Greetings, Science Cheerleader fans! Please welcome Megan, our newest Washington Redskins SciCheer! Just when I think we’ve found everyone, new ladies appear. Please give Megan your attention as she talks about getting into computers and cheerleading!

What turned you on to engineering and when?
Megan: When I was a young elementary school student my favorite class was mathematics. Aside from our daily curriculum, I looked forward to the computer class we had once a week.  My favorite day was when we played Mario Typing, and each time I would try to beat my highest words per minute score.  I don’t think any of my classmates enjoyed this game as much as I did!  It was then that my love of computers started, and as technology progressed I became more intrigued with how computers worked. I was more interested in solving math problems than memorizing history dates or writing papers.  Once I reached high school, I was excited to take my first programming course.  The introductory Java programming courses I took in high school cemented my plans to major in a technology related field.  My teachers in high school encouraged me to enter the field of science, especially since I was female.

You have a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from George Washington University. What were some of your favorite courses you took to prepare for your degree?
Megan: My favorite course was the VLSI (very large scale integration) course I took my senior year.  This class was extremely hands on and gave me the opportunity to create complex systems using CAD design and simulation.  I had the opportunity to design a transistor level system virtually and have it made into a chip that I was later able to test.   

Tell us about the teams you’ve cheered for, how long you’ve cheered for them, and why you tried out to be a professional cheerleader.
Megan: I started dancing at age 3 and cheering shortly after.  I went to a very small grade school which fed into a very small high school, both of which did not have football teams.  I became used to cheering for basketball, and doing a toe touch each time one of our players was at the foul line.  The number of students at my school was small but our spirit was not.  We always had fans to cheer on and shout for our team proudly.  There was no other school I wanted to cheer on, and putting on the uniform for my high school made me proud.   I always looked forward to game day and using my blue and silver sparkly poms.  Our high school squad was dedicated and we focused more on our motions and dancing than our pyramids.  I was captain my last year in grade school and in high school, and I took the roles very seriously.  I believe that my love for cheering helped me be a great leader and role model. 

My most memorable experiences before professional cheerleading occurred while in college as part of the GW Spirit Program.  Again I somehow chose to attend another school that did not have a football team!  We cheered on our Colonials in the Smith Center for both men’s and women’s basketball games and sometimes we attended other sporting events around campus.  We hoped to keep up school spirit whether we were winning or losing.  Aside from our school spirit at the games, we also competed at national competitions.  During my four years on the team I attended NDA Nationals once and UDA Nationals three times. 

When I performed at my last GW basketball game, I knew that I was not done with dancing.  I had seen videos and photos of the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders while I was in the DC area for school and I was intrigued by the thought of cheering for a football team.  I had dreams of continuing my dance career professionally and this seemed like the perfect way to do it.  As the time for tryouts rolled around, I had fulfilled my goal of receiving a college degree and a full-time job, so it was time to take the next step in my passion of dance.  My first year as a Washington Redskins Cheerleader was one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I am so glad I had the opportunity to be a part of this team. 

Which came first? Your interest in engineering or cheerleading?
Megan: Cheerleading!  My first performance on the court was at age five and my first dance recital was at age three, both a few years before I discovered my love of computers and science.  I looked up to the older girls at my school and wanted to be great cheerleaders just like they were.  The poms that the older girls had were pretty cool, too, and I wanted to have my own.  My cousin was a cheerleader, and she is part of the reason I started so young.  I wanted to be just like her and make her proud!

What’s a typical day like for you?
Megan: My typical day at work is spent at my computer writing code, testing code, or researching how to write code for a new task I’ve been given. When I use the term code, I mean using a computer language to instruct the computer to complete a certain task.  There are many different computer languages, so my daily tasks can vary in the language I use.  Sometimes I will have technical meetings to attend or I will work on documentation efforts.  When five o’clock comes, I am ready for job number two!  I drive straight to Fedex Field for practice!

Best part of your day job or studies?
Megan: The best part of my day job is when my code works!  Many times I have to troubleshoot problems in code I have written, and the best feeling is when I can fix the problems and get it working successfully.

