WHO WE ARE
OUR MISSION
OUR VISION
SUPPORT
OUR WORK:
We are a diverse team seeking to increase the visibility of women of color solving complex problems that lead to sustainable solutions. This diversity allows our team to add multiple perspectives and innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
BioGals is the leading organization providing supportive environments for women of color in STEM and professional collaborations with like-minded organizations to integrate improved human outcomes for marginalized communities through:
-
Delivering study abroad experiences that support UN Sustainable Development Goals;
-
Positively enhancing STEM education by partnering with institutions of higher education
and highlighting the importance of cultural and global competency;
-
Motivating WOC to embrace their lived experiences, persist and succeed in STEM;
-
Creating and disseminating evidence-based adaptable tools and resources
Women of color provide cultural competency and lived experiences in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and are vital experts in creating adaptable management techniques to safeguard human health while protecting the environment.
We have found our home for our Living, Learning, and Research Facility in Sittee River Village, Belize and are currently in the development process.
BioGals is fully run by volunteers who are passionate about sustainability and diversity. We are currently running a fundraiser directly addressing the impact of ending affirmative action.
OUR TEAM
Shakira Hobbs uses engineering and sustainability to understand complex problems. As an NSF IGERT-SUN fellow, Shakira was awarded the Competitive Innovations Fund to investigate strategic waste management options for a rural village in Belize. She has presented her work internationally in several countries, and has been featured in Women of Color Magazine, “Today’s STEM Leaders, Tomorrow’s Innovator”. She earned her B.S. degree from University of Maryland, College Park, M.S. from Arizona State University and Ph.D. from Clemson University in Civil Engineering. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at University of California Irvine.
SHAKIRA HOBBS, PhD
President
Evvan Morton obtained her PhD in Sustainable Engineering at Arizona State University (ASU). She also received a certificate in Responsible Innovation in Science, Engineering and Society. Evvan received her Bachelor's degree in Materials Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and her Master's degree in Sustainable Engineering from ASU. She was a National Science Foundation IGERT-SUN Fellow and ASU’s 2018 Martin Luther King Jr. Student Servant-Leadership Awardee. Evvan’s research examines the effectiveness of US policies that govern carbon dioxide emissions and atmospheric concentrations to mitigate climate change and explores what new policies are needed to promote carbon dioxide removal. Motivated to bridge the gap between science and decision-making, she looks forward to a career in science policy to develop innovative policies for transitioning to a sustainable energy future.
EVVAN MORTON, PhD
Vice President
.jpeg)
Maya Whalen-Kipp currently works at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on workforce development and commercialization of ocean renewable energy. She has worked in the STEM and sustainable development field for almost a decade. Always thinking intersectionally about how to design a sustainable and equitable world. Before joining DOE Maya worked in multiple rapid-growth climate tech start-ups in NYC and served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer community health educator in Fiji. She holds an M.S. in Environmental & Climate Policy and a B.S. in Biology.
MAYA WHALEN-KIPP
Director of Fundraising
Gregory Mitchell is an Excel and Data Specialist at Booz Allen Hamilton. He earned his B.S. degree from University of Maryland, College Park in Physical Sciences; specializing in electrical engineering, mathematics, and geology. As a physical sciences major, Greg has been able to effectively translate his technical background into the finance world; taking the initiative to improve existing processes through automation. His interest in sustainability came from an Eagle Scout project he led at Fort Washington National Park and Greg is determined to help fulfill BioGal's mission.
GREGORY MITCHELL
Director of Corporate Partnerships
