For our Spring issue, we're once again thrilled to have the opportunity to spotlight our Notation in Cultural Rhetorics and Notation in Science Communication graduates, who completed their Notation coursework and capstone ePortfolios. These students were honored at an in-person Showcase and Conferral Ceremony on the Lathrop Library Patio on May 15. The event was led by PWR Director Adam Banks, NCR Coordinator Harriett Jernigan, and NSC Coordinator Kevin C. Moore, and attended by students' friends, family, and mentors.
This year's Notations cohort was another large one, with 4 students graduating in the NCR and 23 students completing the NSC. Students in the NCR received a certificate, an NCR pin, and a copy of A People’s Future of the United States, an acclaimed collection of speculative fiction by 25 authors, including Hugo Award-winning author N.K. Jemison. NSC students also received a certificate, an NSC pin, and a copy of an early edition of Marianne Moore's Complete Poems. M. Moore (no relation to Kevin) was a prolific reviser who often wrote on ecological and naturalist themes, and her work is used at a key moment in the NSC ePortfolio course to demonstrate principles of concision, revision, and curation.
At the ceremony, we also marked the bittersweet milestone of the completion of Dr. Harriett Jernigan's term as NCR Coordinator later this year, including very special remarks NCR grads prepared for the event (you can read versions of some of these remarks in students comments below). As all of our NCR grads attest, the NCR has flourished under and because of Dr. J's extraordinary leadership, where she will continue to maintain a pivotal role in teaching and mentorship. In September 2026, Dr. Lindsey Felt will become NCR Coordinator.
Make sure to check out our archive showcasing our students' impressive ePortfolios, including work from this year's class, and read below to learn more about these incredible students, their future plans, and their experience in PWR's Notations (more photos below, too!).
Notation in Cultural Rhetorics
Mu Hsi Hsi is graduating with a BA in International Relations with a Minor in Human Rights. After graduation, she will join the VIA Global Community Fellowship as an Academic Advisor at Parami University in Myanmar, where she will support students navigating their education in a challenging political context. She writes, "The NCR program gave me a space to talk about something I had experienced but never had words for: how academia can exclude voices like mine. The expectation to write with distance, to bury personal connection, and to conform to a narrow definition of "rigor" can make you feel like you have to erase yourself to be taken seriously. Having a dedicated space to explore cultural rhetorics — to name the gaps, question the norms, and imagine what more inclusive scholarship could look like — was deeply validating. I am especially grateful to Dr. J for her guidance and support, and for creating a space where students could bring their full selves into the conversation."
Alana Okonkwo is graduating with a BA in Archaeology and a BA in African and African American Studies with Creative Honors. This Summer, Alana will be interning at Yellowstone National Park's Heritage and Research Center where she will lead public tours and curate exhibits on the geology of Yellowstone. Regarding her time in the NCR, she writes, "The Notation in Cultural Rhetorics program has opened my eyes to the power of language, grammar, and vernacular in developing people's identities. Understanding that the way I speak and write is rooted in a cultural and geographic lineage builds my confidence as a public speaker and writer. I am so grateful to the Notation community for fostering a welcoming environment for cultural exchange and curiosity."
Dean Wiley is graduating with a BA in Political Science. Next year, he will begin a Master’s in criminology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences, where he will focus on studying mass incarceration, correctional inequality, and the policies that shape the criminal legal system. He writes regarding his future work, "This step is central to my long-term commitment to prison advocacy and reform. Alongside my academic work, I plan to engage in policy and community-based efforts that address these issues in practice. Ultimately, this experience will prepare me for law school and a career in criminal defense and legislative advocacy aimed at creating a more equitable justice system." Dean also writes, about his time in the NCR, "One of the most meaningful parts of the Notation has been learning from Harriett Jernagain, whose presence is truly the heart of the program. She creates a space grounded in voice, vulnerability, and authenticity, while also pushing us into unfamiliar territory where real growth happens. Because of her, this class became more than an academic requirement—it became a community where students felt seen, challenged, and supported in doing their most honest work."
Luci Wolfenstein is graduating with a BA in Sociology. Next year, she plans on applying to law school after studying for the LSAT. She plans to continue riding horses and is excited to "fully embrace the freedom of being an adult." She writes, regarding her time in the NCR, "Dr. J's candidness and storytelling has been the absolute highlight of the program for me. Our dinners as a cohort are some of my best memories at Stanford - they were so lively, absolutely hilarious, and so joyful. I would take this program again if I could!"