Do you find that stereotypes about cheerleaders helped or hindered your studies or professional experiences?
Megan: There were a few times in college when my academic advisor questioned my membership in the spirit program.  She had told me that I needed to focus 100% on my studies, and recommended that I think about quitting the dance team.  This was not an option for me since dance was my passion, but these conversations with my advisor were very discouraging.  I had to prove to my professors that I could handle the time commitments for both while putting my school work first.  The same goes for my life in the professional world, as I always try to keep my job commitments first.  Many people don’t understand the time, dedication, and hard work that makes a cheerleader, so I have learned to not worry about the opinions of others.  

Do you have any advice for youngsters who might feel torn between following one dream and another?
Megan: My best advice is to follow your dreams and never have regrets that you didn’t give it your all.  If you really want to be a cheerleader and have a career in science you can do it!  Anything worth having is hard work, so trying to balance both is very important.  You must be willing to make sacrifices and give your all to both science and cheerleading.  Just keep focused and don’t lose sight of your dreams, no matter how hard it gets you will get through it.  The rewards of both make it all worthwhile.  We all have a little geek in us and you might not even know it!

Along these lines, what advice would you give your 12-year-old self?
Megan: I would tell my 12-year-old self to never stop trying and always reach for the stars.  Never forget your love of dance, and use it as an outlet to relieve the stress of your school work. If someone tells you that you can’t do something, prove them wrong.

What are your plans for the future?
Megan: My plans for the near future are to continue cheering and working as a software engineer.  I hope to have the opportunity to work towards a graduate degree once my performing days are over.  I want to spend a few more years in the professional world to help me decide what direction my career will head. I hope to stay involved in cheerleading throughout my life by coaching.  It would be an amazing experience to help young girls reach their dreams and goals, just as my coaches have helped me.

Best cheerleading experience?
Megan: My best cheerleading experience was my first Redskins game as a cheerleader.  Stepping onto the field for our pre-game show was such a rush, one that I had never experienced before.  All of the hard work, sweat, and tears that my teammates and I put into the season before that moment had all paid off.  Although each game I have a similar excitement, there is nothing like the very first time and I will never forget that feeling.

Best science/engineering-related experience?
Megan: Graduating from The George Washington University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering was one of my most gratifying moments.  My college years were filled with hard work, difficult classes, and very few hours of sleep (or sleep in the engineering building!).  When I received my degree all of my hard work had finally paid off.

What’s one thing people might find especially surprising about you?
Megan: Something that people may find especially surprising about me is that I once dreamed of being a comedian, an unbelievable thing since I’m really not funny!  When the movie “The Mask” came out, I had decided that Jim Carrey was my idol.  This dream to be a comedian died fast to my dancing dreams, but there is still a little part of me that secretly wants to be a comedian!

If you could rewind the clock and change your degree, would you? If so, to what and why?  If not, why not?
Megan: I would not change my degree at all.  Although the curriculum was very challenging there is nothing else I could see myself doing.  I

Why do you want to be a Science Cheerleader?
Megan: Science and cheerleading are two of my favorite things, and both are extremely important in my everyday life.  My career in the science field keeps me learning every day and progressing in my field of engineering.  Cheerleading is my passion and performing allows me to feel free from the stress of everyday life and work.  Science Cheerleader exemplifies everything I have worked so hard for all my life and still do today.  Its members balance careers, schooling, and cheerleading while giving 110% to all of it.  Having achieved both of these dreams in my life I would like to help others to show them hard work and dedication can make your dreams come true.  I feel that being a Science Cheerleader would give me the opportunity to share my love of science and cheerleading with others, and I would feel honored to be a part of this elite group of cheerleaders.

Forwarded to us by our friends at the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE):

[updated 2/10/12] The President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness hosted a ceremony on February 8 with deans of engineering schools that have demonstrated high graduation and retention rates, bringing attention to President Obama’s strategy to create more domestic engineers. The Council also announced a partnership with the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) to develop metrics to formally recognize engineering schools that meet particular graduation and retention levels.

President Obama has stated a goal of graduating 10,000 additional new engineers annually–above the current number of approximately 80,000–primarily through private sector incentives and efforts in engineering schools to attract and retain top talent. The Council is dominated by leaders from companies that rely on a quality STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) workforce and who have a particular interest in the production of more engineers.

