Featured
I was featured in El Nuevo Día's article "Young Puerto Ricans Shine in STEM", which highlighted my experience at the Arecibo Observatory’s STAR Academy and my commitment to making STEM more inclusive and impactful for underserved communities.
Shared in Stanford Momentum how DBT training helped me support residents as an RA, using mindfulness and communication skills to navigate conflict and build understanding in my dorm.
In 2022, I served as an Education Partnerships Fellow with Stanford’s Haas Center, facilitating college and career discussions for local high school students through the High School Support Initiative (HSSI). My role focused on affirming students’ interests and expanding their awareness of academic pathways.
In December 2022, I co-hosted the Fundación Kinesis Gratitude – End of Year Celebration, sharing my academic journey as a Kinesis Scholar and Stanford student. The event honored the achievements of students supported by the foundation and celebrated its impact on education in Puerto Rico.
Jóvenes boricuas brillan en las STEM - El Nuevo Día
Can't we all just get along? - Stanford Momentum
Summer outreach programs for local students return in person - Stanford Report
Una noche de celebración y agradecimiento - Fundación Kinesis
Guest Speaker - CienciaPR
Spoke with high school students about my journey to college, sharing personal experiences, challenges, and advice on navigating higher education as a Puerto Rican student pursuing design and education at Stanford University.
Undergrads create summer camp to support women in physics - The Stanford Daily
Featured in The Stanford Daily, sharing how SPINWIP, a virtual physics camp for women and FLI students, helped me feel confident and supported in STEM while participating from Puerto Rico.
I was featured in the Kinesis Foundation's article "A Dream Come True: The Story of Mirelys Méndez Pons", which highlighted my journey from Peñuelas and Yauco, Puerto Rico, to Stanford University.
A Dream Come True: The Story of Mirelys Méndez Pons - Kinesis Foundation
Resume/CV
Education
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Fall 2021 - Present
Candidate for Bachelor of Science in Design
Focus: Physical Design and Manufacturing with a domain in Designing for Biological Futures
Minor: Modern Language (Spanish and Portuguese)
Interdisciplinary Honors in Education
Undergraduate Researcher in the IDEAL Research Lab, Stanford, CA
November 2024 - Present
Recently joined the lab and am awaiting assignment to a project.
Undergraduate Researcher in the Designing Education Lab, Stanford, CA
June 2023 - Present
Developed the physical prototype of an accessible electronics circuit simulator for blind and low-vision learners in engineering education.
Iterated on multiple prototypes to thoroughly test and validate tool functionality.
Led the design of Braille embossing that integrates with the physical circuit board and digital interface in collaboration with the Office of Accessible Education.
Work Experience and Leadership Positions
Community Service
Certifications
Honors and Awards
Mentor for Curious Cardinals, Remote
January 2025 - Present
Guided students in academics, study skills, and passion projects, fostering real-world skills and personal development.
Board Member for Stanford Cap & Gown, Stanford, CA
October 2024 - Present
Lead planning and logistics for an annual winter event for 200+ attendees, including venue selection, meals, decorations, and mentoring an intern to ensure seamless execution.
Summer Resident Assistant, Summer Session, Stanford, CA
June 2024 - September 2024
Supported student development, built a healthy community, and served as a role model.
Planned educational, recreational, and social activities, connected students to resources like academic advising and counseling, and enforced university policies.
Worked as part of a team to plan and advertise programs, create community norms, and respond to emergencies, serving in a daily on-call rotation.
Resident Assistant and Treasurer for Stanford Residential Education, Stanford, CA
September 2023 - Present
Cultivated a positive atmosphere, supported students, organized community activities, ensured a safe living environment, and managed thousands of dollars as treasurer.
Student and Mentor Outreach Coordinator for Latinas in STEAM, Caguas, PR
June 2023 - Present
Organized panels and interactive presentations at schools about STEAM.
Managed and produced content for social media accounts (~4,000 followers total) to support Latinas interested in STEAM.
Assisted in running a free, primarily virtual university access program and mentored over 150 Puerto Rican high school students on U.S. college admissions and financial aid processes.
Tech Support/Monitor - Deliberative Democracy Lab, Stanford University
December 2022
Assisted participants of DDL's Polling Project, providing technical support and monitoring real-time transcripts for groups.
