Young, Black, & Fem in STEM
Who is Michael?
Michael's Educational Background
Hello there, my name is Michael Hurd, but I also go by Goddess Dior. As a young child, I was smitten by the subject of mathematics. I remember feeling as excited as my friends on Halloween opening their bags of candy whenever my first-grade teacher passed out the one-page math test in subtraction, addition, multiplication, and division. I consistently cultivated my love for science and people after I tore my second ACL in my junior high school summer while playing Amueture Athletic Union (AAU) basketball. This journey encouraged me to pursue a career as a doctor of medicine. Less than a year later, I found myself opening an acceptance letter from Mills College. I was excited, but in reality, I knew that as a person who grew up on government and community assistance programs, receiving some form of scholarship was necessary for me to achieve my goals ( e.g., attending higher education, pursuing doula certification programs, becoming CPR certified, etc.). Although I valued the abundance of life, I became more of a realist as the rose-colored lenses of my childhood quickly faded. I became aware that in the society that I lived in, money was equated to mobilization — rather it was yours or someone else's. Thankfully, soon after receiving my acceptance letter, I learned I was among two recipients of a full scholarship from a family donor; the Leavitt Family Scholarship. This was the first of many opportunities that opened the door for me to ascend in my career and become the 'first' in my family for several milestones.
The Begining of A Long Term Relationship with Medicine
During my four years at Mills College, I was granted several opportunities on and off campus to propel myself forward in my career, and challengeI needed to work in myself in areas as a spiritual being on a human experience and as a future worker. I intended to engage in work and volunteer opportunities that would prepare me to be a well-rounded candidate and allow me to understand if medicine was the right path for me. In doing so, I found my passion for community medicine through one of my first significant off-campus opportunities with the Berkeley Free Clinic (BFC). As a person who has experienced being unhoused, has family members who battle addiction, and is a member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, it was easy for me to embrace the teachings of cultural humility, trauma-informed care, and harm reduction throughout my training at BFC. These topics revolutionized my understanding of my involvement in medicine and inspired me to seek other community-based organizations serving other marginalized communities. Ultimately, exposure to these teaching also informed my practice as a gynecological teacher associate and empowered me to work towards attending schools that would support these passions of mine.
To the left, below the image of me, are my pronouns in no particular order of preference. If you are unsure what pronouns are or why they are essential, click the brown button to the left to learn more from an article posted on Planned Parenthood's website.
What is the Purpose of this Website?
My intention with this website is to allow folks I meet throughout my life to understand who I am through the lens of my career and personal life experience. This platform is meant for me to speak my truth and shed light on the complexities of my intersectional identities and how folks interact with me based on preconceived notions about my identities.
For more information on the concept of intersectional identities, explore the work of the woman who coined the term: Kimberlé Crenshaw. One resource from Vox's interviews with her is linked with the brown button below.
A Glance At Michael's Accomplishments
Experience: Board of Directors member at Exhale Pro-Voice
While at Exhale Pro-voice, I led a small working group of 4 people — including myself — that worked on creating an Anti-oppression policy over 16 months. During that time, I led weekly working meetings, scribed detailed notes at each group meeting, sent weekly summary emails, facilitated goal setting throughout the project, conducted biweekly check-ins with individuals to help manage volunteer burnout, led team exercises that helped practice nonviolent communication, and located follow up resources to allow board members to receive training to work towards an inclusive and mindful organization. To read this policy click the link below
Experience: Gynecological Teacher Associate at Project Prepare
To date, I am one of the youngest hires in Project Prepare's history and have had a tremendous amount of success in educating future practitioners on how to better approach gynecological exams in a more trauma-informed way. By encouraging students to invest more time in thinking about intention versus impact, I have managed to educate over 500+ students on how to think about the term clinical relevance from a patient-first perspective. Educating students as a patient-educator has provided unique insight into what being a well-rounded educator means.
Experience: Specimen Collector at CORE
Superior Photo Caption: Post Work, Enjoying the Summer Breeze (June 2020)
Inferior Photo Caption: Carona Busters: The Best Specimen Collectors In Town (June 2020)
While working at CORE in 2020, I collected pharyngeal specimens to test people for the SARS-CoV-2 virus at a drive-thru testing site in East Oakland, which oddly enough was the parking lot of the church my Father's funeral was held 8 years prior At this site, we tested over 200 people/per day. Here I practiced emphasizing the importance of sanitation protocol to protect the community and healthcare workers by using my voice to address concerns when they came up. Here is where I faced a challenge I have often been met with in slightly different forms, which also gives the reason for the name of my website. Working here was an unexpected opportunity that I found through connecting with the site manager who made a post on LinkedIn. So, I say that to say short fake nails called acrylics since I was under the impression that I would spend that summer doing other things that wouldn't draw attention to that aspect of my body. On a lunch break, a co-worker brought it up in a way that did not land well with me. Instead of asking questions with curiosity, they made assumptions and spewed facts about the increased risk of germs persisting under my nails. I was not shocked but more agitated because I made key observations research and was supported by general reminders reviewed about biosafety that got my higher-up to access more appropriate PPE for our work (an example of what we first were wearing is shown in the picture of me in a yellow gown and what we got soon after I had that discussion is pictured below. It should be noted that those photographed in the picture to the left have given consent to me to post this image without mentioning their names. Also, because wearing gloves was baseline protocol so I was confused why it was at the forefront of their mind and necessary to discuss in the middle of a shift. As a person who values non-violent communication, I listened and advocated for a facilitated discussion where all truths could be honored in a safe environment. Nevertheless, this was an instance that inspired me to promote the support of 'fems' in STEM.
For more information on what a 'fem/femme' is, explore the link I have shared by clicking the brown button below and doing some of your own research as well.
Experience: Barret Fellow Researcher at Mills College
Photo Caption: It's All About Those Exteins! (March 2022)
In the Spring of 2022, I attended the ACS conference in San Diego to present research on inteins with my principle investigator, Dr. Ana Mostafavi, and my colleagues. The primary goal of our research was to determine the extein dependence of four fast splicing split inteins: gp41-1, gp41-8, IMPDH, and NrdJ-1. At the same time, the secondary goal was to characterize the splicing efficiency of each intein. I received many lessons during the 1.5 years I was in Dr. Mostafavi's lab; however, the enjoyable aspect of the research process was narrating the reaction mechanism and conducting a preliminary literature research review. For more information on the earlier studies conducted at The Muir Lab at Princeton by Dr. Mostafavi and her colleagues, please click the link below.
Experience: St. James Infirmary
Photo Caption: Another Day, Another Harm Reduction Tool Used
In early 2023, I started a position with Saint James as the Harm Reduction Coordinator. Through observing licensed caretakers, this position has provided more insight into what it would look like to pursue a career as a medical provider assisting non-profits.
To get a fuller view of my work, volunteer, and research experience, make a friend request on LinkedIn using the link to the left.
Photo Gallery of Michael Experiencing Joy
