Earth and Mineral Sciences graduate fellow builds belonging safety net for peers

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Just a few years ago, Nicholas Prince was an undergraduate student from Merkel, a small town in West Texas, majoring in mathematics at Texas Tech University. He said he started to think about graduate school for meteorology and atmospheric science but thought that doctoral degrees were something only people from wealthier backgrounds or larger academic hubs pursued.

His undergraduate adviser convinced him otherwise.

“I became involved in undergraduate research very early,” Prince said. “I asked my undergraduate research adviser if a doctorate was something that I could pursue and he said, ‘You can do this.’ That encouragement gave me the confidence I needed to go for it.”

Flash forward a few years and Prince is now a doctoral student at Penn State helping others get the boost they need to feel like they can accomplish their career goals. He’s one of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences’ (EMS) Graduate Fellows for Science Advocacy and Diversity.

“DEI stands for ensuring that all students recognize their potential and have the support to achieve it,” Prince said. “We’re here to let our students know that they made it to Penn State for a reason and that they have the talent and work ethic necessary to succeed, no matter their background.”

Prince is among a group of students helping to strengthen ties among graduate students across the University, not just in EMS. Their work can come in many forms, Prince said. It could mean a talk on a tough topic, or helping someone find additional resources; other times, it’s more formal events where students meet and build camaraderie.

One area where the group has had success is the EMS Roundtable, where students meet regularly to address challenges and spotlight ways to increase student engagement.

“There are so many ways to engage with the student body and support students when it comes to fostering a culture of belonging across STEM and academia,” Prince said. “There’s a lot of work to be done, but luckily we have a network of dedicated people. We’re working to make this culture a lasting and integral part of the academic experience.”

Prince works with Kenneth Davis, professor of atmospheric and climate science, on a research project related to observations using Doppler LiDAR and model simulations of atmospheric boundary layer processes. Lately, he’s been working on a phenomenon called "bay breezes," which happen near the coast and can lead to dramatic degradation in air quality. Davis is leading a massive research team involving 13 institutions studying climate in the Baltimore area.

Prince said Davis encouraged him to apply for the Graduate Fellows for Science Advocacy and Diversity fellowship.

Every graduate student can count on periods of imposter syndrome, Prince said. The work is tough, and graduate students are often contributing to high profile research grants with societal impact. Talking with others about these struggles and realizing they are commonplace among the masses, he added, is one way to ease those feelings.

“Most graduate students grapple with feelings of not belonging at some point. But we want to challenge that idea,” Prince said. “You have the talent, the drive, and acceptance to be here. You belong at Penn State, and we’re here to ensure you never walk this journey alone."