Student brings STEM education to high school girls

By Bryce Johnson •

When Charlee Musiakiewicz, sophomore elementary education major, was in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics program in high school, she took special coursework related to her environmental sustainability track. When she was an upperclassman, she helped mentor and guide the underclassmen.

At NSU, Musiakiewicz has been conducting research to increase STEM education for high school students, specifically female students, since September 2023. With her mentor Hui Fang Huang “Angie” Su, professor in the Department of Education, Musiakiewicz visits the same group of students at Somerset Preparatory Academy Charter School in North Lauderdale to give them access to STEM education.

“We go there with different professors of different areas of STEM, teach them lessons in hopes that they gain more interest and it becomes less daunting for them so that they will choose STEM majors in college and STEM careers moving forward,” Musiakiewicz said.

Musiakiewicz acts as the girls’ mentor, helping them learn about STEM education, like computer science, mathematics and marine biology.

“They’re 16, 17, and I’m only 19. So it was someone that they could talk to, ask questions about NSU, about STEM, anything like that,” Musiakiewicz said. “One of the times, I actually taught a marine biology intervention, so I led the whole lesson by myself and then they came [to NSU] for a field trip.”

Originally from New Jersey, Musiakiewicz came to NSU as a marine biology major. In high school, she volunteered at an aquarium and gave guided tours. Musiakiewicz said her research allows her to further explore her passions of STEM and education.

In the Razor’s Edge Research Scholars Program, students conduct their own research in the second semester of their sophomore year.

Dana Mills, associate dean, works with Musiakiewicz in Razor’s Edge Research Scholars. Mills was so impressed with Musiakiewicz that he brought her and another student into leadership positions in the program when they were freshmen, which typically only happens when students are sophomores.

“She would not be on time to class, she’d be 15 minutes early. She’d stay and ask questions late, she would have every homework assignment done early,” Mills said. “Never once did she ever say no, if we ever asked her to do anything extra. She just always wanted to do more.”

When Su needed a research assistant for the STEM project, Mills recommended Musiakiewicz.

“I learned that students as young as Charlee can really take on leadership roles,” Su said. “Charlee is very easy to work with. Whatever you need her to do, it’s always a yes, I can do it. That’s a great attitude.”

Since then, Musiakiewicz and Su have worked together on the research. In March, they will present their findings at the University of Oxford in London.

“I’m a little bit nervous since this is my first conference experience and obviously University of Oxford, it’s a big deal, but I’m very excited, very fortunate to be going with such an amazing mentor,” Musiakiewicz said. “I know she will lead me and prepare me all the way through, but I’m very excited.”

After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, Musiakiewicz plans to complete a one-year program to earn her master’s in science education. Ultimately, Musiakiewicz wants to work as an environmental educator and continue STEM research.

“In Charlee’s case, she wants to be an educator, but her commitment has been to engaging girls in the sciences. That’s something that she really values,” Mills said. “As a dad of a daughter who’s also interested in the sciences, I wish that Charlee had done this work before, because I could see how it could maybe even change somebody like my daughter’s life, and then the tens of thousands of other girls out there who just don’t have exposure to the sciences.”