Giselle De Leon
Tell us about your work/research. What kinds of things do you do?
As the Lead STEM Educator at SAMSAT, the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology, I have the exciting opportunity to wear many hats on our team: event coordinator, summer camp lead, curriculum developer, grant reviewer, outreach coordinator, STEM educator for grades K-12, artist, onboarding trainer, public speaker, graphic designer and whatever else needs to get done! The highlight of working as a STEM educator at SAMSAT would be seeing our students have their magical aha moments, be that from learning with the engineering design process or figuring out a successful solution from our hands-on projects. Our SAMSAT team is tight knit with such talented staff, so the work can be demanding with museum management, outreach events, student field trips, summer camps, and grant applications; but that spark we see in the eyes of students the moment they become a part of our STEM experience makes it all worth it at the end of the day.
What sparked your initial interest in your career?
As a young child growing up in San Antonio, Texas, I recall constantly being in my backyard investigating the world around me. Fueled by voices, such as Steve Irwin or Jeff Corwin, my eyes were always in search of the next biological or geological wonder in my small corner of the world (it was often a jumping spider or a chunk of quartz). I noticed in my academic experience that only a handful of students would continue to share that curiosity I had for the little wonders around us. Often, I wondered why my peers deemed STEM to be boring, when STEM makes up our entire world. As I grew older, I noticed the disconnect that traditional teaching methods of memorizing and test taking had with many students. In college, I had the opportunity to display and present a research project from my Cellular Biology class. After my presentation, an older woman approached me to tell me that I sounded very smart, but she had no idea was I was saying since I was using jargon we learned in class. I recall letting out a huge sigh of relief, and excitedly explained my project to her as if she was my own grandma. We both left the exchange with huge smiles, and it was at that moment I realized I loved science communication. I hope one day that everyone can feel comfortable with and included in STEM, be that in the everyday or in the career field.
Who influenced you or encouraged you the most?
My mother and father, Priscilla and Ricardo, were my biggest cheerleaders in life. My mother was the one who showed me the little wonders of our world in our backyard and researched local STEM events for me to be a part of. My dad saw how hard I would study into the late hours of the night and would always remind me to eat and rest and have fun. They both worked very hard to ensure I had a good education and support system; they sadly passed away due to COVID, so today, I hold on tightly to the memory I have of their love and encouragement.
What element of your work/study do you think is the most fascinating?
The most fascinating thing I have witnessed in my work is the power of community and what it can do for people of all ages, but especially students. My place of work, the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology, has something called the R20 Premier Esports program, where highschoolers from all over San Antonio come to compete every month; to qualify, they must keep a good scholastic standing with their school. Over the course of the program, I have seen the students grow so much, both socially and academically. To hear the boisterous laughter and playful conversations from our community’s students… I feel there is simply no joy like it!
How did you get involved with the Ocean Exploration Trust?
I applied to the Ocean Exploration Trust’s Science Communication Fellowship program after seeing the opportunity posted on their Instagram page. Now with the honor of being accepted as a fellow, I am very excited to see how I can apply my skills to this expedition, as well as learn from the expedition team’s experts and my other fellows.
What other jobs led you to your current career?
I was once an aquarist intern and an event coordinator while in college. In high school, I had the great honor of being selected to study abroad in Kumamoto, Japan for our San Antonio sister city program. In college, I was accepted as a Gilman Scholar to study abroad in Heidelberg, Germany. Overall, my life experiences have led me to discover skills such adaptability, creativity in difficult situations, finding joy and silliness in the everyday, interpersonal skills, and communication even when there are language barriers. Finding my place as a STEM educator at SAMSAT, the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology, felt like a natural fit and has been a wonderful place for me to grow as a STEM educator.
What are your degrees and certifications?
Bachelor of Science in Biology-- University of the Incarnate Word 2020
What are your hobbies?
I love to stargaze, fossil hunt and rock hound for agates, paint with watercolor or acrylic paint, journal, practice my insect photography while hiking (Bandera, Texas is one of my favorite stops!), cooking recipes I learned from my travels or friends such as mitarashi dango or gungjung-tteokbokki, playing board games with friends, and playing Stardew Valley!
What advice would you give someone who wants to have a career like yours?
To be a STEM educator for grades K-12, I believe you need to have patience, open mindedness, an excitement for learning, child-like curiosity, and be chaos-embracing (school schedules and large student groups have a way of being a sort of controlled chaos). One good piece of advice I’ve lived by, was given to me by my mother, Priscilla, which is to always ask questions, apply to things you want to be apart of, and to try new things even if you think you may not like it. The worst that can happen is you get no answers, a letter of rejection, or you hate it. The best that can happen is that you get your answer, you get accepted, or you absolutely love it! But you will never know which answer it will be until you try. Always be curious, keep trying, and never forget that you belong. Just keep going and you’ll find your way to what you want to achieve!
