Leadership Team 

Terrell R. Morton, Ph.D. 

(Principal Investigator, 2020 - 2024)

Dr. Terrell R. Morton is an Assistant Professor of Identity and Justice in STEM Education at the University of Illinois-Chicago in Chicago, IL. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from North Carolina A&T State University, a Master of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Miami, and a Ph.D. in Education, concentration Learning Sciences and Psychological Studies from UNC Chapel - Hill. Dr. Morton's research focuses on identity as it informs the persistence and engagement of Black and other minoritized students in postsecondary STEM. 

Checo James Rorie , Ph.D.

(Co-Principal Investigator, 2020 - 2024)

Dr. Checo James Rorie is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Biology at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.  He attended Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA, where he graduated in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, and then attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Curriculum in Toxicology PhD program and graduated in 2004. He is the principal investigator and director of the NIH/NIGMS funded Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC USTAR) and Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (URISE) grants that fund undergraduates in biomedical research. He is also the Principal Investigator of an NSF funded HBCU- UP/Broadening Participation Research grant that studies the role that science capital play in African American student retention and persistence in science. 
 

Gail Hollowell, Ph.D.

(Co-Principal Investigator, 2020 - 2024)

Dr. Gail Hollowell is an associate professor in the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences and director of the Center for Science, Math and Technology Education at North Carolina Central University (NCCU). Dr. Hollowell received her B.S. in Biology from NCCU and both her M.S. degree (Microbiology) and Ph.D. degree (Biology) from Howard University in Washington, D.C. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, in Bethesda, MD.

Simone Soso, Ph.D.

(Co-Principal Investigator, 2020 - 2024)

Dr. Simone B. Soso is the Assistant Director of Research & Workforce Development at MSI STEM Research & Development Consortium. In this role, she guides the development, execution, and funding of programmatic activities (professional development trainings, technical assistance grant writing workshops, and communities of practice for faculty at Minority-Serving Institutions) dedicated to enhancing the education of students of color. Dr. Soso is a trained animal ecologist. She received her B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and M.S. in Animal Health Science from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She received her Ph.D. at Iowa State University in Environmental Science. Engaging the public and broader scientific community on the need for inclusion in STEM and scientific advocacy has been integral to Simone’s personal mission. Dr. Soso serves on the Board of Directors of One Health Lessons, in which she works with volunteers around the world to deliver educational lessons to K-12 students on environmental, public, and animal health.

Ruth Kaggwa, Ph.D.

(Co-Principal Investigator, 2020 - 2024)

Dr. Ruth Jennifer Kaggwa is a Senior Education Researcher and Program manager in Education Research and Outreach at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. Dr. Kaggwa obtained her Ph.D. in Plant science from the University of Arizona. Her current role in STEM education research and outreach is driven by a passion to narrow the STEM academic achievement/opportunity gap between racially minoritized students particularly from underserved communities, and their peers, to ultimately increase their representation in the STEM enterprise. Dr. Kaggwa’s NSF funded research work includes developing and evaluating STEM learning interventions such as STEM immersive experiences, STEM authentic research experiences, culturally responsive and relevant curricula for K-12 as well as course based undergraduate research experiences for post-secondary students to harness this opportunity gap.

Walter Gassmann, Ph.D.

(Senior Personnel, 2020 - 2024)

Tandeka Boko, Ph.D.

(Senior Personnel, 2020 - 2024)

Dr. Tandeka Boko is partnering with Forsyth Tech to share her experience in medical education, as a Life Sciences Assistant Professor. She conducts research primarily in anatomy and physiology education at the community college level, focusing on learning how to learn. She recently added research projects in computational biology to expand her capacity to mentor underrepresented undergraduate STEM students.  She also collaborates with local and national think tank leaders among K-12, two- and four- year educational institutions, government agencies, bioscience industries, and community nonprofit organizations for the purposes of advocating for broader representation of ethnic minorities and women in STEM educational and career pathways that improve their access, support, and retention. As faculty and staff in higher ed, she has been and still is a committed member of the leadership of numerous grants, geared towards broadening participation in STEM.

