Swathi is a third-year PhD candidate at the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, where she focuses on understanding the mechanisms that contribute to the evolvability (capacity to adaptively evolve) of microbial pathogens. Her research experiences and journey in pursuing an academic career in STEM have both led her to think more about the importance of effective, accurate scientific communication, not only in the public sphere, but also in educational settings. As a McDougal Graduate Teaching Fellow, she is looking forward to promoting equitable teaching practices and thinking more about the theory and praxis of antiracist pedagogy in STEM, particularly considering the history of science.