ASEE identified appropriate metrics by which to measure retention and graduation rates, identify schools rated as most effective by these metrics, and publicize best practices. The proposed effort builds upon ongoing work on retention being conducted by ASEE with the support of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

“ASEE is well-equipped to gather this data, given our close relationship with schools of engineering and engineering technology,” said Don Giddens, ASEE President and dean emeritus of the Georgia Institute of Technology’s department of biomedical engineering. “We share the Council’s concern regarding the ability of our schools to attract and retain top talent, particularly given the technological demands of the workforce of the next century.”

After the metrics are identified, ASEE will conduct an annual assessment of data supplied by university applicants, reviewed and validated between October and an award announcement in February. Institutions must have a college of engineering with a minimum of one Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology-accredited undergraduate program and offer bachelor’s degrees in engineering or computer science.

Founded in 1893, ASEE is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting excellence in engineering and engineering technology education, and advancing research, public service, and the practice of engineering worldwide.

Meet Trish, a Science Cheerleader who cheers for the Super Bowl-playing New England Patriots AND is an environmental engineer! Trish earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Check out this interview!

Trish: What turned you on to engineering?
Trish: I have always liked math growing up. I still remember learning subtraction and addition at the dinner table with my parents using Cheerios. Math was a fun game where I enjoyed the concept of rules and always having a solution. My dad is a draftsman. I think this is where I get my desire for math from.

What’s a typical day like for you?
Trish:I work during the week at my engineering office. At work I do anything ranging from calculating how much water a town needs in the future to going out in the field and recording pressure data on hydrants needed to help analyze a town’s water distribution system. From work, I either go directly to the Gillette Stadium for practice with the rest of my team or I go to my old dance studio where I teach young girls dance. Throughout the year I am also given the opportunity to perform at home Patriots games, travel throughout New England for promotional appearances and charity events, travel to tropical places to shoot a calendar, and go overseas to the Middle East to support our troops.

Best part of your day job?
Trish:Constantly working on something new and continue learning and knowing that the work I do directly impacts hundreds of people in a positive way.

Do you find that stereotypes about cheerleaders helped or hindered your studies or professional experiences?
Trish:Stereotypes about cheerleaders never hindered my studies or professional experiences although the education, degrees and jobs of Patriots Cheerleaders definitely surprise people. At work, throughout college and growing up at home, everyone in my life has been a support system that I am very grateful for.

Do you have any advice for youngsters who might feel torn between following one dream and another?
Trish: I believe that even with a love for dance, a degree is so important and should come first. I was able to put my studies first and enjoy dance on the side. Once I earned my degree, I was lucky enough to fulfill a dream by becoming a Patriots Cheerleader. Based on my experience, there is no reason why you cannot find a way to incorporate engineering, math, science, health, or whatever your interest may be with the love of dance or cheering.

What are your plans for the future?
Trish:I will go for my professional license in engineering and hopefully continue to teach dance.

Best cheerleading experience?
Trish:The best cheerleading experience I have had so far was traveling to Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Qatar to visit the troops over the Christmas season in 2010. It was truly a rewarding experience that will always be with me. We were able to travel to 12 forward operating bases and combat outposts in the regional command north section of Afghanistan as well as join a Humanitarian Mission in Kyrgyzstan at the school for underprivileged children where we distributed hats and scarves and danced and played with the kids.

Best engineering-related experience?
One specific engineering-related experience I had was in college. I had the opportunity to travel with a group of engineering students to Kenya. In Kenya, we were able to help a community improve their drinking water and educate them about proper hygiene and water quality. We raised money to install well-built and reconstructed filtered springs, and we visited local orphanages, hospitals, and schools.

What’s one thing people might find especially surprising about you?
Trish:Besides being an NFL Cheerleader and an engineer, I am also a daredevil. I love to hike and water ski, snowboard, ATV. I have even gone skydiving three times!

If you could rewind the clock and change your degree, would you? If so, to what and why? If not, why not?
Trish:If for some reason I could not do engineering, I would go back to school for education and become a math, science, or engineering teacher because teaching is another passion of mine. I also feel like engineering has a positive impact on people, teaching does as well and I always want to help people in some way.

