I’m a senior majoring in computer science (B.S) at Temple University, with a minor in Digital Marketing and AI, and I serve as a STEM Stellar Student Engagement Leadership Fellow Captain within the STELLAR (Student Engagement, Leadership, Learning, and Achievement Resource) program in the College of Science and Technology.

I wanted to become a STEM Leadership Fellow Captain because I’ve always believed that being part of STEM is about more than just learning technical skills. It’s also about creating opportunities for other students to feel connected, supported, and confident in their own journeys. I was drawn to the program because it gave me an opportunity to combine my interests in technology, leadership, mentorship, and student engagement while contributing to the CST community. I wanted to be someone who not only benefited from the opportunities at Temple but also helped make those opportunities more accessible and meaningful for others.

One of the biggest skills I’ve developed is learning how to turn ideas into systems that can actually create impact. Through my work with STELLAR, I’ve learned how to think about student engagement on a larger scale, organizing information, communicating with different groups of people, identifying what students need, and creating structured ways to improve participation. It has also strengthened my leadership and communication skills and taught me how important it is to listen before trying to solve a problem.

I feel that the program has allowed me to contribute by helping strengthen the connection between students and the many opportunities available within CST. Through student engagement initiatives, mentorship, and conversations with students, I’ve been able to help create a more welcoming environment where students can discover research, leadership, academic, and professional opportunities.

What I value most is being able to contribute to a culture where students feel that their voices matter. Whether I’m helping someone discover an opportunity, connecting them with a resource, or simply encouraging them to get involved, I hope my contribution is helping make the STEM community at Temple feel a little more connected and inclusive.

Data Science - 2027, Senior

SLF Placement - Elements of Data Science Captain Fellow.

I wanted to become a STEM Leadership Fellow Captain because I genuinely enjoy helping other students succeed in STEM. Being a captain gives me the chance to guide peers, share advice, and create a supportive space where everyone feels encouraged to explore their interests. It’s also a way for me to grow as a leader while giving back to the community that’s helped me along the way.

What I love most about the STEM Leadership Fellows Program is the sense of community it creates. It’s awesome to work with other students who are just as excited about STEM as I am and to learn from each other in a supportive environment. I also enjoy the chance to build leadership skills that I know will help me in the future.

The program has given me the chance to give back by mentoring younger students and helping them find their way in STEM at Temple. I’ve also been able to help organize events and workshops that make STEM more fun and accessible. It feels really rewarding to know I’m helping other students get excited about STEM and supporting the community here.

Hi, I am Behta and I’m a junior majoring in Biology with teaching and minoring math, and my SLF placement is STEM Leadership Fellow Captain for Journey of Algorithms in fall and Peer Lab Assistant in spring.

I wanted to become a STEM Leadership Fellow Captain because I really enjoy being involved in the STEM community at Temple and helping other students. Some of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had at Temple have come from working with and learning from other students, so I wanted to be in a position where I could give that same support back. I also saw SLF as a chance to challenge myself, become a stronger leader, and connect with people outside of my own major.

One of the biggest skills I’ve gained is learning how to lead different people in different ways. Not everyone communicates, learns, or participates the same way, and being an SLF Captain has taught me to pay attention to that. I’ve become much more comfortable adapting how I communicate, encouraging people to participate, and making sure everyone feels like they have a place in the group.

I think the biggest contribution I’ve been able to make is helping create a STEM community that feels more welcoming and connected. STEM can sometimes feel intimidating, especially when you’re surrounded by people who seem like they already have everything figured out. Through SLF, I’ve been able to support students, encourage them to ask questions, and hopefully make them feel more comfortable being themselves while learning. As a Fellow Captain, I also get to support other fellows and contribute to the community beyond just my own placement. I really like being able to help create an environment where students can learn from each other instead of feeling like they have to figure everything out alone.

Class of 2027, Biochemistry, SLF captain for Chemistry

I wanted to become a SLF captain because of the opportunity to exercise creative output and implement meaningful contributions for undergraduate students. One of the things I have always relied on as an undergrad in science courses, particularly in organic chemistry, are the undergraduate teaching assistants and the immense help they provided in explaining confusing concepts and study strategies that worked well for them. Therefore, I am very grateful the opportunity to refine the undergraduate TA program and continue to help students to ensure they achieve academic success.

Skills I’ve improved on in my time as a SLF are communication and teamwork. Being an SLF stresses the importance of taking on the forefront of work and leading the team to ensure they fulfill their roles, which is why the contributions of a team is the most important part in seeing our goals through. Our undergraduate TAs all learned to communicate effectively and give efficient feedback in order to improve our outcomes.

