Cole Kaufman
This recipient’s scholarship and advocacy are defined by their maverick identity, as someone who seeks to bridge the gender-based inequity in STEM. As a double major in biomathematics and public health, they aim to obtain a Ph.D. in Biostatistics, one of the many STEM oriented fields that women are underrepresented in. They serve on the research advisory board of Project SUPER (Science for Undergraduates: A Program for Excellence in Research). In this position, they have mentored and guided first-time women in STEM on how to be successful in professional lab or research environments and presenting their research clearly and effectively. They have facilitated one-on-one meetings regarding research progress, professional development, and poster critiquing. They use this platform through SUPER to inspire and mentor future women interested in the niche of biostatistics. Furthermore, they uniquely combine athleticism and artistry in their commitment to Kathak, one of the eight major forms of Indian classical dance. After thirteen years of training, they have completed graduation in the classical Indian dance form at Arya Dance Academy. Their humanitarianism is exemplified by their commitment to under-resourced populations within the Institute for Women’s Leadership (IWL), Youth Empowerment Services (YES), and the Kier’s Kidz nonprofit organization. They were selected in the summer of 2018 to intern as a camp counselor through the IWL Community Leadership, Action, and Service Program (CLASP). In this capacity, they worked at Artists Mentoring Against Racism, Drugs, and Violence (AMARD&V), a summer program to empower at-risk youth in the New Brunswick area through arts education and health literacy. Since September 2017, they have tutored two to three students for two hours a week at Roosevelt Elementary School as part of the YES A2E program. Additionally, this recipient has taken the initiative to successfully found the Rutgers University Chapter of Kier’s Kidz, a childhood cancer nonprofit in NJ for coping with cancer and supporting research to find a cancer cure. As President of Kier’s Kidz, they oversee stem cell drives during service-oriented events such as Honors College Serves week, Dance Marathon, and Rutgers Day. They have also been involved in educating the community about rare pediatric cancers through workshops, underwriting research with clinicians at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, and innovative fundraising events such as a Beatles fundraiser and a Top Golf fundraiser. They have a clear and long-term commitment to working with under-resourced populations with a specific focus on children.
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