Why do you want to be a Science Cheerleader?
Trish:I would love to be a role model for younger girls in the community. I think it is important to inspire younger generations to strive to do their best in whatever they choose to do and to not worry about what others may think of them.

That’s right: six!

Dr. John Ohab had the opportunity to interview the cheerleaders from his hometown NFL team before their season ended. Check it out!

Greetings, SciCheer readers! Please welcome Lindsey, a Carolina Panthers Science Cheerleader who’s pursuing an active life and career as a chemical engineer. She’s also a big fan of bustin’ down cheerleader stereotypes, so she fits in very nicely. Read on!

Why engineering?
I really enjoy talking about engineering with others, especially young women, because I was one of those students who had never heard of engineering until someone told me I should look into it. When trying to decide on a college major during my junior year of high school, a teacher suggested chemical engineering because her son was studying that very thing. I always enjoyed math and science, and it seemed to be a perfect fit. What I love is that chemical engineering exposes you to all kinds of careers: making medicines, developing new technology, designing new materials, and even fashion! I knew that I couldn’t get bored!

What is your degree in and from where?
My degree is in Chemical Engineering from Oregon State University- GO BEAVERS!

Favorite and/or least favorite courses you took to prepare for your degree? Why?
I enjoyed ALL of my courses! There is so much out there to learn, and I love taking in new information even when it has nothing to do with my degree. I absolutely loved all of my math courses because there is always a definitive end (I think that’s my OCD kicking in). I also enjoyed my biomedical engineering classes. It is amazing what science can do to save lives- we learned about how engineering can be applied to medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and prosthetics.

You are Co-Chair of the Merck Women’s Network. What does that organization do?
The Merck Women’s Network (MWN) works to retain our talented female employees through personal and professional development, promotes cultural awareness, and partners with and supports business initiatives relevant to women. At our site I work with a team of amazing people–both men and women–to fulfill this mission. One of the best parts of MWN is the friendship and camaraderie between the women on site. It is important to surround yourself with people who support you. My favorite site initiative is working with the American Heart Association to promote a healthy and active lifestyle because heart disease is the number one killer of women. We give out heart-healthy recipe books and even had a Zumba instructor give a class on site! I also enjoy mentoring third graders at the local elementary school. I think it is important to give back and do the same for someone else.

Best part of your day job?
Knowing that I am saving lives! Each day I help send vaccines around the world and that is the most rewarding feeling. I also work with the most amazing people, who I continue to learn from each day! The old stereotype of what an engineer is doesn’t exist in my group!

You cheer for the Carolina Panthers. How long have you cheered for them, and why did you try out to be a professional cheerleader.
This is my rookie season on the TopCats and it has been an AMAZING experience. I originally auditioned for the team because I wanted to continue dancing (I danced on my college dance team) and because I love football (who doesn’t want to be that close to the action?!). However this past year has been about so much more than dance. I have made 24 new friends who are like sisters to me and I would do anything for them. I have met people that have touched my heart and changed my life (see best cheerleading experience below). I get the best seat in the house to watch the best team in the NFL.

Which came first, your interest in engineering or cheerleading?
I would say cheerleading, but I was an engineer at a young age and I didn’t even know it! I didn’t have Barbies like the other girls. Growing up I played with trains and Legos. I loved those science kits you can buy at the toy store although I can’t say my parents loved the messes I made while trying to make “goop”. I started dancing when I was about 4 and it has always been my biggest passion. I also played soccer, volleyball, and basketball, but dance always came first. I practically lived in the dance studio through high school, and cheered on my school’s squad. I’ve always been very busy. I’m not really sure what I would do with myself if I had more time to sit around!

Can you describe a typical day?
A typical day starts off very early! I wake up at 5 a.m. to get a good workout in. I get to work a few hours later, and never without a coffee in hand. As an automation engineer, my job is to continually support and optimize the process with regard to the automated systems. I love my job because I get to work hands-on with a lot various automated systems. I spend a lot of time figuring out how to make a piece of equipment or a system do what I want it to do through code development.If I have practice, I need to leave work early to meet my carpool for the 2 hour drive to Charlotte. When I’m not in Charlotte, I enjoy quality time with my friends and my husband.

