Community support helps LGBT students stay in STEM classes
By Tara Santora for Scienceline
Succeeding in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math is difficult for many students — but queer and transgender students face additional challenges ranging from lack of visibility to outright discrimination.
In fact, 7 percent more queer college students drop their STEM major compared to their straight peers, according to a recent study.
To combat these challenges, some queer and trans STEM students participate in support networks that help young LGBT+ science scholars thrive in their coursework and prepare for their future careers. One such coalition is oSTEM (out in STEM), a national organization with local chapters that run activities such as conferences and resume workshops.
About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
Connect with Alexis on LinkedIn