Lorraine is an activist, teacher, and scholar whose work is interdisciplinary in nature and focuses on racial equity in environmental science and STEM education and programs. She is a proud recipient of the Bunton-Waller Scholarship and a distinguished UCEA Jackson scholar. Lorraine earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies and a dual Master’s degree in Comparative International and Higher Education from Penn State University. She is currently a Ph.D. student in Educational Leadership and a research assistant in the EnvironMentors, a program that introduced students to science, technology, engineering, and math through environmental research.
Her work is informed by critical theory and social justice leadership theoretical framework. Through her work, Lorraine seeks to provide new ways to understand how mentoring relationships influence racially underrepresented students’ perceptions of STEM fields as (un)desirable and or (im)possible future career paths. Her research will inform educational leaders, policymakers, educators, and other stakeholders of best practices working with underrepresented students in STEM fields. The EnvironMentors program is changing the STEM narrative.