Do you find that stereotypes about cheerleaders helped or hindered your career?
I have been told more times than I can remember that I couldn’t be an engineer because I don’t fit the mold, but what is the mold supposed to look like? On this website alone are amazing women that have thriving careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and there are so many more women like us out there, even future STEM professionals! I also can’t believe that some people still believe in some of the cheerleading stereotypes. Being a professional cheerleader has taught me to be poised and confident, improved my leadership skills, and has enhanced my time management skills.

Best cheerleading experience?
This year we worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to make the day of a special little girl named Isabella Santos. My teammates and I spent the day with Isabella while she was an honorary TopCat. Isabella may be suffering from a rare form of cancer, but she was so brave, uplifting, and giving. She brought joy to our locker room and we still have her picture up. She inspired me and I write to her every week.

Best engineering-related experience?
I have gotten to travel to Germany to work on a robot and work with a team to build a facility from the ground up, but my favorite experiences are working with my colleagues in the community. A group of us mentor at the local elementary school where we get to remind kids about the importance of education and how science can lead to a career. We also have worked with organizations such as Operation Christmas Child where we helped pack shoe boxes of toys and goodies to be shipped to third-world countries.

If you could rewind the clock and change your degree, would you? If so, to what and why? If not, why not?
I would not change my degree! What I love about being a chemical engineer is that it is virtually impossible to get bored. An engineering degree can be used to design buildings, make life-saving devices, or design better materials for shoes. What I love about STEM is that it applies to EVERYTHING!

Do you have any advice for youngsters who might feel torn between following one dream and another?
Why do you have to decide between two things? There are so many benefits to following your dreams in cheerleading or other sports and activities and pursuing a career in STEM. You become a well-rounded individual if you are able to dedicate yourself to a rigorous schedule of school and practices. It will be hard to manage both, but you will have a diverse group of friends and you will develop a wide set of skills. There were many times when I had to choose between going out with friends and studying for an exam. There were times when it was hard to go to school all day and practice all night and I wanted to quit. Just remember why you are doing these things and do what makes you happy.

Along these lines, what advice would you give your 12-year-old self?
I remember that I used to hide my “inner geek.” My advice is to never pretend to be dumb because you are worried others won’t like you otherwise. There are people out there who will make you feel bad because you are successful at more than one thing (ex. cheerleading and math). This is only because they are intimidated by your potential success.

What’s one thing people might find especially surprising about you?
I may be part of the movement of paving the way for women into a so-called “Man’s World,” but I am very old fashioned! I do all the cooking, cleaning, laundry, and grocery shopping in our home. I love planning meals for the week and making sure there is a nice dinner and a clean home to come home to each night. I have never even touched a lawn mower! I am proud to say I try to do it all–work, cheer, cook, and take care the house. I couldn’t do it without the support of my husband of course! Being from the Northwest, I am also an outdoor adventurer. I love to hike, snowshoe, camp, water-ski, and anything else outdoors. Another interesting fact is that I LOVE infomercials!

Why do you want to be a Science Cheerleader?
It is an honor to be a Science Cheerleader! Both science and cheerleading have brought me so much joy, and I want others to have the same experience. The Science Cheerleader is a wonderful opportunity to promote STEM, cheerleading, and transform the perception of science and cheerleading in our country.

Darlene Cavalier will be a participant and featured speaker at this workshop designed to create a roadmap for a useful citizen science programs related to the microbiology of the built environment.
Hosted by MicroBEnet, the online destination for resources related to the microbiology of the built environment. Funded by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to Jonathan Eisen at the University of California, Davis it is collaboration between the Eisen Lab and Hal Levin at the Building Ecology Research Group.
Outcomes will be posted here on Science Cheerleader.

Originally posted on the Boy’s Latin of Philadelphia Charter School website.

Alec Stith wins city-wide video competition.

All of the videos were uploaded to YouTube and were submitted to a public vote. Alec’s video was among the top three videos to make it to the semi-final round. The final winner was selected by a panel of judges from Apple, Inc. Alec’s video was based on the idea that advances in science and technology have changed the way we are able to communicate with others.

A special “science pep rally” was held in Alec’s honor. Representatives from the Phillies gave out prizes to the students who attended. In addition, cheerleaders from Drexel University, LaSalle University, and the Science Cheerleaders were on hand to support the celebration.

