea of being an Electrical Engineer was planted in my mind by a chance encounter with a substitute teacher at my elementary school. There were not at the time anyone in my family that was an engineer and no one in the community who really understood what an Electrical Engineer actually did. Through GEM I was able to receive my BS Electrical Engineering and MS Materials Science & Engineering at the same time. My GEM sponsored education has opened doors with some of the top global companies and has allowed me to lead Global business around the world in countries such as India, China, Korea, Taiwan, Canada, South America and Europe. I've even been to the Taj Mahal - India, Tiananmen Square - Beijing, China, Hong Kong, Rio de Janeiro, etc. Lastly through my leadership roles in Talent Acquisition and Global Diversity & Inclusion, I’ve been able to give back, by sponsoring GEM Fellows. The caliber of the GEM Fellows has always met or exceeded the manager’s expectations.
I am very thankful and honored to be a part of GEM, and this year I was recognized with the young alumni leadership award from GEM.
I have benefited so much from GEM throughout my education and career, so I can't thank GEM enough for setting me up for success in my career.
My employer actively engages with GEM for their multi-year graduate internship program to generate a pool of future candidates for hire. And the students are always top tier.
I highly recommend that students apply to be graduate GEM fellow, and highly recommend that employers leverage the experience and network GEM offers!
Without GEM, my graduate degree would still just be an aspiration not a reality! Now, I have a Ph.D. and have had the honor to change many lives because of this powerful organization. GEM helps aspiring STEM students strive to achieve their full potential of a graduate education and takes away the financial burden of paying for it. Additionally, the network of GEM Alumni has been a bonus. Just to join such an elite group of individuals changing the STEM gradate community in Academia, Corporate America, and National Laboratories has propelled my journey to do more and be more in my own career. I'm proud to call myself a GEM Alum each day!
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The National GEM Consortium has played a significant role in my life. It was the organization that come around right at the time I needed funding for the completion of my Ph.D.. The organization does so much more than just financial support. It also gives those who utilize it, a network to help with transition to professional careers. GEM is a true "family" for all its members not just the GEM Fellows that it supports. I see their university and employer members supporting each other outside of GEM-related events. I believe GEM is a fantastic non-profit organization, and I'm proud to be called a GEM Alum!
GEM is just that: A national treasure! I was able to obtain a Master's in Aerospace Engineering from Michigan because of the vision and commitment of GEM and its member companies and universities. The knowledge and networking presents a unique experience which fosters personal and professional growth ( I am entering my 39th year in the Aerospace Industry bringing solutions to our nation's hardest problems). That rich environment inspired me to co-found the GEM Alumni Association (the 3rd pillar), which in our first few years funded 8 PhD fellowships. To potential member employers, I say "Your return on investment will be VERY measurable and will exceed your expectations". To Universities, "GEM produces Deans of Engineering at the best universities, get on-board". To students, "GEM Alumni are here for you. Know your worth and get on the team of the Leaders and Best!" Honored and proud to be a part of the GEM family. Mission First, People NEVER Second!
I am the assistant dean for graduate studies in the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science at Northwestern University. In my role as assistant dean I am the primary recruiter of graduate students to our MS and PhD programs. I have been the GEM University Representative for the last decade, and during that time I have also served on the GEM Board of Directors.
When I became involved with GEM, I soon recognized that no other fellowship program or organization gave us access to hundreds of underrepresented minority students to proactively recruit to our graduate programs. Just over ten years ago we had about 30 underrepresented minority PhD students. In Fall 2018 we reached 99, which was triple the number we had a decade earlier.
I have the overwhelming credit to GEM which allows us to recruit from the database of GEM Fellowship applicants. Companies and universities that proactively recruit GEM Fellowship applicants and later GEM Fellows will see dramatic changes in their work forces and student bodies.
Bruce A. Lindvall, PhD
Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies
McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
Northwestern University
The National GEM Consortium is the No. 1 resource for advance Degree STEM talent. Every company interested in a diverse workforce should be a member of the Consortium.
