Kadidia Thiero oversees the Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science (SOARS) program at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado. The program offers mentorship, tuition assistance, and career coaching, supported by the National Science Foundation.

SOARS has provided opportunities to geoscience students for over 25 years. Since its inception, it has supported 232 students pursuing STEM careers.

As of the summer of 2021, 78 students were enrolled in bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs, while 212 alumni had completed bachelor's degrees, 132 alumni had completed master's degrees, and 52 alumni had earned doctorates. Furthermore, 48 more were in Ph.D. programs.

Kadidia became SOARS's principal investigator and program lead in 2019. She has significantly contributed to the program's success. She refined SOARS's mentor practice training, enhancing the sense of belonging that leads to scholarship, research, and leadership in professional groups such as the American Geophysical Union, the American Meteorological Society, and the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science.

Kadidia helped plan and execute the first African and African American affinity employee resource group event at UCAR. She also organized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion events for the geoscience community.

She coordinated a DEI-themed activity with students and faculty at the State University of New York, Albany. Kadidia partnered with two SOARS alums to design a SOARS-like experience for students of color at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and Emory University. 

Kadidia gave speeches on the intersection of STEM and DEI at Columbia University, the Atlanta University Center, and the American Meteorological Society-Women's Workshop. She was crucial in updating the Scientific Communication and Writing Workshop curricula, expanding the Computation and Data Science Workshop, and improving the Professional Development series.