Notation in Science Communication
Kunal Aurora is graduating with a BS in Chemical Engineering with Honors. Next year, he will complete a coterminal master’s degree in Computer Science at Stanford in the Feig Lab. He writes, regarding his work in the NSC, "The reflection process behind my portfolio reminded me how much I’ve grown while at Stanford, as a scientist, as a communicator, as a person. I’m truly grateful to have had experiences that pushed me to think critically about the ethics, impact, and stories inseparable from the science that I know and love."
Kelly Benitez is graduating with a BS in Earth Systems Science.
Victoria Bermudez is graduating with a BS in Human Biology with Honors. Next year, she will be pursuing a Fulbright Fellowship in Spain. She writes, "The NSC truly shaped my experience at Stanford. My mentors and peers gave me the confidence to pursue such a wide range of disciplines from writing articles to pursuing an honors thesis. Kevin Moore was a phenomenal mentor and guiding light throughout the process, helping students make their ePortfolio ideas into reality! The portfolio allowed me to reflect on my Stanford experience and journey, serving as the perfect way to complete my undergraduate career."
Zoe Colloredo-Mansfeld is graduating as a coterminal Master’s student in Biology, and also earning her BS in Biology.
Keira Cornwell is a graduating with a BS in Chemical Engineering with Honors and a minor in Computer Science. This summer, she will be working at insitro in San Francisco as a Molecular Machine Learning Intern. Next year, she will finish a coterminal Master's degree at Stanford in Computer Science on the Computational Biology track. She writes, "My favorite NSC memory is taking Dr. Moore's Scientific Opinion Writing class! Previously, I had only ever written technical science writing, so this was my first experience with that genre and it was super interesting to be able to combine my own opinions with technical thinking! I also really enjoyed writing pitches to real news outlets for our op-eds!"
Aliya Fisher is graduating with a BS in Chemistry with a minor in Biology. Next year, she will be starting a PhD program in Chemical Biology at Harvard University. She writes, of the NSC, "The Notation helped me see the bigger picture of all the science I have done and learned in college. I developed some of my most meaningful insights about projects I was working on in the midst of communicating them to others, which I hope to continue in graduate school and beyond."
Lyle Given is graduating with a BS in Biology. This summer she will be at UC Berkeley for a research internship, and in the fall she plans on applying to PhD programs in evolutionary biology.
Tim Jing is graduating with a BS in Biomedical Computation. A recipient of the Kanders Churchill Scholarship, next year he will study Health Policy at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. He writes, "I want to thank Dr. Moore specifically for being such an important mentor in my life!"
Aadya Joshua is graduating as a coterminal Master’s student in Earth Systems, and also earned a BS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Matthew Kim is graduating with a BS in Biology and Computer Science. He will complete a coterminal Master’s degree in Computer Science at Stanford next year. This summer, he will be participating in an internship as part of the Stanford Tech Ethics and Policy Fellowship, and after completing his Master's will also be applying to MD/PhD programs. He writes, "The Notation in Science Communication has been such an incredible experience and one of the most valuable during my undergraduate years. NSC faculty, especially Dr. Katherine Rothschild and Dr. Kevin Moore, are highly knowledgeable and truly care for our success. Friends I have made in the NSC community are the most interesting and greatest people I have met at Stanford. It was one of the few places where we all strived to push each other to our absolute best."
Montana Lagat is graduating with a BS in Materials Science and Engineering with Honors. Next year, she will be pursuing a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering at CU Boulder. She writes, regarding her time in the NSC, "I am grateful for the opportunity to have learned more about the importance of science communication and reflect on my experiences with that at Stanford! I plan to implement my science communication skills to produce more accessible scientific literature (in various genres) in the future."
Annie Larson is graduating with a BS in Human Biology, with a concentration in Environmental Science and Ocean Conservation. Next year, she will pursue an Earth Systems (MA) coterm with a concentration in Environmental Communication. She writes, "The Notation was such a unique experience, allowing us to reach many different audiences with our meaningful work, from fifth graders to policymakers! What stood out most was the passion of my peers; their creativity and commitment helped shape nearly every project I developed, and learning alongside them was truly invaluable. Workshopping in class was a highlight of my experience. Additionally, my incredible mentors have guided me through this experience with such care and devotion. A special thank you to Katherine Rothschild and Kevin Moore for teaching with nothing but kindness, enthusiasm, and intellectual generosity."
