Rebecca Ready among inaugural group of CNS Leadership Fellows

Two faculty members and one graduate student have been awarded College of Natural Sciences Leadership Fellowships for 2022-2023

Rebecca Ready
Rebecca Ready

Established by Dean Tricia Serio, this program is designed to foster leadership and professional development in faculty and graduate students and to promote initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Each of the fellows was selected to work with one of the CNS Associate Deans on projects within their respective offices.

Rebecca Ready, professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences, will be working with Karen Helfer, Associate Dean for Graduate, Postdoctoral, and Faculty Development. Dr. Ready’s project will be to develop initiatives to improve success in recruiting and retaining BIPOC graduate students.

Steven Petsch, associate professor of Geosciences, will be working with Elizabeth Connor, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education. Dr. Petsch’s work as a CNS Leadership Fellow will focus on enhancing recruitment and retention of underrepresented students in STEM disciplines, especially within undergraduate majors related to sustainability and environmental justice.

Michael Lu-Diaz, a Ph.D. student in Chemistry, also was selected to be a CNS Leadership Fellow. Michael will work with Associate Dean Karen Helfer on programming associated with mentorship training and community-building among graduate students.