Jennifer Jakobi, PhD, Director
Jenn is a Professor in the School of Health and Exercise Sciences. She specializes in exercise neuroscience. As Director of the Neuromuscular Healthy Exercise and Aging Lab (HEAL), she works towards understanding sex-specific age-related decline that contributes to greater loss of functional abilities in women with age. She is the founder of the Integrative STEM Team Advancing Networks of Diversity (iSTAND) and the NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering (CWSE) for BC and Yukon. She is passionate about creating equitable access for all people to explore the sciences and gain an appreciation for how science lives in all aspects of life. She is committed to increasing diversity across STEM fields through providing mentorship, and opportunities to encourage, explore, understand and empower change for underrepresented persons in STEM.
Contact: jennifer.jakobi@ubc.ca
Rebecca McCullough, iSTAND Program Manager
Rebecca has a Masters in Educational Leadership, as well as undergraduate degrees in Education, and Kinesiology. She is grateful to be working with the iSTAND team in educating diverse and underrepresented populations, through STEM activities and alternate learning opportunities.
Contact: Rebecca.mccullough@ubc.ca
Vanessa Bobbitt, Program Coordinator, iSTAND/WWEST, Communications
Vanessa has a dual degree in Biology and Psychology, as well as a diploma in early childhood education. She is very excited to join iSTAND this year and is looking forward to sharing her passion for STEM.
Contact: wwest.ok@ubc.ca
Bob Roddie, Teacher Mentorship/Lead Educator, iSTAND/WWEST
Bob has a BSc and BEd from UBC. He is an experienced science educator passionate about providing opportunities and experiences in the STEM field. He is excited to be on a team working to build STEM to all.
Aside from STEM outreach, Bob is an avid outdoors person looking forward to learning more about the area.
Contact: wwest.ok@ubc.ca
Arrthy Thayaparan, Best of the WWEST Podcast Producer
Arrthy has a Masters of Journalism and a Bachelors of Science from the University of British Columbia. As a journalist, she is passionate about telling stories with underrepresented communities and exploring the many avenues of STEM. If you are interested in being a guest on an upcoming podcast, please send Arrthy an email.
Contact: arrthyt@gmail.com
Ashishvangh Contractor, Best of the WWEST Podcast Co-Producer and Host
Ashishvangh has a masters in Journalism and a bachelors degree in Interdisciplinary Performance from the University of British Columbia. Through her role as a producer and host of the podcast, Ashishvangh aims to connect with women and gender-diverse trailblazers in STEM, hear about their lives, and careers, as well as open the floor to conversations surrounding the challenges of underrepresentation in the industry.
Contact: ashishvanghvc@gmail.com