Drexel University’s Elates Leadership Program Welcomes 2023-24 Class of Fellows
PHILADELPHIA (May 2023) – Drexel University’s Executive Leadership in Academic Technology, Engineering and Science (ELATES at Drexel) program, an unparalleled professional development program designed for senior women STEM faculty, and faculty allies of all genders, is delighted to announce the selection of its 2023-24 class of Fellows.
The incoming class for ELATES at Drexel includes 40 faculty from 33 different institutions across the US and Canada. This prestigious cohort is made up of leaders with unique and diverse backgrounds in biology; computer and information sciences; geology; mathematics; and a variety of engineering disciplines.
Five of this year’s Fellows were awarded a scholarship by the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN) – a partnership with 53 colleges and universities across the United States. KEEN scholarship recipients are Carmen Cioc, University of Toledo; Cassandra M. Birrenkott, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology; Karen Troy, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Katherine R. Saul, North Carolina State University; and Maureen Tang, Drexel University.
Each Fellow was nominated by their dean or provost and has significant administrative experience on top of their scholarly accomplishments. Through the ELATES program they will contribute to institutional change initiatives and expand their leadership skills. The ELATES class of 2023-2024 will join an extensive alumni network of more than 190 faculty leaders from dozens of institutions across the country.
ELATES at Drexel is a one year, part time program that focuses on increasing personal and professional leadership effectiveness, leading and managing change initiatives within institutions, using strategic finance and resource management to enhance organizational missions, and creating a network of exceptional women who bring organizational perspectives and deep personal capacity to the institutions and society they serve. Facilitated by leaders in the fields of STEM research and leadership development, the curriculum includes classroom immersions with experiential modules, virtual instruction, coaching and mentorship, and an applied project at each Fellow’s home institution.
Sharon L. Walker, PhD, Dean of Drexel’s College of Engineering and Distinguished Professor in the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, is also Executive Director of ELATES at Drexel. She is looking forward to the 10th cohort of ELATES Fellows.
“I am thrilled to welcome this talented new cohort of ELATES fellows as they join the community of distinguished alumnae who are committed to lifelong learning and leadership development. I am excited to see what impact they will not only have this year on their home campuses, but more broadly to the higher education STEM community in the future,” said Walker.
The in-person work for the 2023-2024 cohort begins in August with online assignments and community building activities. The program will conclude on March 14, 2024, with a symposium organized around institutional action projects that Fellows will develop in collaboration with the leadership of their organizations, and a graduation ceremony attended by their deans, provosts, and other university leaders.
About ELATES at Drexel: For more information on the ELATES curriculum, faculty, and participants, please visit drexel.edu/ELATES.