Alec received $100 in iTunes gift certificates and a field trip with his peers to tour of Jill Scott’s professional recording studio. Alec’s teacher, Mr. Smith, also won $250 in classroom funds from Staples, and Dr. Tennant received a signed John Legend CD. A special thanks also went out to Mr. Hasty for promoting the contest in his technology classes at Boys’ Latin and for ensuring that the largest number of student entries came from Boys’ Latin. Students and Mr. Hardy visited Jill Scott’s recording studio on Tuesday, December 13.

Thank you to Fran Andrews and the Philadelphia Math + Science Coalition for coordinating this event.

Happy New Year everyone – I’m back to share some of the best the science blogosphere has to offer the rest of us.  Each January, many science bloggers gather in the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina for the annual ScienceOnline conference.   Darlene has presented here in previous years, and this year’s program features some big names in the community.  People like:

Joanne Manaster.  Joanne should be familiar to readers here.  She’s actually going through the entire list of conference attendees, visiting their blogs, and writing about it on Twitter.  She’s also listing her tweets on her own blog, so you get a huge link list of literally hundreds of science bloggers plus suggestions on posts to read.  (In other words, she’s making me look bad.  Just kidding, Joanne.)

Krystal D’costa.  Krystal is a NYC-based anthropologist and she’s become one of my go-to reads as of late.  Here she examines why deep voices in men are considered attractive.  Kinda cool.

Emily Eggleston.  Emily is a writer pursuing two masters’ degrees at once at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Joanne found a really cool post Emily wrote about the science of snowflakes – she called it “the crystals of winter.”

Andrea Kuszewski.  Andrea is a neuroscientist, educator, and artist who has a huge following in social networks. This is another post Joanne found – Andrea explains the merging of art and science.

I’m really looking forward to the conference, to hearing from these great writers, and sharing their work with you…

Greetings, Science Cheerleader fans! Meet Melanie, a former Atlanta Falcons cheerleader with a degree in exercise and sports science, who is currently competing in Bud Light’s Facebook contest to be a special correspondent at Super Bowl XLVI! As a five-year NFL cheerleader, Melanie went to the ProBowl but she’s never made it to the SuperBowl. Want to help her achieve a dream? After you’ve learned more about Melanie, consider voting for her clicking this Bud Light Facebook link, then click on Melanie Snare’s video and “like” it! That simple. Melanie thanks you in advance!!

First, let’s learn more about Melanie’s interest in science!

Melanie, you’ve got a degree in Exercise and Sport Sciences from the University of North Carolina (UNC)-Chapel Hill. What got you interested in that degree? 
Melanie: I wanted to be a physical therapist. In order to do that, I stayed on track for my exercise and sports science degree and took all the necessary classes to apply to physical therapy school down the road. My path changed considerably!

We’ll get to that in just a bit. Can you tell us about your favorite courses you took to prepare for your degree?
Melanie: I loved learning the science of how our body works! My favorite classes were Human Anatomy, Physiology and Biomechanics. It was just all so tangible and I could understand how these subjects affected me as a person and as an athlete.

You’re now working as a television reporter. How’d that happen?
Melanie: My other college degree was in Communication Studies. Being a cheerleader in the NFL opened many doors for me, including being a guest on TV shows, being a spokesmodel, etc. I fell in love with being in front of the camera. It was so much like cheering–being prepared, performing for an audience-—it was just a natural transition for me after cheering. And I still cover the Falcons cheerleaders, so it’s a lot of fun to host a TV show about the cheerleading world and be involved that way!

Best part of your day job? 
Melanie: The best part of my day job is that I have a platform that allows me to inspire others. I get to share experiences, life lessons, and so much more with people to encourage them to not just dream big, but to chase those dreams and to make them happen!

You cheered for UNC-Chapel Hill and the Atlanta Falcons. Tell us more about that.
Melanie: I grew up in a dance studio my entire life. I loved to dance, and when I went to college, I just wasn’t ready to give up that chapter of my life. So I tried out for the dance team and became a collegiate dancer/cheerleader. Same thing when I was graduating college: I still wasn’t ready to give it up, so I looked up nearby NFL teams and picked Atlanta because I grew up going to dance competitions in that city and loved it. Not only did it allow me to keep dancing, it introduced me to an entire new group of friends and provided a network of connections that will benefit me for a lifetime. My very best friends and life memories are with my Carolina girls and Falcons cheerleaders!

