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Current Projects

Under the direction and mentorship of members of the Provost’s Office team, the 2022-2023 cohort of Nina Henderson Provost Scholars is working to develop the following projects.

Climate and Sustainability at Drexel

Co-designing an On-the-Ground Experiential Climate Learning Model

This project will inventory, organize and synthesize climate, sustainability and environmental research across the University. Scholars will develop recommendations on how these activities, as well as new additions, would support the creation of environmental cohorts across academic disciplines. Concurrently, Scholars will inform — both from a student perspective and as members of the diverse communities to which they belong — the development of The Environmental Collaboratory’s co-designed, community-based, experiential climate learning model.

Project Supervisors: 

  • Mathy Vathanaraj Stanislaus, Esq, Vice Provost and Executive Director of The Environmental Collaboratory
  • Hugh Johnson, Senior Director, Research Strategy and Development

Nina Henderson Provost Scholars: 

  • Atharva Bhagwat, BS in Computing Technology for Sustainability and Society (Custom-Designed Major)
  • Alyssa Kemp, BS/MS in Environmental Engineering

Graduate College Diversity Exploration Project

This project will examine campus climate within the various graduate units across Drexel University, exploring graduate students’ knowledge around diversity, their college experiences and how DEI efforts could impact their future career trajectory. It will bring graduate students into a meaningful dialogue that could be used to further develop strategic priorities, programming and recommendations for diversity and inclusion spearheaded by the Graduate College.

Project Supervisors: 

  • Elisabeth van Bockstaele, PhD, Senior Vice President for Graduate and Online Education
  • Anne Converse Willkomm, MFA, Associate Dean, Graduate College and Associate Teaching Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Michael Ryan, PhD, Director of Academic Support, Graduate Pipeline Programs, Graduate College

Nina Henderson Provost Scholars: 

  • Majo Garcia, BS/MS Biomedical Engineering
  • Sasha C. Méndez, MS in Urban Strategy 

Innovation Engine and Culture at Drexel University

Best Practices and an Integrated Review

Universities will need to embrace their ever-expanding role in driving innovation and catalyzing economic development — meeting the challenges of the digital revolution head-on and playing an increasingly important role in our innovation ecosystems and economies. This project will review global best practices used to stimulate innovation in institutions of higher education as well in industry.

Project Supervisor: 

  • Rajneesh Suri, PhD, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Industry Partnerships

Nina Henderson Provost Scholars: 

  • Ranjini Mahalanobish, BSBA in Business Administration
  • Sarah Malik, PhD in Mechanical Engineering & Computational Engineering
  • Michael Rocchi, Dual MPH and MBA

Lifelong Learning and the Future of Higher Education

This project will explore reimagining higher education in the next 10 years, with and without partners, as well as market sensing of emerging trends for lifelong learners, including both young and older adults.

Project Supervisor: 

  • Rajneesh Suri, PhD, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Industry Partnerships

Nina Henderson Provost Scholars: 

  • Ranjini Mahalanobish, BSBA in Business Administration
  • Sarah Malik, PhD in Mechanical Engineering & Computational Engineering
  • Michael Rocchi, Dual MPH and MBA

Nonprofit Endeavors at Drexel

This project will seek to understand and report on the nonprofit endeavors across the University, with the goal of fostering inclusiveness, collaboration and interdisciplinary work between schools, colleges, service units and centers to prepare students for mission-driven careers in the nonprofit sector. It will also provide a “front door” for Philadelphia nonprofits (and beyond) to seek assistance in addressing their needs.

Project Supervisors: 

  • Rosalind Remer, PhD, Senior Vice Provost for University Collections and Exhibitions; Executive Director of the Lenfest Center for Cultural Partnerships
  • Anne Converse Willkomm, MFA, Assistant Dean of the Graduate College and Associate Teaching Professor, College of Arts and Sciences

Nina Henderson Provost Scholars: 

  • Monique Boskett, MBA, Concentration: Entrepreneurship and Innovation
  • August Modiga, BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics
  • Jana Lenart, BS in Biological Sciences

Qualitative Analysis of Student Survey Data

This project aims to explore qualitative feedback gathered on centralized student surveys conducted by the Office of Institutional Research, Assessment and Accreditation to understand ways to enhance the Drexel student experience and outcomes, while laying a sustainable path for analyzing future survey qualitative data. Nina Henderson Provost Scholars will analyze the open-ended comments, organize the data into themes, and suggest possible action items, bringing their perspectives on interpreting the findings and partnering with relevant units that may benefit from the recommendations.

Project Supervisor: 

  • Sujoy Das, PhD, Vice Provost for Institutional Research, Assessment and Accreditation

Nina Henderson Provost Scholars: 

  • Disha Patel, BS in Chemistry
  • Satvik Tripathi, BS in Computer Science
  • Ali Youssef, BS/MS in Biomedical Engineering

View a List of Previously Completed Projects