Lisa Collins
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 Massachusetts and moved to Maryland with my family when I was 13. Part of the reason my parents moved was for better schools but I really feel like I would have excelled no matter where I was. I was always "good" at math and science and I loved them but I thought I didn't want to do that in college. It took almost 3 years before I found my major (geology) in college. I became interested in geology in part because so many of my professor had had the opportunity to travel with their work and I thought it would be a really neat job to have. In my senior year, I learned that most PhD students in geology were able to go to graduate school and be funded for it, how cool was that, I thought? So i applied to 5 different programs. When I got accepted to USC it was surreal, I couldn't believe I would be headed to Los Angeles to start my PhD. About my 4th years of my PhD I started to have serious doubts about my ability to be a "scientist." I didn't share that with anyone, though but I did start to read a lot of blogs by female scientists and I realized that the alienation I was feeling was somewhat normal. Upon finishing my PhD, I moved straight into my current position- a non tenure track teaching position in the Environmental Studies program at USC.
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
Most days I have at least 1 class or lecture to give, on busy days it can be 2-3. I typically meet with students, work on some advising (helping students figure out what classes to take, create course plans, general counseling about life). On really great days I get to go into the field- often I go to Catalina Island which is 20 miles off the coast of CA. Those days start very early, so we can catch a boat, and they often involve hiking, snorkeling, and kayaking as we immerse students into their environment.
3. How does STEM relate to your job?How do you use the information you learned from your degree in your job?
I use science to teach environmental studies. I teach the science behind some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time including climate change, energy, water, and sustainability.
4. 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?
I have mostly felt the "death by 1,000 paper cuts" discrimination, little things that when they add up can really discourage you. Mostly I have gotten pissed off about it. Nowadays I will call out someone who is trying to belittle me or control me by using my gender against me. I refuse to be stepped upon one more time… I also have a fantastic quote hanging in my office by one of my friends from grad school, it goes, "OWN THIS SHIT. You earned this job because you are a total BAMF. Discuss luck when you seek the universe in the stars, but when you acknowledge your public academic success, you earned this shit." It's a bit too strong to put on my office door but a great reminder when I need it. I advise other women to get a great support network of friends behind you, female, and male who understand what you are up against, who will listen to you and give great advice. Turns out they will also be your best cheerleaders, too.
5. 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?
Best part- the field work! Worst part? the grading! I look forward to going into work, knowing what I need to do, getting students interested and excited about science and also helping them understand. If I could change anything, it would be that I had more time to do research and write!
6. How do you balance your work and personal life? Any secrets or advice you’d like to share?
There is no such thing as balance. Sometimes work suffers, sometimes home life suffers. I definitely got better at time management after I had my son. Keep yourself focused and as things get busier, focus on the big things that have to be done right and let the little stuff slide- turns out that most people aren't going to notice the little things.
7. What do you define success as?
Happiness and self-fulfillment.
8. What is one personality trait that you think is universally important for a successful career?
The ability to fail and not let it ruin you. We will have failures and it's how we deal with them that determines successes.
9. 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?
My PhD advisor has turned into a phenomenal mentor since I have graduated. He reaffirms my legitimacy as a scientist when I need it. He's the reason I have my job and my success- he took me and made sure I had lots of opportunities as a young PhD student to be a leader- it taught me how to deal with misogyny and not quit over the frustration.
10. 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?
The best advice is fake it til you make it. It sounds weird but in so many situations I have doubted myself and my expertise. But you have to walk into the room as prepared as you can be and fake the confidence. Over time the confidence becomes real but in the mean time you have to pretend and sell yourself.
If I was speaking to my younger self I would assure us that everything would work out ok and then also tell her to study harder! Grad school is the last chance you get to purely study and learn- being a professor has so much more busy work attached to it, I wish I had read more papers in grad school.
I grew up in Massachusetts and moved to Maryland with my family when I was 13. Part of the reason my parents moved was for better schools but I really feel like I would have excelled no matter where I was. I was always "good" at math and science and I loved them but I thought I didn't want to do that in college. It took almost 3 years before I found my major (geology) in college. I became interested in geology in part because so many of my professor had had the opportunity to travel with their work and I thought it would be a really neat job to have. In my senior year, I learned that most PhD students in geology were able to go to graduate school and be funded for it, how cool was that, I thought? So i applied to 5 different programs. When I got accepted to USC it was surreal, I couldn't believe I would be headed to Los Angeles to start my PhD. About my 4th years of my PhD I started to have serious doubts about my ability to be a "scientist." I didn't share that with anyone, though but I did start to read a lot of blogs by female scientists and I realized that the alienation I was feeling was somewhat normal. Upon finishing my PhD, I moved straight into my current position- a non tenure track teaching position in the Environmental Studies program at USC.
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
Most days I have at least 1 class or lecture to give, on busy days it can be 2-3. I typically meet with students, work on some advising (helping students figure out what classes to take, create course plans, general counseling about life). On really great days I get to go into the field- often I go to Catalina Island which is 20 miles off the coast of CA. Those days start very early, so we can catch a boat, and they often involve hiking, snorkeling, and kayaking as we immerse students into their environment.
3. How does STEM relate to your job?How do you use the information you learned from your degree in your job?
I use science to teach environmental studies. I teach the science behind some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time including climate change, energy, water, and sustainability.
4. 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?
I have mostly felt the "death by 1,000 paper cuts" discrimination, little things that when they add up can really discourage you. Mostly I have gotten pissed off about it. Nowadays I will call out someone who is trying to belittle me or control me by using my gender against me. I refuse to be stepped upon one more time… I also have a fantastic quote hanging in my office by one of my friends from grad school, it goes, "OWN THIS SHIT. You earned this job because you are a total BAMF. Discuss luck when you seek the universe in the stars, but when you acknowledge your public academic success, you earned this shit." It's a bit too strong to put on my office door but a great reminder when I need it. I advise other women to get a great support network of friends behind you, female, and male who understand what you are up against, who will listen to you and give great advice. Turns out they will also be your best cheerleaders, too.
5. 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?
Best part- the field work! Worst part? the grading! I look forward to going into work, knowing what I need to do, getting students interested and excited about science and also helping them understand. If I could change anything, it would be that I had more time to do research and write!
6. How do you balance your work and personal life? Any secrets or advice you’d like to share?
There is no such thing as balance. Sometimes work suffers, sometimes home life suffers. I definitely got better at time management after I had my son. Keep yourself focused and as things get busier, focus on the big things that have to be done right and let the little stuff slide- turns out that most people aren't going to notice the little things.
7. What do you define success as?
Happiness and self-fulfillment.
8. What is one personality trait that you think is universally important for a successful career?
The ability to fail and not let it ruin you. We will have failures and it's how we deal with them that determines successes.
9. 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?
My PhD advisor has turned into a phenomenal mentor since I have graduated. He reaffirms my legitimacy as a scientist when I need it. He's the reason I have my job and my success- he took me and made sure I had lots of opportunities as a young PhD student to be a leader- it taught me how to deal with misogyny and not quit over the frustration.
10. 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?
The best advice is fake it til you make it. It sounds weird but in so many situations I have doubted myself and my expertise. But you have to walk into the room as prepared as you can be and fake the confidence. Over time the confidence becomes real but in the mean time you have to pretend and sell yourself.
If I was speaking to my younger self I would assure us that everything would work out ok and then also tell her to study harder! Grad school is the last chance you get to purely study and learn- being a professor has so much more busy work attached to it, I wish I had read more papers in grad school.