Juliet Baxter, PhD
Interview Posted By: Ashley Smith
1. Can you tell us a little about your background? i.e. Where you grew up, what education do you have, a summary of your resume, did you always want to do what you are doing now, when did you start to become interested in STEM, what internships/ volunteering
I grew up in a beautiful, semi-rural county in Northern California, surrounded by apricot and cherry orchards, strawberry fields and lush vegetable gardens. This area is now known as Silicon Valley. I earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Stanford University and discovered the joy of computer programming. I then earned a master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Minnesota. Then I moved to a small fishing town in Alaska, where I taught K-12 and coached the JV women’s basketball team. My next stop was Spokane, Washington, where I taught elementary talented and gifted students, and took more programming courses. Eventually I returned to Stanford where I completed a master’s in instructional technology and a PhD in educational psychology.
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
I’m currently co-director of STEM CORE and Department Head of Education Studies (EDST). STEM CORE is a collaborative effort between the College of Education and College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Oregon. STEM CORE has three major goals:
3. Have you faced any discrimination/ challenges being a woman in a stem field? If so, how did you deal with it? Do you have any advice for up and coming women in STEM?
Yes. Over the years I have gradually developed strategies for addressing discrimination. I process situations slowly, so I often need to think about an interaction or request and then follow up. The key is to identify the most powerful and appropriate way to respond: sometimes an email, sometimes a phone call and sometimes a meeting. What’s critical is creating a space where you can be heard.
4. What is the best and worst part of your job? What do you look forward to in your job on a day to day basis? What do you wish you could change?
My students and colleagues are the best part of my job. I look forward to interesting questions and novel ideas. The worst part of my job is wrestling for ever-dwindling resources. I wish I could change who has access to STEM careers. Too many underrepresented groups face obstacles that limit opportunities to study STEM.
5. How do you balance your work and personal life? Any secrets or advice you’d like to share?
Finding a balance is always challenging, as you think you have it worked out and then life changes—children arrive, a proposal gets funded, you take a new position. I have dear friends, family and advisers who courageously point out moments when I need to pause and rethink my priorities.
6. What do you define success as?
Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it. Maya Angelou
7. What is one personality trait that you think is universally important for a successful career?
Dedication with a dash of humor
8. Who was a mentor to you throughout your career? (can be more than one!) What did they teach you? How did they impact your life?
Marion Walter, mathematician and mathematics educator. Marion generously and joyously shares her deep love of mathematics with others. She also has a delightful sense of humor.
9. What do you think is the best advice you've ever received? What advice would you give your younger self if you had the chance? What’s one piece of advice you can pass on to us?
During college, I had the good fortune to work for Karl and Mary Ann Kubel in Germany. Karl and Mary Ann had created a foundation to support Waldorf schools. On my 21st birthday, Karl gave me a card with the following quote: Das Best liegt nie hinter uns, sondern stets immer vorn. My rough translation: The best in life never lies behind us, but is always yet to come. The advice I would pass along (gently) is to actively seek those who don’t have a voice, create a space for them to speak and then listen carefully.
I grew up in a beautiful, semi-rural county in Northern California, surrounded by apricot and cherry orchards, strawberry fields and lush vegetable gardens. This area is now known as Silicon Valley. I earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Stanford University and discovered the joy of computer programming. I then earned a master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Minnesota. Then I moved to a small fishing town in Alaska, where I taught K-12 and coached the JV women’s basketball team. My next stop was Spokane, Washington, where I taught elementary talented and gifted students, and took more programming courses. Eventually I returned to Stanford where I completed a master’s in instructional technology and a PhD in educational psychology.
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
I’m currently co-director of STEM CORE and Department Head of Education Studies (EDST). STEM CORE is a collaborative effort between the College of Education and College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Oregon. STEM CORE has three major goals:
- Recruit mathematics and science majors to K-12 teaching by supporting undergraduate courses and programs providing pathways to teaching careers.
- Leverage outreach projects that will inspire STEM education throughout Oregon by building the infrastructure needed for sustained excellence.
- Support STEM education, outreach and education research by developing competitive research and STEM-focused proposals for external funding.
3. Have you faced any discrimination/ challenges being a woman in a stem field? If so, how did you deal with it? Do you have any advice for up and coming women in STEM?
Yes. Over the years I have gradually developed strategies for addressing discrimination. I process situations slowly, so I often need to think about an interaction or request and then follow up. The key is to identify the most powerful and appropriate way to respond: sometimes an email, sometimes a phone call and sometimes a meeting. What’s critical is creating a space where you can be heard.
4. What is the best and worst part of your job? What do you look forward to in your job on a day to day basis? What do you wish you could change?
My students and colleagues are the best part of my job. I look forward to interesting questions and novel ideas. The worst part of my job is wrestling for ever-dwindling resources. I wish I could change who has access to STEM careers. Too many underrepresented groups face obstacles that limit opportunities to study STEM.
5. How do you balance your work and personal life? Any secrets or advice you’d like to share?
Finding a balance is always challenging, as you think you have it worked out and then life changes—children arrive, a proposal gets funded, you take a new position. I have dear friends, family and advisers who courageously point out moments when I need to pause and rethink my priorities.
6. What do you define success as?
Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it. Maya Angelou
7. What is one personality trait that you think is universally important for a successful career?
Dedication with a dash of humor
8. Who was a mentor to you throughout your career? (can be more than one!) What did they teach you? How did they impact your life?
Marion Walter, mathematician and mathematics educator. Marion generously and joyously shares her deep love of mathematics with others. She also has a delightful sense of humor.
9. What do you think is the best advice you've ever received? What advice would you give your younger self if you had the chance? What’s one piece of advice you can pass on to us?
During college, I had the good fortune to work for Karl and Mary Ann Kubel in Germany. Karl and Mary Ann had created a foundation to support Waldorf schools. On my 21st birthday, Karl gave me a card with the following quote: Das Best liegt nie hinter uns, sondern stets immer vorn. My rough translation: The best in life never lies behind us, but is always yet to come. The advice I would pass along (gently) is to actively seek those who don’t have a voice, create a space for them to speak and then listen carefully.