Which came first, your interest in science or cheerleading?
Melanie: My interest in dance/cheerleading came first. I was one of those kids who wanted to perform nonstop from the minute I could walk. Now I see the same passion in my four-year-old daughter and even my 20-month-old is beginning to do the same. It’s pretty awesome to watch!

Melanie's Bud Light SuperBowl audition video

How did your fellow cheerleaders accept your interest in science? 
Melanie: They embraced it! I live in a cheerleading world where being intelligent is celebrated and expected! We all have all kinds of passions and interests and careers, so it’s always fun to be breaking stereotypes out there!

Do you find that stereotypes about cheerleaders have helped or hindered your professional experiences?
Melanie: I am indifferent. I feel like they are definitely present, but once you start talking to someone, you can wow them within 15 seconds by who you are and what you are all about, and they will immediately know that you are someone to take seriously. It’s awesome to meet someone with the stereotype that cheerleaders are dumb because I can always convert them to the truth!

Best cheerleading experience? 
Melanie: Cheering in the Pro Bowl as my last game: standing on the sidelines in Hawaii beside one lady representing each of the other NFL teams was the best final game I could have asked for. It was there that I learned to make new dreams come true. And it was such an honor that my teammates believed in me enough to send me as the representative for the Atlanta Falcons organization.

If you could rewind the clock and change your degree, would you? If so, to what and why?  If not, why not? 
Melanie: I might change my double major to Journalism instead of Communication Studies so I could have gotten more of a focus on broadcasting, but all in all I am happy with where I am and what it took me to get here, so probably not.

Do you have any advice for youngsters who might feel torn between following one dream and another? 
Melanie: My advice is that you don’t have to choose! You can and should do both! I know many people who did and still do! It just takes extra work ethic, time management, and prioritization skills and determination. We CAN do it all!

Along these lines, what advice would you give your 12-year-old self? 
Melanie: I would tell her to enjoy every single experience because you are in for the most amazing ride you can imagine—and when you get the choice to sit it out or dance—just dance!

What’s one thing people might find especially surprising about you? 
Melanie: With my crazy-busy career, I still manage to be a pretty cool mom to two beautiful little girls.

What are your plans for the future?
Melanie: I hope to launch my hosting career more on the national level, go to many dance recitals and sporting events to watch my little girls cheer over the years, and I am launching a blog in late January 2012 to inspire others that they can and should chase their dreams. We CAN do it all! It will be at www.howshedoesitall.com.

Why do you want to be a Science Cheerleader?
Melanie:To inspire others!

Business Spotlight magazine is Europe’s leading magazine for international business communication in English.This month, the magazine includes a feature on “citizen scientists” (folks without science degrees who contribute to real science). The article gives a few nods to Science Cheerleader and our sister-site, SciStarter (the source for citizen science projects).

Here are two excerpts and a link to the full article (PDF). Sorry, the full article is not yet available online.

By taking a look at the world around you, the sky above you, the civilizations that have gone before you, or the molecules inside you, you can become a “citizen scientist.” In “Masters of the universe” (Business Spotlight 1/2012), Carol Scheunemann looks at how people are contributing to scientific understanding — through their hobbies.

And, here’s a shameless, self-promoting excerpt:

Besides folding proteins, hunting galaxies, or watch- ing snails, thousands of other activities for citizen scientists attract huge numbers of volunteers worldwide, says “science cheerleader” and blogger Darlene Cavalier from Philadelphia, co-founder of the Web portal SciStarter. The portal offers a central listing where citizens and projects can find each other. People can search in various categories, such as time, costs, or skills needed, and by specialty, or geographic area. Cavalier says that, while some people want to contribute to research, others “are drawn to citizen science because it connects them to — and helps protect — nature.”
When she’s not busy working on her Web sites, speaking at conferences, or writing for Discover, a U.S. popular-science magazine, you might find Cavalier and her four children adding to scientific understanding by digging in a bag of dirt from the Museum of the Earth in Ithaca, NY, looking for bits of mastodon fossils.