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But Provo adds that will only take root if students are introduced to these subjects at a young age and have access to opportunities and support to develop skills in science and math. “That’s how we will achieve the representation we need to help improve health outcomes among underserved populations, which I believe is important,” she says.

But Provo also saw that she could help change that. “I realized I had abilities that I could use to engage younger kids and get them interested in STEM,” she says.

What Provo didn’t know was how.

Inspiring a new generation

Provo found the answer she was looking for while reading an article about . This innovative ������-based program encourages and supports Grades 6-12 students in exploring STEM.

“They were getting students engaged at a young age and encouraging that kind of lifelong interest,” she says. “I was really excited about the work they were doing and reached out to see how I could get involved.”

In 2020, Provo began working with Grade-six students to develop their interest in science and with high school students on subjects like biology, chemistry, and math. She recalls that, initially, students were quiet and didn’t answer questions. As sessions went on, she saw their confidence grow. They started participating more and their performance improved.

“This is what happens when students have free access to resources that help them succeed academically,” Provo says. “I’m really proud of them.”

Provo says participating in Imhotep's Legacy Academy was also a way to nurture and encourage students to succeed just as her parents, both Dal alumni, have done for her. Her mother, April Delorme Provo (����dz���’93), works as an executive assistant and operations manager with the Department of Human Resources at ��Ů����, and her father, Dwayne Provo (���ʷ�’93), is the associate deputy minister of the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives.