Freneka F. Minter, Ph.D., MS, MCHES, PMP

How would you describe your college experience?

My college experience was like a culture shock and a long journey. It was a culture shock because I was the first to go to college in my mother's family. In college, I experienced many things for the first time, started to think about things critically, and was exposed to different people, cultures, ideologies, etc. I also experienced a journey of self-discovery because I had no clear sense of what I would become, but I was very hopeful that I was destined for greatness. I dealt with many physical (weight gain and health problems), mental (mild depression, anxiety, and financial issues (given that my family did not have much money) during my undergraduate. I entered MTSU as a pre-med student but had to declare a major after my sophomore year. I chose Chemistry since I had a solid background in science in high school, was a regional Science Olympiad winner in Chemistry, participated in the ACS Project SEED Scholars program, and already had taken many chemistry courses with good grades. I wouldn't be who I am today without some incredible MTSU faculty. On the other hand, I dealt with many life issues, shall we say, during that period. I worked part-time to make ends meet, and my studies were frequently interrupted by bouts of mental health distress and alcohol abuse. Fairly common college antics, I'm afraid, but they created a lot of drama in my life before I learned how to deal with stress and relationships more positively. It took a long time to sort out what I wanted to do with myself. I completed my Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Chemistry in May 2002 and was the first in my mother's immediate family to achieve this level of achievement. My college experience has also been a long journey. After I graduated from MTSU in 2002 and got married, I entered UT Health Science Center in Memphis for an M.D./Ph.D. program and had to withdraw due to some life issues. However, after six months, I changed paths and steered away from my science background to social science and biomedical science disciplines. I came back to MTSU in 2003 and received a master's degree in science (M.S.) in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (HPER) with a concentration in health in 2005 and became a certified health education specialist (CHES), credentialed by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC). Afterward, I worked in Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Prevention for a while, at the Tennessee Department of Health as a public health educator, and at Oak Ridge Associated Universities/Oak Ridge Institutes for Science and Education as a public health education specialist. In 2011, I obtained the Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) credentialed by NCHEC and decided to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree in Health Services with Walden University. In 2012, in the middle of my doctoral pursuit, I took a position as a program coordinator at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and as a "without compensation" (WOC) appointment for the Tennessee Valley Healthcare Systems VA in Nashville, TN. This position eventually became Sr. IT Project Manager of the Center for Improving the Public’s through Health Informatics’ research portfolio under the Department of Biomedical Informatics. I completed my Ph.D. requirements on August 13, 2017, after completing all my coursework and successfully conducting, writing up, and defending my dissertation research study titled "Gender Differences in Health Service Utilization among Veterans with Acute Kidney Injury." I was also the first in her family to pursue a doctoral degree. I also obtained my project management professional (PMP) credential from the Project Management Institute (PMI) and a Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) credential from the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA). Both credentials were essential to my research project management duties in clinical research at my job at the time.  I currently work as the Sr. Community Research Program Manager for the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance.

When did you know that you wanted to major in a STEM discipline?

I was exposed to the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines early, and I excelled in science and math in high school. However, I did not know that I wanted to major in a STEM discipline until I got accepted into college. With my background, being accepted into college was a dream come true!

What would you tell a middle or high school girl about careers in STEM?

You are needed in STEM careers because there are few women in these careers. However, women have achieved so much in STEM, and you can accomplish a lot in STEM too! As girls, we are natural problem solvers, detail-oriented, and intellectual thinkers, and we can push past stereotypes and familial backgrounds. If you can, I urge you to take classes that most are afraid to take, like calculus, physics, chemistry, computer science, and engineering courses. Expose yourself to fields that you don't see many women pursuing. I encourage you to find a mentor that works in a STEM career.

What should middle and high school girls be doing to prepare themselves for college and a STEM careers?

Most people are afraid to take science, biology, calculus, physics, chemistry, computer science, and engineering classes. Take the if you can. Note which courses you like best and what you like about them. Use google to look up and discover majors and careers in those classes you enjoy and what it takes as far as education to get that STEM career. Set SMART (specific, measurable, attainable/achievable, realistic/relevant, time-based) goals to track your progress, and every time your reach a goal, reward yourself. Rewarding yourself will help you appreciate your journey. I also encourage you to find a mentor that works in a STEM career or talk to your teachers who can help expose you to opportunities and programs in the STEM fields that many women typically do not pursue.

What advice do you have for teachers and counselors who are assisting students prepare for a STEM major and career?

I know the importance of inspiring, encouraging, and empowering students, especially girls, to choose a STEM major and career because I am a product of teachers, counselors, family, and mentors who inspired, encouraged, and empowered me to take the path I have taken. A high school chemistry teacher urged me to become part of my school's Science Olympiad team and apply for the Project SEED scholars’ program at MTSU, where I acquired a mentor. This mentor guided me to pursue other programs I was qualified for. If it were not for these people inspiring, encouraging, and empowering me to apply for programs that I did not think I qualified for, I probably would not be the person I am today.

My advice for teachers and counselors assisting students in preparing for a STEM major and career is to identify what your students are good at and make them aware of it. Urge your students to think outside the box and pursue programs and schools they feel would not be qualified to get them out of a fear of rejection.

What career advice would you give to girls if you only have two minutes?

Believe in yourself, work hard and never give up, and you can achieve more than you imagined! I can't promise the journey will be smooth and short, but I promise that you will eventually reach your destination if you never give up. Take time to enjoy your journey, take care of yourself, and reward yourself often. Be curious and courageous! Do not be afraid to ask questions. Do not be scared of rejection. Face your fears and walk in faith, not fear. It does not hurt to try something new. Every time you try, it may lead to triumph!