GEM, through my summer employment at JHU/APL, changed my life…
Back in the summer of 1979, yes 40 yrs. ago, I was an BSEE student at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez. I don’t even remember how I found out about GEM (it certainly was not through the school), but I figured it was worth the postage stamp to submit the form. It promised help for my MS degree AND a paid summer job. With a history of menial summer jobs in PR (all of which paid below minimum wage), I was a junior taking summer classes, looking to finish my degree ASAP (i.e. no Co-op for me). Since the island EE job prospects either involved the power company or a pharma plant (Neither of which were my ‘thing’), this fell under the ‘what do I have to lose?’
Through GEM I spent two summers (1980 and 1981) working at John’s Hopkins Univ/Applied Physics Lab. The work was great (to this day my boss Ken Skrivseth is my friend), crawling around a bldg. with two high powered search radars, tracking live airplanes at night, etc.
But what really blew my mind was listening to the ‘summer’ chats. In them, APL researchers described their experiences. Through them I listened to someone Dr. Alex Kossiakoff (co-inventor of the Transit Satellite Navigation) tell us how he ‘stumbled’ upon the principles of Transit, and through my job I worked with others that had been around when APL developed the proximity fuse in 1942. In short, for the first time in my life, I realized that I could also change the future working as an engineer.
I did not pursue my MS through GEM [sorry, I got tired of being poor], but later did get my MS (and even attempted a PhD). Yet the influence of GEM and APL on my career were significant. Both my 14 US patents as a co-inventor, and the over 100 US patents I have prosecuted for my clients since becoming a Patent Agent [after a dinner conversation with my fellow intern and GEM Board Member TJ Jackson in 2005], owe a significant portion of their existence to the effect of my experiences those two summers at APL through GEM.
Warm Regards,
Luis Figarella PE
I’m the one with the green/yellow shirt, and to this day have my going away present from the APL Staff.
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I was the first GEM fellow from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, back in the summer of 1980, when I got a summer job at John’s Hopkins University/Applied Physics Lab. The effect of that summer on me, cannot be overstated. Back in the time of land-lines and dial-up modems, it allowed me to see that there was a MUCH wider world out there than the one I had been exposed to in my beloved Puerto Rico (where engineers mainly either ‘built houses’ or worked at Pharma plants). I mean, when Alex Kossiakoff tells you how they invented the Transit Satellite navigation system at JHU/APL while 'playing' in the lab, you're never the same.
I never took advantage of the GEM Master’s Fellowship, taking the route of an MS at Boston University paid for by my employer, The Mitre Corp., but I keep GEM close to my heart. To this day, I am still a close friend of my first ‘boss’ at JHU/APL (Kenneth Skrivseth), and have been able to keep in touch with my fellow APL/JHU F3A-SSA (Summer Student Association) co-founder (and fellow GEM’er) Anthony (TJ) Jackson (now an esteemed board member of GEM), as well as Robert Whyms.
How much of a catalyst is TJ? My wife Eli and I re-connected with TJ in ’05 and had dinner in Boston. After chatting with him, I decided to go ahead and become a Patent Agent. Over thirteen years later, and with over 85 issued US Utility patents to clients in the Continent, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Colombia and Spain, TJ can take credit for helping to ‘launch’ me into the best job I’ve ever had.
The GEM Consortium is an amazing nonprofit. Since I applied to the GEM Fellowship I got matched with a top university with full funding for my graduate degree. Now I have the opportunity to boost my education and career options. If it wasn't for the GEM Fellowship I would not have been able to afford to go to graduate school
They have been there for me in pivotal phases of my life. the National GEM Consortium supported my MS Degree, inspired me to get my PhD, enabled me to get my PhD, and helped transition into a job in academia. It has been my privilege to see this organization grow its mission to increase enhance the value of the nation’s human capital through more diverse representation.
