Evelyn Valdez-Ward

Dra. Evelyn Valdez-Ward is a Mexican and formerly undocumented scholar dedicated to amplifying voices in science. She earned her B.S. in Biology from the University of Houston-Downtown and completed her Ph.D. at the University of California, Irvine, focusing on the narratives of scientists and their use of science communication. As an NSF STEM Education Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Rhode Island, her research continued to explore the intersections of science communication and experiences in STEM.

Dra. Valdez-Ward is the co-founder of the ReclaimingSTEM Institute, a global initiative that has trained over 3,000 participants through science communication workshops. Through RSI, she conducts research, and evaluation focused on community building.

Her current work investigates how scientists' personal and professional environments shape their STEM identities, self-efficacy, and career trajectories. She explores how scientists define their identities, navigate complex environments, and reimagine what is possible in STEM.