Angela Seliga

I am a biracial first generation college graduate, the child of an immigrant single parent, and a woman in science. These were challenges in my life that motivated me to promote and support access to higher education, particularly for persons excluded because of their ethnicity or race (PEERs). Some of my specific, long-term experiences on campus include co-founding Graduate Women in Science and Engineering, leading the Biology Inquiry and Outreach with BU Graduate Students program to develop and offer lab activities for Boston-area high school students, and teaching and mentoring for various college prep programs under the College Access and Student Success office (Upward Bound Math Science, Boston Public Schools Community Service Scholars and Posse Scholars). I have also chaperoned BU’s Global Medical Brigades trips to set up mobile clinics in rural communities of Honduras and Nicaragua in an effort to create sustainable communities. Many of these programs involved extensive training on diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness. These efforts have positively influenced my relationships with my students and teaching staff as well as my effectiveness in the classroom. Currently, I am the Student Outreach Chair on the CAS Diversity and Inclusion Action Team that generated a database of D&I-related initiatives and needs throughout the college in 2020-2021 and will work on implementation of proposed ideas in 2021-2022. As the returning BAC Co-Chair, I am excited to expand and integrate my various communities as we seek to increase diversity and representation within our biology department.