Co-op Legacy Fellow Sarah Tsuruo

Sarah Tsuruo ’21, Biological Sciences
Spring 2020 UConn Co-op Legacy Fellow – Change Grant Recipient

DVCC STEM Program: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Teaching STEM

Project Summary

Children impacted by Domestic Violence are three times more likely to be victims or
perpetrators of DV/IPV again later on in life, as a result of believing that violence is the norm for
solving conflict in relationships. These children also manifest these traumatic experiences as
behavioral problems, substance abuse, chronic physical and mental health issues and lower
educational attainment and lower IQs.

Therefore this STEM program at a Domestic Violence Crisis Center was founded in the hope
that these children, who are mostly LatinX and of a lower socioeconomic status, will have a safe,
fun and engaging program that is educated on DV issues in children. As a direct impact, Sarah
hopes to create a space where these children can learn about the wonders of science, while
healthily destressing, coping and expressing emotions. As a lasting impact, Sarah hopes this
program increases educational interest and attainment for these children, in order to address the
lower IQs and educational attainment issues in children impacted by DV.

As an underserved and disadvantaged community, Sarah hopes to advocate for these children
and empower them through education on health literacy and biology, chemistry and ecology
fundamentals.

Change Grant Recipient Sarah Tsuruo.About Sarah

Pursuing her goal of an MD/MPH, Sarah aspires to be on the forefront of evidence-based clinical research and health care equity while providing quality care through a social justice framework. With a strong interest in human rights and global health, she hopes to educate and empower marginalized communities during her time as a UConn Co-Op Legacy Fellow-Change Grant recipient.

Sarah is an Honors Biology student graduating in May 2021, and double minoring in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies and Molecular and Cell Biology. Beyond the classroom, Sarah is involved in many on and off-campus organizations, as a volunteer phlebotomist, a WiSTEM mentor, 4H STEM mentor and past clinical research intern at UConn Health.

Sarah is very grateful for the support of OUR and DVCC to implement a personally meaningful project, in which she will develop trauma-informed, culturally competent foundations as a way to give back to her community.