The SLF program has allowed me to create a one-on-one tutoring option for students in organic chemistry who were more comfortable meeting with a singular tutor, rather than attending a traditional review session with multiple students. Having this targeted option with the undergraduate TAs has allowed many students to succeed, especially when feeling more behind than others.

I am a junior Biochemistry major on the pre-med track here at Temple graduating in 2028. This is my second year in the program and I serve as a Biology Peer Laboratory Assistant.

I wanted to become a STEM Leadership Fellow Captain because I wanted my work in the College of Science and Technology to have an impact on other students. I love being in the STEM field and I want others to enjoy the same success that I have found here at Temple and in the CST through the various opportunities and experiences that it provides. Being a captain allows me to assist the program’s growth since I can mentor current and future SLFs with projects while also enabling me to be a leader in the community and give back to it by creating learning experiences for students and creating a positive influence for them.

While there are multiple skills I’ve gained since becoming a STEM Leadership Fellow and a Captain after that, the one that I think is the most important would definitely be communication. One of the best parts about this position is the many students and staff you meet, talk to, and interact with, and they are a great way to network and form connections with, and the main way to do that is by communicating with them. Being a PLA and an SLF allowed me to get out of my shell and use multiple modes of communication, such as public speaking, one-on-one conversing, and mentoring. It helped me freely communicate and express myself in a better way and made me a better leader as well.

This program has allowed me to contribute significantly to the STEM community in Temple specifically through my role as a PLA in the Intro to Biomolecules, Cells, & Genomes labs. As a peer, I help students feel more comfortable in the class with a peer while also enabling them to learn and ask more questions with two “instructors” in the classroom. By being in the lab, I was able to encourage and help the students with experiments while also externally alleviating stress, especially in an introductory lab and class. As a PLA Captain, I am able to mentor and assist my fellow PLAs in their positions as well. This role allowed me to positively impact many STEM students by becoming a mentor for them and being able to aid them in multiple ways inside and outside the classroom.

Class of 2028, Biology Major and Sociology of Health Minor, STEM Leadership Fellows Admin

I wanted to become a STEM Leadership Fellow because it offered a meaningful opportunity to get directly involved in the Temple community and make an impact within the College of Science and Technology. I am very passionate about creating inclusive, supportive spaces for students navigating difficult coursework, so they have the tools they need to succeed. Joining this program has connected me with a community of like-minded individuals who are also committed to empowering students and supporting their academic growth.

I’ve gained many skills during my time as an SLF, but the most significant has been communication. I have strengthened my ability to communicate across all levels in the community, with Temple faculty and fellow undergraduate students. Developing this skill has not only helped me with my confidence but has allowed me to become a more impactful leader.

My biggest contribution to the program thus far has been aiding in the development of the CST Launchpad, a student retention initiative designed to support first-year CST students through fellow-led study halls, professional development seminars, and related activities. I am fortunate to be a part of this initiative, as it has helped ease the transition for new students and established a long-term peer support system within CST.

Senior, Class of 2027, Genomic Medicine major, and SLF Fellow Captain.

I wanted a position where I could make a difference for students who need help with STEM classes. I know struggling in these courses can be a difficult time for students, so being someone who can guide them toward success is something I hope to achieve.

One skill I have gained as a STEM Leadership Fellow is the ability to clearly explain different math and biology topics to students. Clear communication is an important skill, and having the opportunity to practice and hopefully master it, is paramount to me.

I feel that this program has allowed me to make tutoring more accessible and approachable for Temple’s STEM community. Students in classes that often do not provide much additional support can now receive the guidance they need through the SLF program.

2027, Senior, Computer Science, CIS 1068 Program Design and Abstraction Fellow

I was already really involved in the STEM community through leading clubs like ACM and directing the school’s hackathon, so becoming a Fellow felt like a natural next step. I wanted another hands-on way to support students academically, not just socially. Being a Fellow lets me connect with students on a deeper level and make a more direct impact.

My favorite thing about the program is how genuinely supportive and collaborative the environment fostered by the fellows is. Students feel comfortable asking questions and trying new problem-solving approaches without feeling judged. It’s really rewarding to watch their confidence grow week by week!

The program has allowed me to support the STEM community in a more personal and academic way than my other roles on campus. I’ve been able to help students build confidence in their coursework while also creating a welcoming space where they feel comfortable engaging and collaborating. I feel like I’ve contributed to making Temple’s STEM community feel more connected and supported.