Category: Uncategorized

By:  Beth Anne Johnson

As we embark on the April recap of PEER WISE Connections, prepare to be captivated by the extraordinary journey of Melissa DeSantiago, a shining star within our community. Melissa’s story is noteworthy, filled with determination, passion, and a commitment to making a difference.

Serita Acker, Executive Director of PEER WISE, beautifully encapsulates Melissa’s impact, describing her as nothing short of inspiring. Melissa’s multifaceted trajectory from undergraduate to Ph.D. candidate is a testament to her unwavering dedication and passion for making a difference.

“Melissa is the epitome of inspiration,” Serita Acker remarks. “Her ability to seamlessly transition from industry to academia while staying true to her roots in PEER WISE is truly remarkable. She embodies the spirit of our organization and serves as a beacon of hope for aspiring scholars everywhere.”

Indeed, Melissa’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of friendship and mentorship. Beth Anne, PEER WISE Community Engagement Coordinator and close friend of Melissa sheds light on their profound bond, emphasizing its pivotal role in her personal and professional success.

“Melissa’s friendship has been the cornerstone of my journey,” Beth Anne reflects. “From our days as undergraduates to navigating the challenges of adulthood, her unwavering support and guidance have been instrumental. I owe much of my success to her, and it’s through her that I discovered the invaluable opportunities PEER WISE offers, first as an undergraduate myself and now as a working professional. I am so thankful our students had the opportunity to connect with her.”

Melissa’s trajectory is nothing short of extraordinary. As a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, her research in exposure science and environmental epidemiology is paving the way for meaningful change. Collaborating with the ongoing Maule Cohort (MAUCO) study in Chile, Melissa’s innovative approach to assessing environmental and occupational exposures to agrochemical mixtures is poised to impact vulnerable working communities significantly.

Melissa shares her wisdom with students, advising them, “Follow your instincts and values with conviction. You will never be happy if you compromise yourself or your values. You know what work still needs to be done, so go out there and do it because the world needs you.”

PEER WISE Connections is a professional development series hosted by the PEER WISE department that introduces current students to alumni and industry professionals. Serita shares, “Melissa is the perfect speaker to end the 2023 to 2024 academic year with because she has a heart of gold. May all PEER WISE students see her heart and, in her likeness, do a world of good.”

Joshlynn Graham is a sophomore Industrial Engineering major from Rock Hill, SC. Prior to her admissions process, she had no interest in attending Clemson but decided to make an impulsive decision after doing some research on its engineering program and the amount of diversity inclusion clubs/ programs, Clemson had to offer. Since she has been here, she has been blessed with the opportunity to be a part of the PEER & WISE community and a CONNECTIONS mentee and mentor. Landing her a few different work-study opportunities as well as internship opportunities within the program. In the future, she hopes to use the opportunities she has been given to empower and encourage other female students to not only attend Clemson University but to also get involved.

In honor of February being Black History Month, every edition of the PEER&WISE newsletter this week will highlight a black innovator in the STEM field.  To view more of these stories or view the original profile, use this link.

Dr. Warren Washington is a distinguished climate scientist and former chair of the National Science Board.

After completing his Ph.D. in meteorology, he became a research scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). While there, he developed one of the first atmospheric computer models of Earth’s climate. He went on to become the head of NCAR’s Climate Change Research Section.

Washington has been recognized as an expert in atmospheric science, climate research, and the computer modeling of these, receiving multiple presidential appointments to serve on committees, being elected chair of the National Science Board in 2002 and 2004, and receiving numerous awards, including the National Medal of Science in 2009.

Welcome back, Tigers!  We are so excited to have you back here with us.  We wish you all the best and hope this semester goes great for all of you!

