A STEM of success in Baltimore starts at TU
Towson University's Center for STEM Excellence is having a wide-ranging impact on Baltimore and Maryland students.
By Wanda Haskel on July 30, 2019
When Tafaria Annikie attended a Towson University job fair in the fall of her freshman year, she was prepared.
“You never know what opportunities will be there,” says the native of Kingston, Jamaica, “so I went all dressed up and ready for an interview.”
The prep paid off.
That day, Annikie learned about a position as a teacher’s aide at TU’s Center for STEM Excellence. Located at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, the center serves Maryland K-12 schools through outreach programs supporting science education.
I like being surrounded by scientists and researchers at the Center for STEM Excellence. ”
An interview later she landed the job.
Though she doesn’t plan to pursue teaching, Annikie enjoys helping students when they come to the center for science programming. But what the biology major likes even more is being in a state-of-the-art facility surrounded by scientists and researchers ready to offer advice and expose her to career paths.
The center’s director Mary Stapleton says Annikie has talked to her about options for biology majors.
Annikie also has a team of people supporting her in the biological sciences department back on TU’s main campus.
Trouble with a class assignment? No problem.
The freshman takes advantage of the department’s tutoring services or goes directly to professors for help, even, she says, when she’s not in their classes.
For anyone intimidated about studying science because it’s “too hard,” Annikie has some advice: Come to Towson University.
“It can be easy if you find the right resources,” she says, “which I have and which I’m grateful for.”
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