Moving On To Medical School: Farewell to Program Manager Fellow Andressa Silva

At Science Club for Girls, we believe that representation in STEM starts with community: a space where young people are not only exposed to science, but also see themselves reflected in it. For the past two years, Program Manager Fellow Andressa Silva has brought this mission to life with care, purpose, and heart.

Now, as she prepares to begin medical school at The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, we’re reflecting on her impact—and how her journey exemplifies the transformative power of STEM education, not just for participants, but for the mentors and staff who make this work possible.

Raised by her mother in a single-income household in Greater Boston, Andressa was the first in her immediate family to attend college, graduating from Amherst College with a degree in mathematics. From a young age, she was drawn to STEM because it offered clarity and possibility. “There’s always an answer in math,” she said. “And STEM—especially medicine—has the power to change lives.”

That belief carried into her work at SCFG, where she managed programs across multiple schools and communities. From coordinating weekly clubs to facilitating hands-on STEM explorations during school vacations, Andressa met every challenge with flexibility and intentionality. Each site required something different—whether it was helping kindergartners feel brave enough to dissect owl pellets, organizing mentors at one of weekend sites, or channeling the high energy of Friday afternoon clubs at a local elementary school.

“Each school has its own ecosystem,” she explained. “You really have to learn how to adapt your style, how to listen, and how to lead. That’s one of the biggest ways I’ve grown. I used to be shy—but this job helped me become a leader.”

She played a central role in SCFG’s Vacation Week STEM Programs, working closely with middle schoolers during our Summer Rocketry Club, February Coding and AI Club, and April Robotics sessions. These programs are designed to deepen STEM engagement during school breaks—and for Andressa, they also created space for real connection.

“Middle schoolers are just so fun,” she said. “We’d talk about our favorite shows and books and music, and at the same time they were building robots or launching rockets. Seeing their excitement grow day after day was one of the most rewarding parts of my job.”

But the impact of this work goes deeper than any one project. Andressa often spoke about how SCFG’s mission, making STEM education accessible, joyful, and inclusive for girls and gender-expansive youth, resonated with her personally.

“There’s a need to start early,” she said. “By age five, kids start to internalize where they ‘fit’ in the world. And girls—especially girls of color—are still being taught, in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, that science isn’t for them. But when they meet mentors who look like them, who come from similar backgrounds, everything changes.” She witnessed this firsthand during one club session. “There was this moment when a young girl was dissecting an owl pellet, and she just lit up. She said, ‘I’m going to do this in the future.’ Then she heard that one of her mentors worked in a lab, and she started asking so many questions. And she kept coming back. That kind of moment—that’s what it’s all about.”

It wasn’t just the participants who were transformed. Andressa also saw how SCFG creates a lasting sense of purpose and belonging among mentors and staff. “At our Catalyst event, mentors I worked with showed up so excited—not because they had to, but because they wanted to,” she said. “That showed me that this work matters to people beyond just checking a box. They want to be here. They believe in this.”

Andressa leaves SCFG with a deeper understanding of herself—as a leader, a future physician, and someone ready to advocate for equity in every space she enters. Her current interests include forensic pathology, a specialty that brings together lab work, diagnostics, and the pursuit of justice. And while she’s keeping an open mind about what her future in medicine might hold, one thing is certain: the lessons she’s learned here will go with her.

“This role helped me build my confidence,” she said. “It gave me experience working with different age groups, collaborating with peers, managing programs, and leading with care. More than anything, I’ve learned that when we give people opportunities—whether it’s a 6-year-old building a model rocket or a staff member like me stepping into leadership—we change what’s possible.”

To the participants and mentors she worked with, Andressa shared this message:

“Thank you for being part of this with me. I hope we can keep in touch—and to the girls especially, never give up. There’s a path for you in STEM. You can see it in your mentors, in your junior mentors, and in yourselves. We are building something powerful here. Keep going.”

Andressa, thank you for all the heart and brilliance you brought to Science Club for Girls. You’ve helped move our mission forward—and we can’t wait to see the future you help create. This isn’t goodbye. It’s see you later.

About the Program Manager Fellow

The Program Manager Fellow is a one to two year position for individuals from our SCFG community who are looking for a meaningful employment opportunity in between pursuing advanced courses of study in STEM and/or while working on medical and graduate school applications.