~Your PEER&WISE family

Caroline Peak is a junior Bioengineering major with a concentration in Biomaterials from Aiken, South Carolina. She was born in Pennsylvania and was raised all over the East Coast, and in her free time, loves to play random intramural sports with friends and spend time with a book. She first got into contact with PEER & WISE the summer of her sophomore year and was offered an internship position for her junior fall. Caroline currently manages the PEER & WISE social media pages, and you can find her at the main desks in both the Office and Annex. Her college journey began with the EUREKA! summer research experience for rising Honors College Freshmen, and ever since, she has fallen in love with research. She has been working in a Bioengineering research lab ever since her freshman year, working on a novel culture chamber that subjects engineered heart-like tissue to physiologic conditions mimicking heart tissue outside the human body for therapeutic use. After she graduates from Clemson, Caroline plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at a research-intensive university. Caroline’s advice for others is to actively search out ways to be involved on campus. She says if she did not go out of her comfort zone to pursue opportunities, she would not be where she is today.

Skyler Holland is a sophomore electrical engineering major from Hampton, South Carolina.  She was born and raised in the Lowcountry and in her free time, she enjoys playing softball or tennis and going to the beach every chance she gets.  Skyler is currently in her second year at Clemson majoring in electrical engineering with a minor in biological sciences.  She hopes to work in medical research after graduating and to help people with the advancement of medicine.  Her story with PEER & WISE began in middle school when she attended Project WISE for two summers.  There, her love for electrical engineering was sparked.  She fell in love with every aspect of it and it made her curiosity grow.  After completing Project WISE, she then took several engineering courses through high school, learning the basics of SolidWorks, building circuits on breadboards, and coding.   Once getting accepted into Clemson, she was in contact with Beth Anne Johnson about becoming more involved with Project WISE.  Over her freshman year, she stayed in contact with Beth Anne and Mrs.  Serita Acker and was involved in virtual Project WISE.  The summer before her sophomore year, she applied for a work study position in the PEER & WISE office and since then it has turned into an internship.  She cherishes this internship and is so thankful for all of the great people and opportunities it has brought into her life.  Her advice for others is to never be afraid of being curious.  For her, electrical engineering sparks her curiosity and makes her want to know more.  Knowledge is ever-growing and being curious is how many inventions and innovations have been made.

Preston Pettway is a sophomore industrial engineering major from Anderson, South Carolina.  He graduated T.L. High School as a two sport athlete, playing both football and basketball.  During his free time, he enjoys playing basketball, video games, and hanging out with his friends.  His older brother and father both attended Clemson University and his brother, Kendal Pettway, was also involved in PEER&WISE.  Preston participated in the PEER&WISE summer program and is also a PEER mentor presently.  His future goals are just to make a difference and be a role model for the younger generations of his family.  He wants to make the best of every opportunity presented to him and one day work a job which he loves and enjoys doing.  His advice for others is “life goes on, you may be caught in a moment but life is still going to move whether you want it to or not.”

Hello all,

In honor of black history month, PEER&WISE will be hosting an annual celebration with a special guest speaker and the CU gospel choir!  Celebrations will occur February 24th at 5pm via Zoom.  To attend, please click here.

Sydney Savage is a second-year junior bioengineering major from South Carolina.  She has a concentration in biomaterials and is the child of two proud Clemson alumni!  She has a love and passion for math and science and has always wanted a hands-on job that fueled those passions.  She wanted a career path that would allow her to interact and connect with others, where her only limitation was her imagination and creativity.  In her spare time, she also enjoys listening to music, watching television, and baking.  After graduating college, Sydney plans to join the Peace Corps for a few years to travel the world while helping others.  She then plans to take her bioengineering degree and use it to do research in the pediatric industry.  She ultimately hopes to work in the World Health Organization one day.  She has been a part of the PEER & WISE family since her senior year of high school when she attended the PEER/WISE Experience.  From there, she made connections with people who would soon shift from strangers to family.  After arriving on campus, her confidence in herself socially and academically have grown more than she ever imagined.  Since then, she has become a PEER mentor to minority students.  PEER & WISE has done nothing but accept her with open arms and allow her to thrive academically, socially, and professionally.  Her advice to other students is to never be afraid to put yourself out there.  If it’s a scholarship, apply for it.  Go to random people and make new friends.  Answer questions in class (it’s okay if you’re wrong!).  Life is too short to be full of hesitations and regrets.  Sydney also wanted to include a quote from Marianna Williamson that she feels is truly something to live by:  ” We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’  Actually, who are you not to be?  Your playing small does not serve the world…We are all meant to shine…”