Taylor Fuller ’24 saw a void and decided to fill it. In the process, the biology major from Roebuck, South Carolina, became the founder of Minorities in STEM. 

Fuller was a sophomore in spring 2022, serving as a teaching assistant for Dr. Lisa Cantwell, assistant professor of biology. They held weekly meetings, and one week the subject was the need for a space where minority STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) students could connect over a common thread. 

“We talked about the need for a support system,” says Fuller. “We wanted to come up with a way to branch the minority community and stem students at Wofford and create a space for them.” From that conversation, Minorities in STEM was born. 

“We talked about it one day, and Taylor texted me two days later saying that about 20 people had expressed an interest in joining,” says Cantwell. 

Fuller says the organization’s mission is to create opportunities, a support system and a space to enhance networking. By the end of the first year, the group had grown to 35. Membership is now up to 61.

“The community support has been amazing,” Fuller says. “We’ve created a place where students of color, LGBTQ+ students and students from all socioeconomic backgrounds can come together and celebrate their love of STEM.” 

Minorities in STEM has hosted a variety of panels and guest speakers, as well as mental health events such as skating and movie nights. It also has hosted a BIPOC mixer during Homecoming the past two years. Members have performed community service, raising funds to support Cleveland Elementary School’s STEM program and partnering with BirthMatters, an organization that provides doula services to young women.

“Taylor has literally knocked every ball thrown at her out of the park,” says Cantwell. “She’s pushed and pushed and made so many things happen.”

Fuller’s ultimate goal is to become a pediatric cardiologist. It’s something she’s wanted since taking a biomedical science course as a ninth grader at Dorman High School. Getting Minorities in STEM up and running made her realize she can get there. 

“I learned from working with this organization that I do have the leadership skills necessary to go into the field I want,” Fuller says. “By overcoming challenges, I think I’ve grown tremendously as a person and a leader.”