Lydia Bentley, Ph.D. 

(Senior Personnel, 2020 - 2024)

Dr. Lydia Bentley is an Associate Director of the Teaching For Learning Center at the University of Missouri-Columbia in Columbia, MO. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Georgetown University, a Master of Education in Special Education from the University of Virginia, and a Ph.D. in Development, Learning, and Diversity from Vanderbilt University. Dr. Bentley's work focuses on understanding the educational experiences of underrepresented and minoritized postsecondary students and on how to nurture inclusive and engaging classroom environments. 

Kilan C. Ashad-Bishop, Ph.D.

(Advisory Board, 2020 - 2024)

Dr. Kilan C. Ashad-Bishop is Postdoctoral Scholar in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Miami in Miami, FL and the Director of College Access for Breakthrough Miami. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Morgan State University and a Ph.D. in Cancer Biology from the University of Miami. Dr. Ashad-Bishop ia a biomedical scientist and advocate for inclusion who has carved her niche at the intersection of science, health, and social change.

Catherine L. Quinlan, Ph.D.

(Advisory Board, 2020 - 2024) 

Dr. Catherine L. Quinlan, an Associate Professor of Science Education at Howard University, is dedicated to bridging theory and practice in science education, and is committed to creating practical curricula products with Black representation for the classroom. As an Associate Editor for ASTE’s Journal for Science Teacher Education, she focuses on creating inclusive curricula with Black representation for K-12 classrooms. Dr. Quinlan, funded by the National Science Foundation, developed culturally representative science curricula and contributed to the National Geographic/Cengage High School Biology Program, the first to feature Black scientist explorers. Her TEDx talk, "The clarity we need for belonging," reflects her commitment to diversity and inclusion. As the founder of BRISC Curriculum Research LAB, she empowers HBCUs and the African Diaspora to champion change in STEAM education.

NaTashua Davis, Ph.D. 

(Advisory Board, 2020 - 2024)

Dr. NaTashua Davis is the Executive Director of Access and Leadership Development in the Division of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity at the University of Missouri-Columbia in Columbia, MO. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Kansas State University, a Master of Science in Education from Kansas State University, and a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia.  

Mark A. Melton, Ph.D. 

(Advisory Board, 2020 - 2024)

Dr. Mark A. Melton is a Professor of Biology and Dean for the School of Sciences, Mathematics, and Public Health at Saint Augustine's University in Raleigh, NC.  He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biology from UNC Chapel-Hill, a Master of Science in Developmental Biology from North Carolina A&T State University, and a Ph.D. in Developmental Neurophysiology from the University of Maryland College Park. Dr. Melton's research focuses on developmental genetics and gene expression. 

Current Student Leaders:

• Michele Williams, MEd
  • Graduate Research Assistant (2020 - Present)
  • University of Illinois-Chicago (Chicago, IL)
• Isaiah M. Stewart
  • Graduate Research Assistant (2023 - Present)
  • University of Illinois-Chicago (Chicago, IL)
• Jean-Petit 
  • Undergraduate Research Assistant (2023 - Present)
  • University of Illinois-Chicago (Chicago, IL)

Former Student Leaders:

• Auden Conyers
  • Undergraduate Research Assistant & Marketing Director (2020-2021)
  • University of Missouri-Columbia (Columbia, MO)
• Alexis Hunter
  • Undergraduate Research Assistant (2020-2021)
  • University of Missouri-Columbia (Columbia, MO)
• Miles Smith
  • Undergraduate Research Assistant (2020-2021)
  • University of Missouri-Columbia (Columbia, MO)
• Imari Bramlett
  • Undergraduate Research Assistant (2020-2021)
  • University of Missouri-Columbia (Columbia, MO)