Student Studio Operator for Stanford Center for Professional Development, Stanford, CA
May 2022 - August 2024
Recorded Computer Science, Engineering, and Management courses for Stanford's undergraduate, graduate, and global audiences, collaborating with faculty and gaining insights into dynamic campus programs.
EdP Summer Fellow - EPASA & HSSI - Haas Center for Public Service, Stanford, CA
June 2022 - August 2022
Took the lead in academic and enrichment classes four times a week, ensuring a productive learning environment.
Played a key role in coordinating community service initiatives, aligning with the organization's mission.
Led specialized classes and workshops on college readiness, leadership, and wellness, while also fostering friendships among youth and encouraging their involvement in community service.
Webpage Manager & Designer for Semilla de Bienestar, Remote
December 2021 - Present
Designed the UX/UI of the webpage to ensure an engaging and user-friendly experience.
Managed website updates, tested performance, resolved technical issues, and responded to security breaches.
Summer Associate - ITM/Liga de Ciudades - AmeriCorps VISTA
June 2021 - August 2021
Assisted with design and implementation of new/expanded programs and social marketing initiatives.
Supported municipalities in contact tracing efforts, and provided support during testing and vaccination events.
Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Associate (Excel and Excel 2019)
Microsoft Office Specialist: PowerPoint Associate (PowerPoint and PowerPoint 2019)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Word Associate (Word and Word 2019)
Microsoft Technology Associate: Windows & Operating System Fundamentals
Microsoft Technology Associate: Database Fundamentals
Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research - CITI Program
IRB Administration - CITI Program
IRB Nonmedical Research (All Nonmedical Investigators and Staff) - CITI Program
Best Diversity Paper Award, ASEE Annual Conference – 06/2025
Honorable Mention, CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems – 04/2025
Stanford Graduate School of Education Honors Program - 12/2023
Stanford Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education STEM Fellows Program - 06/2023
ME SURI Student Undergraduate Research Institute - 06/2023
Feliciano-Jones Scholar - 06/2021
Kinesis Scholarship Recipient and KIPP Member - 06/2021
2021 Regeneron ISEF Finalist - 05/2021
Comité Noviembre Scholar and Scholarship Award Recipient - 09/2021
National Puerto Rican Day Parade Scholarship Recipient - 09/2021
Featured on El Nuevo Día - 2021
QuestBridge Finalist and Scholar - 2021
Virtual Regeneron ISEF 2021 Finalist - 2021
Grand Prize of the Final Phase of the Ponce Regional Science Fair - 2021
First Place in the Ponce Regional Science Fair - 2021
Invited to formally represent STAR Academy in the Arecibo Observatory film (The Biggest Dream) - 2021
Languages
Spanish - Fluent
English - Fluent
Portuguese - Advanced Low
Volunteer Tutor - Haas Center for Public Service, Stanford, CA
Summer 2022 - Present
Volunteer once a quarter to tutor in the Haas Center's initiatives, including EPASA, HSSI, and Preschool Counts, supporting community-based educational programs.
Photographer - United Nations Association Film Festival (UNAFF)
February 2023 - July 2023
Capture impactful moments at UNAFF events, contributing to the visual representation and outreach of the festival's mission.
Mentor - Notable Narratives
July 2021 - September 2022
Mentor first-generation, low-income (FLI) students around the world, providing feedback and support on their college essays, helping them strengthen their applications.
Translator & Volunteer (English-Spanish) - Ponce Neighborhood Services
May 2021 - August 2021
Translated documents and assisted with communication in both English and Spanish.
Participated in the rebuilding of homes impacted by hurricanes and earthquakes in Puerto Rico, leading and instructing volunteer groups.
Volunteer, Chef & Server - World Central Kitchen
January 2020 - February 2020
Prepared, cooked, and served meals in various shelters during the aftermath of the earthquake in southern Puerto Rico, offering support to local communities in need.
Research Expeience
Photography
Hobbies
Replacing the D-Pad on a Nintendo 3DS – Carefully disassembled and replaced the directional pad on a 3DS handheld console to restore functionality and improve gameplay responsiveness.
Cleaning Internal Hardware – Opened the device to deep-clean internal components, ensuring optimal performance and extending the lifespan of the hardware.
PlayStation 2 Hardware Repair – Fixed the internal fan and CD drive cover, and performed a full internal cleaning to restore functionality.
PlayStation 2 Customization – Designed and applied personalized vinyl decals using a Cricut machine to give the console a unique look.