Meet the Team : Institute of Diversity Sciences : UMass Amherst

Director's Welcome

I founded the Institute of Diversity Sciences (IDS) in 2018 with a simple but ambitious goal: to connect STEM to social justice.

From day one, our mission has been to break down silos—across disciplines, institutions, and communities—to solve real-world problems. At IDS, we bring together people who believe that science and technology should serve equity, inclusion, and the public good.

We’re a collaborative hub for faculty, students, and community partners who are tackling critical issues like health disparities, environmental justice, and equity in education and the workplace.

Today, over 412 faculty, students, and staff at UMass Amherst and across the Five College Consortium in Western Massachusetts (Amherst, Hampshire, Smith, and Mt. Holyoke Colleges) are affiliated with IDS. And the impact of our programs reaches well beyond Western Massachusetts—supporting students, research, and partnerships across the country.

—Nilanjana (Buju) Dasgupta, Founding Director

Meet Our Staff

Nilanjana (Buju) Dasgupta

Director

Buju Dasgupta is a professor of psychology in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, and also the director of faculty equity & inclusion in the College of Natural Sciences at UMass Amherst.

Liz Smith

Associate Director

Liz Smith joined the Institute of Diversity Sciences in January 2024 after serving for eight years as Director of Foundation Relations in UMass Amherst's Advancement division, where she assisted faculty and staff from across campus in securing funding from private philanthropic foundations.

Casandra Feen

Program Manager

Casandra Feen holds a Bachelor of Healthcare Management from the College of Our Lady of the Elms and an Associate of Sciences from Holyoke Community College. With a background in admissions, healthcare management, and community support, she brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her role as Program Manager for IDS’ Programs.

Sarah Mabry

Business & Operations Manager

Sarah Mabry is the Business and Operations Manager at the Institute of Diversity Sciences, where she leads business operations, financial coordination, and administrative strategy. Sarah brings extensive experience in higher education, with strengths in financial coordination, project management, executive communications, and strategic operations.

McKayla Mills

Communications Manager

McKayla Mills serves the Institute of Diversity Sciences (IDS) team as the Communications Manager, bringing expertise in graphic design, photography, social media strategy, and digital communications to support the the institute’s mission and outreach.

Arsen Sekmokas

Communications Assistant

Arsen is a junior majoring in Computer Science. With a strong background in visual design and a passion for interdisciplinary work, Arsen brings a creative and technical lens to his role with the Institute of Diversity Sciences (IDS). He enjoys exploring how technology and design intersect to solve problems and tell meaningful stories.

Ethan Walz

Data Manager

Ethan is a junior majoring in political science and informatics. He has a strong background in political behavior, data analysis, and data management. He uses these skills to organize and report on the various data sources of the Institute of Diversity Sciences (IDS). His work includes tracking seed grants IDS gives out, managing a database of IDS affiliates, and generating reports on available data for various IDS projects.

Meet Our Internal Advisory Board

Kathryn Derose

Professor

Community Health Education, School of Public Health & Health Sciences

Karen Giuliano

Professor, Co-Director

Nursing, Elaine Marieb College of Nursing

Sarah Goff

Professor, Chair

Health Promotion & Policy, School of Public Health & Health Sciences

Lisa Green

Associate Dean, Distinguished University Professor, Director

Linguistics, College of Humanities & Fine Arts

Mark Pachucki

Professor

Sociology, College of Social & Behavioral Sciences

Maureen Perry-Jenkins

Professor

Psychological & Brain Sciences, College of Natural Sciences

Shannon Roberts

Associate Professor

Department of Industrial Engineers, Riccio College of Engineering

Enrique (Henry) Suárez

Associate Professor

Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies, College of Education

Meet Our External Advisory Board

Robert S. Feldman

Senior Advisor to the Chancellor

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Susan Morgensztern

Biotech leader and consultant, UMass Amherst Alumna

Lydia Villa-Komaroff

Molecular biologist, Businesswoman, Diversity Advocate

Principal of Intersections SBD Consulting

Christine Fraser

Retired Senior Technology Executive. Board member. Mentor and Advocate.

Christine Fraser is a retired senior technology executive with decades of experience in business operations, marketing, and social impact initiatives.

Barbara DeLollis

Director of Communications, Seattle Police Department

Liz Neeley

Founding Partner

Liminal, a science communication collective

E. Macey Russell

Retired Law Firm Business Litigation Partner

Mr. Russell Chairs the Augustus A. White III Institute for Healthcare Equity. The Institute is developing a national mental health wellness campaign that will focus primarily on Black and Brown youth aged 18-25 with a goal to reduce stigmas and prevent those with mild symptoms from deteriorating into clinical crisis.