Jackson Merrill is graduating with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Next year, he will start a graduate program at UCLA.
Logan Morely is graduating as a coterminal Master’s student in Biology, also earning his BS in Biology. This summer, he will be teaching science with Stanford Spokes and biking to Washington, DC.
Ashanti Nez is graduating with a BS in Bioengineering. Next year, she hopes to pursue a Coterminal Master’s degree at Stanford in Biomedical Data Science, where her goal is to dive into applied sciences research where she can use data to solve real-world healthcare problems. She writes, "For me, the NSC showed me that communication is what connects us all as human beings. We are naturally social creatures, and we need shared understanding to move forward. The program taught me how to make complex ideas accessible to absolutely everyone, whether that is a global leader or someone who never had the chance to get an education. It gave me the skills to look at texts outside of the classroom and figure out how to bridge different worlds, turning complicated information into stories that bring people together."
Megan Njeri is graduating with a BS in Chemical Engineering. She will complete a coterminal Master’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering next year at Stanford.
Ricky Rojas is a coterminal Master’s student in Statistics, who is also earning a BS in Data Science with Honors. Next year, plans to apply to PhD programs in Computational Neuroscience while he finishes his Masters. He writes, "The NSC shaped my experience at Stanford. Throughout my classes I viewed my various projects and presentations in the context of collecting artifacts for my eventual portfolio. This added lens of science communication helped me refine my communication skills and made my projects better."
Katelyn Santa Maria is graduating with a BS in Human Biology with Honors. Next year, she will be pursuing a DVM at the UC Davis Weil School of Veterinary Medicine. She writes, "Science communication has been such a meaningful part of my Stanford journey. I’m so grateful to have been able to learn from such incredible teachers and mentors."
Eva Shen is graduating with a BS in Biology and a Minor in Creative Writing.
Varun Shirhatti is graduating with a coterminal Master’s degree in Earth Systems, and also earning a BS in Earth Systems with a minor in Music.
Allie Skalnik is graduating with a BS in Earth Systems on the Oceans, Atmosphere & Climate track. Next year, she will be participating in a science communication internship with the Water and Agriculture team at the Environmental Defense Fund in San Francisco, where she writes she is "excited to put my sci comm skills to use." Regarding the NSC, she writes, "Being part of the NSC has been an invaluable experience not only for the chance to meet incredible peers and mentors who inspire me every day, but the act of reflecting on the work I've already done as a science communicator has motivated me to be more daring, ambitious, and thoughtful going forward."
Heather Tran is graduating with a BS in Bioengineering. Next year, she will be completing a co-terminal Master's degree at Stanford in Biology, as well as continue to serve as a TA for American Sign Language. She writes, "Prior to Stanford, I had never heard of the coined term 'science communication,' but I've always been interested in learning how to communicate scientific knowledge in various ways depending on what message I wanted to bring and who I was speaking to. I feel very privileged to be able to practice these skills throughout my time at Stanford and highlight some of my most influential work through this ePortfolio. I know that all the skills that I've acquired through the Notation will continue to serve me throughout the rest of my life and my future career as a physician. I want to send a special thanks to my mentors Dr. Dominique Arce, Gabriela Luna-Victoria, and Dr. Becky Richardson, who not only contributed to my work in this ePortfolio, but also cultivated a community where I could feel free to highlight my identity, culture, and values."
Mercer Weis is graduating with a BS in Environmental Systems Engineering. After graduation, he will be working on phytoremediation and groundwater projects at Locus Environmental, an environmental engineering firm in Santa Clara County. He writes, "I am so so grateful for the NSC! I feel like my science has finally 'taken flight' in a way since joining the program. Together, our NSC cohort has workshopped and refined our communication skills in ways that invite more people into the scientific community. I am so lucky to be surrounded by such passionate scientists experimenting in every medium of communication! The NSC has truly inspired me to turn data into stories. Thank you again to all of the dedicated mentors in the NSC program for cultivating this incredible experience. You are all the best!"
Congrats again to all the grads and scroll down for more photos from this vibrant event!
