Tell us about your project. What will you be doing, where will you be doing it, and who will you be partnering with (e.g., faculty, community, employer)?

In April 2020, I began an initiative through a local, non-profit organization, For Good Pgh., to provide remote tutoring at no cost to students in the Pittsburgh area. I began this initiative, because I felt that some students had their learning process disproportionately affected in the transition to remote learning as a result of resource disparity exacerbated by the CoV-19 pandemic. After two years of providing individualized remote tutoring at no cost, my co-founder and I decided to create a website to offer additional asynchronous instruction for students. This entails uploading curriculum previously tutored, so that those that are interested in utilizing the free tutoring service for their student but are unable to commit to weekly tutoring sessions may still do so at their own pace.

Tell us about your current professional goals (research, academic, or career). How do you think this Capstone experience might help you pursue those goals?

I intend to pursue a career in medicine after completing my undergraduate studies. Through my professional endeavors, I hope to continue to serve my community by sharing the knowledge that I have gained through my coursework with others. This could include mentoring other students interested in pursuing secondary education or medical school, which would be similar to the work I am currently doing through my Capstone experience.

Post a picture of yourself, list your majors/minors, and then tell us something unique about yourself you would like to share.

Hi, my name is Megan Stafford! I am a fourth year student at the University of Pittsburgh. I am studying Ecology and Evolution, Chemistry, and Conceptual Foundations of Medicine with Honors Distinction. Outside of my coursework, I enjoy assisting others in the Braddock community. For the past five years, I have had the pleasure of volunteering at the Free Store 15104, which is another initiative through For Good Pgh. The Free Store provides clothing, household items, food, and other essentials to those in need. My maternal grandparents were both lifelong residents of Braddock, so I love connecting with other community members through service. Without a doubt, my experience at the Free Store has greatly influenced my life trajectory and subsequently my capstone project.