sspadvocates
Andrea Cobb, George Mason University (Manassas, VA)
Biography: Andrea Cobb was a messy and curious child who collected rocks, seashells, and insects, and who created toys made of paper, old catalogs, Tinkertoys, and found objects. She was an avid reader of science fiction, science fact books, and adventure books who loved to climb trees, dig in the dirt, grow plants and build forts. Andrea attended nine different Texas public schools in 10 years which resulted in significant math and science curricular gaps and an average performance later in high school science and math. However, during Andrea s senior year of high school, her pre-calculus teacher, Ruby Kay Jones noticed Andrea s growth and encouraged her to study math and science in college. As a result, Andrea entered Abilene Christian University in Texas as a pre-med major. Her microbiology professor, Dr. Clark Stephens, further encouraged her by inviting her to teach his microbiology course lab. During a college summer working with pathologist Dr. Martha Madsen, Andrea became fascinated with biochemistry. She graduated with a BS in biology and chemistry and then taught high school science in Mesquite, Texas and Abilene, Texas until she and her husband moved to Lubbock, Texas. While contemplating graduate school, Andrea worked for a short time as a bank teller where she met a customer, Dr. David Knaff, who would later become her Ph.D. advisor and mentor at Texas Tech University. In Dr. Knaff s lab, Andrea was able to make discoveries about bacterial transport and first experienced the joy of that AHA! moment. With Dr. Knaff s brilliant mentoring, steady nerves and endless enthusiasm, Andrea graduated with a Ph.D. in Biochemistry. She completed two postdoctoral fellowships in reproductive molecular endocrinology where she was humbled but thrilled to contribute knowledge toward treatments for cancer and infertility. Dr. Cobb then returned to the classroom to include authentic, discovery and inquiry science for her thousands of students at three different Virginia high schools. Her atypical career path opened doors for partnerships with scientists, curriculum specialists, mentors, and educators who shared her vision to increase access to authentic STEM for all students. Those teams include BioBuilder, innovators at Vernier Instruments, curriculum designers at BioRad, mentors affiliated with the American Association of Immunology, the American Physiological Society and the J. Craig Venter Institute. Last summer, Dr. Cobb became Director of George Mason University College of Science s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP). ASSIP was founded twelve years ago by Mason professors Dr. Lance Liotta, Dr. Emanuel Petricoin, Dr. Virginia Espina and Mrs. Amy Adams to expand authentic STEM research to high school and undergraduate students. With her added focus to broaden access, ASSIP 2019 will engage 33% more students than last year from across the US with dozens of research mentors. In summary, Dr. Cobb s impact would not be possible without encouragement from many individuals who took notice of an unlikely student, said the encouraging word, opened the door to someone a bit different, provided mentorship and expertise, and worked generously to increase STEM equity for her and those whom she now impacts.
Quote: There are many barriers to equal STEM access for students. Like weeds, a few may be overcome by the actions of a single enthusiastic and knowledgeable mentor, teacher or parent. But, if that individual is working alone, not as part of a community, those barriers regrow to choke critical talent and unique viewpoints from our STEM pipeline. The SSP Advocate program provides the necessary expertise to identify barriers, the crucial support for STEM professionals to overcome those barriers, and opportunities to energize the student toward STEM success. As an educator and mentor, and as a new SSP Advocate, I am grateful to join this community to increase STEM equity for all students.
Andrea Cobb, George Mason University (Manassas, VA)
Biography: Andrea Cobb was a messy and curious child who collected rocks, seashells, and insects, and who created toys made of paper, old catalogs, Tinkertoys, and found objects. She was an avid reader of science fiction, science fact books, and adventure books who loved to climb trees, dig in the dirt, grow plants and build forts. Andrea attended nine different Texas public schools in 10 years which resulted in significant math and science curricular gaps and an average performance later in high school science and math. However, during Andrea s senior year of high school, her pre-calculus teacher, Ruby Kay Jones noticed Andrea s growth and encouraged her to study math and science in college. As a result, Andrea entered Abilene Christian University in Texas as a pre-med major. Her microbiology professor, Dr. Clark Stephens, further encouraged her by inviting her to teach his microbiology course lab. During a college summer working with pathologist Dr. Martha Madsen, Andrea became fascinated with biochemistry. She graduated with a BS in biology and chemistry and then taught high school science in Mesquite, Texas and Abilene, Texas until she and her husband moved to Lubbock, Texas. While contemplating graduate school, Andrea worked for a short time as a bank teller where she met a customer, Dr. David Knaff, who would later become her Ph.D. advisor and mentor at Texas Tech University. In Dr. Knaff s lab, Andrea was able to make discoveries about bacterial transport and first experienced the joy of that AHA! moment. With Dr. Knaff s brilliant mentoring, steady nerves and endless enthusiasm, Andrea graduated with a Ph.D. in Biochemistry. She completed two postdoctoral fellowships in reproductive molecular endocrinology where she was humbled but thrilled to contribute knowledge toward treatments for cancer and infertility. Dr. Cobb then returned to the classroom to include authentic, discovery and inquiry science for her thousands of students at three different Virginia high schools. Her atypical career path opened doors for partnerships with scientists, curriculum specialists, mentors, and educators who shared her vision to increase access to authentic STEM for all students. Those teams include BioBuilder, innovators at Vernier Instruments, curriculum designers at BioRad, mentors affiliated with the American Association of Immunology, the American Physiological Society and the J. Craig Venter Institute. Last summer, Dr. Cobb became Director of George Mason University College of Science s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP). ASSIP was founded twelve years ago by Mason professors Dr. Lance Liotta, Dr. Emanuel Petricoin, Dr. Virginia Espina and Mrs. Amy Adams to expand authentic STEM research to high school and undergraduate students. With her added focus to broaden access, ASSIP 2019 will engage 33% more students than last year from across the US with dozens of research mentors. In summary, Dr. Cobb s impact would not be possible without encouragement from many individuals who took notice of an unlikely student, said the encouraging word, opened the door to someone a bit different, provided mentorship and expertise, and worked generously to increase STEM equity for her and those whom she now impacts.
Quote: There are many barriers to equal STEM access for students. Like weeds, a few may be overcome by the actions of a single enthusiastic and knowledgeable mentor, teacher or parent. But, if that individual is working alone, not as part of a community, those barriers regrow to choke critical talent and unique viewpoints from our STEM pipeline. The SSP Advocate program provides the necessary expertise to identify barriers, the crucial support for STEM professionals to overcome those barriers, and opportunities to energize the student toward STEM success. As an educator and mentor, and as a new SSP Advocate, I am grateful to join this community to increase STEM equity for all students.