Faculty Profile

Noemi Waight.

Noemi Waight

Associate Professor
Learning and Instruction
nwaight@buffalo.edu

Education:

  • PhD, Science Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2008
  • MSc, Science Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2008

Professional experience:

  • Associate Professor, Science Education, University at Buffalo

What mentoring means to me:

Mentoring for me involves a mentor/mentee relationship which involves an opportunity to explore professional guidance in terms of scholarship, service and teaching trajectory. As a mentor I see my role as providing guidance, offering support, and sharing funds of knowledge that may be of service to the mentee's trajectory. I frame my guidance based on the positive models of mentoring that I have experienced and reflection on knowledge and resources that may have been absent (some of this involves institutional knowledge, resources, and support). The model of mentoring that I have experienced is one built on mutual respect and needs of the mentee, career and professional guidance, and continuous support as is needed.

I also conceptualize mentoring in terms of sponsors. Mentors/sponsors who also guide and provide support for key opportunities.

Topics I am willing to discuss with students:

Academic Culture

  • Decoding and demystifying academic culture and norms.
  • Taking a non-traditional path to grad school.

Other Topics

  • Racism in the academy.
  • Black women in STEM.

Personal Experiences

  • Experiences related to being a woman.
  • Experiences related to physical health and/or abilities.
  • Experiences related to racial, ethnic, cultural and/or religious minority status.
  • Non-U.S. citizen or immigrant experiences.