Deserée Lai

Project

Elevating Transfer Student Engagement through Research

As a non-traditional transfer student, I experienced the challenges of building my scholarly identity, transfer shock, and navigating the balance of obligations outside academia. My journey was shaped by transformative undergraduate research experiences which helped me build confidence, persistence, and a sense of belonging at the University of Washington. Transfer students bring a richness to the University, drawing from vast experiences, walks of life, identities and passions. My project seeks to draw this talent to the UW, while supporting transfer student success by launching the Undergraduate Research STEM Fair initiative in collaboration with the University of Washington’s Office of Undergraduate Research, North Seattle College’s LSAMP (Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation), and UW campus partners. As a two-time recipient of the Mary Gates Leadership Scholarship, I have expanded this initiative since the inaugural fair, strengthening campus partnerships, developing a structured evaluation system, and working closely with LSAMP and UW collaborators to create a lasting framework for transfer student success in STEM. Through this work, we improve the research community while driving institutional change to better support transfer students.

What I learned

Leaders shape our future by taking an idea and turning it into action. Through this project, I’ve learned that creating institutional change requires time, collaboration, and humility. As a mom, student, and researcher, I constantly balance multiple roles and responsibilities, and there are times when I don’t accomplish all that I set out to do. This project has deepened my appreciation for the transfer experience while strengthening my ability to manage priorities and value collaboration. I’ve gained a broader understanding of my colleagues, community college collaborators, and the incredible resources at UW, as we share the workload to achieve more together.

Advice for future applicants

Ensure you respond to the prompts and be clear on what you will DO during your award. Building a story, sharing the background and future impact is key to sharing your vision, but perhaps more important for your project success is to clearly describe what you will do over the two quarters you are awarded. For me, this was a framework which I used to be my action plan and timeline to stay on task.

More scholar profiles