Academic Year WesMaSS Program


WesMaSS Colloquium

First-year Scholars enroll in the WesMaSS Colloquium (CIS 121 &122), a weekly seminar for which Scholars earn course credit. Through the Colloquium, Scholars...

  • Meet scientists and mathematicians, learning about their academic and career pathways – and their research
  • Tour labs and other campus facilities for an inside look at projects advancing STEM fields right now
  • Participate in learning strategies workshops
  • Engage in facilitated discussion about their college experience
  • Learn about graduate school, professional school, fellowship opportunities, and career paths in science and math fields  

 

Annual Keynote

It is WesMaSS tradition to invite a distinguished guest speaker to share their story and work with Scholars. Our WesMaSS Keynote Speaker for 2025 is astrophysicist Dr. Farisa Morales, the program manager for the Astrophysics & Heliophysics Research & Analysis Office at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). She also serves as the Dean of Academic Affairs over the STEM programs at L.A. Mission College, and is an Adjunct Professor in the Physics & Astronomy department at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), and at Moorpark College. Her research at JPL centers on advancing our understanding of the formation, architecture, and evolution of planetary systems, as well as the search for planets that influence these processes. Her WesMaSS keynote is titled "From Motherhood to the Cosmos: My trajectory into Astrophysics and the Investigation of Planetary Debris Systems"

 

Community Events

WesMaSS is more than an academic program, it is also a community. Throughout the academic year, Scholars gather for events like apple picking trips, game nights, pumpkin carving, and more. 

 

Research Funding

As Scholars progress in their study of science and math, many will pursue research opportunities under the supervision of a faculty mentor. To facilitate substantive engagement in these projects, WesMaSS makes funding available to Scholars to support their participation in the Wesleyan Summer Science Research program. Through research, WesMaSS Scholars gain experience and skills that will not only serve you in your college courses, but will also prepare you for graduate school, medical school, and other pathways beyond Wesleyan.