Meet your Science Senator: Jonathan Mousley
Jonathan Mousley has his eyes and his goals set high, both in his personal life, and in his new position as the science senator at USU. Mousley aims to create a better environment here at USU for science students to excel in.
His ambitions and ideas started pretty young, as he realized in high school in Riverton, Utah that he wanted to get a doctorate although he wasn’t sure yet. He’s since decided to pursue a doctorate in mathematics and he’s currently looking into graduate school. To get off on the right foot, Mousley decided to start his journey at Utah State because of its outstanding undergraduate research and mentors.
“I heard of so many people having a great time getting to know faculty in a really intimate way and my experience was no different,” says Mousley. “I’ve been able to build relationships that have enabled me to always have someone to go to for professional advice.”
In some ways, the same thing that brought and kept Mousely at USU motivated him to campaign to be the science senator.
“It’s really huge to have people who are well into their career and have had their own experiences navigating undergrad and graduate school and professional environments who will just listen to you talk for a second,” says Mousley. “I want to make sure that we are providing opportunity for professional development which will be seen in the science mentorship program.”
Mousley is hoping to get more and more mentors involved by securing funds to give mentors a stipend for participating. By doing this, mentors with financial limitations who have expressed interest in being involved in the program would be able to participate.
Mousley is especially aiming to help students who are first-generation college students. The continued improvement of the mentorship program will give these students the resources to be more professionally successful.
In addition, Mousley wants all students to be aware of the undergraduate research program.
“There’s a misconception that freshmen can’t participate in undergraduate research or that people need to wait until ‘x’ amount of time before then can get started,” says Mousley. “I’d like to dispel those myths and tell people more about what research is.”
Mousley also wants people involved in undergraduate research to have an easy-to-use online resource that would give information on the research mentors, what kind of research they do, and how to contact them.
Although Mousley doesn’t believe he’s seen setbacks yet, he knows that some are coming. Getting funding is always a bit of a struggle, particularly as he tries to get better pay for TA’s. However, he’s very confident that results will come as he shows data that supports giving TA’s better compensation for the work that they do.
“I think the objective is really to advocate and be open-minded,” says Mousley, “and I think we’ll have success in these areas even though they seem tough to tackle.”
In improving the mentorship program, the undergraduate research program, and TA advocacy, Mousley will be relying heavily on the science council to accomplish his objectives. Mousley’s previous experiences on the council helped him to feel a commonality with other science students and pushed him to run to be the science senator.
Additionally, Mousley wants people to become more involved in the science council as it helps all science students, and it serves our peers.
“Pretty soon here we’re going to be getting some applications rolled out for people to be on the science council and as far as I’m concerned anyone who wants a position on the science council has it,” says Mousley. “All are welcome.”
Ultimately, Mousley said he aims to help as many people as he can and to encourage others to do the same. Mousley and the science council are going to work as hard as they can for Mousley’s term to do just that.
“There’s always something to be said to make our environment and our community better for other people.”
Photo by Lizzy Driggs.
Emeline Haroldsen is a dual Mathematics and Biochemistry major. She’s originally from Maryland and she enjoys most forms of physical activity, playing the piano, and completing her homework on time.
emeline.haroldsen@usu.edu