As a undergraduate mechanical engineering student at Tennessee State University (HBCU), my educational experience "unleashed my unknown potential". It was this experience combined with the academic challenge of Dr. Howard Adams, former GEM Executive Director, the value of a graduate degree and the opportunities it provides. As a result, I completed my MS from the Missouri University of Science & Technology as a GEM Fellow, worked several years for General Electric, and returned to school to complete the PhD at the University of Iowa as a CIC Fellow. Recognized and believe to be the first GEM Fellow to receive a PhD, the GEM Program was the impetus to the beginning of a faculty career to encourage other underrepresented students to pursue graduate study and impact students in the classroom as a role model and mentor. I am indeed grateful for the support and advocacy of the program, its leadership, and continuing campaign to graduate more minority students with graduate degrees in STEM.
I became a GEM Fellow in 1994 to complete a PhD in Chemistry at Purdue University. The opportunities and experience that this fellowship provided me then and now have been a major part of my success. The internship with [former] Dupont was invaluable. The exposure and mentorship that I received during that program shaped my desire to pursue a path in industry. The GEM Alumni have also proven extremely beneficial as a starting point for collaborations and overall network building. GEM Alumni are represented in every sector and serve as role models for students entering the STEM fields.
The National GEM Consortium is the life line for many high achieving minority students who seek graduate degrees. I was a GEM Fellow and now am a proud GEM Alumni. Without the support of GEM brokering the multiple relationships and encouraging me along the way, I would not have been successful in obtaining the Ph.D. in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
This organization consistently meet the greatest need, that being financial support, for over 4,000 students. With the National GEM Consortium championing relations between institutions, government labs, and industry, the GEM Fellows gain access to research and experiences that allow them to become competitively trained and liberally educated. The partnering institutions, government labs, and industry, win as they gain diverse talents to ensure our nation remain competitive and number 1 in innovation. The National GEM Consortium is deserving of being among the Great Non-Profits top picks.
The National GEM Consortium (GEM) is not only a game changer but a life changer!!! In 1990, GEM became a game changer for me when I became the first GEM Fellow to ever attend the University of Tennessee Space Institute (UTSI). And since graduating in 1992 as the first full-time African American student to earn a master's degree in engineering management from UTSI, GEM has been a life changer throughout my 25-plus year successful and rewarding diverse career in Engineering, Project Leadership, Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology, Sales and Marketing, and Senior Leadership. Without question, GEM is a priceless and precious GEM for not past and present individuals and organizations, but for generations to come!!!
They are a wonderful group helping underrepresented minorities into STEM. Every part of the process, from the internships to the fellowship are a great resource for graduate students. I am very thankful for them
Enter the National GEM Consortium – If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again...
In the fall of 2002, while at Howard University, I applied for the GEM Fellowship, which taps the sponsoring university and employer for full tuition, fees, and an annual stipend. Unfortunately, I was not selected the first time I applied, but the next time around, my internship with Intel Corporation made me a much better candidate. I was named an Intel GEM Fellow in 2004, which made me a part of Intel’s Diversity Scholar Program’s future network.
The reason I could dedicate my second year at NC State to research and course work was because I no longer had that financial strain. Because of the GEM Fellowship, I was able to make meaningful connections and I learned invaluable lessons about computer architecture at NC State. I went on to join Intel and worked on 4 Xeon Server teams as a component design engineer. Since then, I have held many different positions- Senior Product Manager at Amazon, Program Lead at Google and more. I owe so much to The National GEM Consortium.
The National GEM Consortium has been a tremendously positive influence in my life. Not only did this organization provide invaluable financial support for my graduate studies, the experience as a GEM fellow opened my eyes to what industry had to offer students in the STEM fields. My decision to serve on the Board was driven by a desire to give back but also inspired by the aspirations and dedication of the group of professionals that are so committed to the success of this exceptional organization.
I was a GEM Fellow over 35 years ago. This is the best organization addressing the need of increasing the number of minorities receiving advanced degrees in engineering and science. GEM was there for me and I will always be a proud GEM Alumni. I will continue to remember GEM in my charitable giving and wish many, many, more years of continued success to the program.