Association for Women in Science Announces 2024 Annual Award Winners

October 18, 2024

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Shelley O’Brien
202-588-8175
obrien@awis.org

Association for Women in Science Announces 2024 Annual Award Winners

WASHINGTON DC, October 18, 2024 – The Association for Women in Science (AWIS) is delighted to announce the recipients of this year’s Spark, Meridian, and Zenith awards. These prestigious awards honor AWIS members who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovative thinking, and a steadfast commitment to inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility in STEM.

AWIS received dozens of self-nominations and supporting recommendations highlighting the candidates’ accomplishments. “These awardees exemplify the core values of AWIS,” said Meredith Gibson, AWIS CEO. “We recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds are essential for driving innovation and progress in scientific fields. AWIS is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM, and we are thrilled to recognize these members for their outstanding contributions. We also extend our gratitude to all the nominees for their dedication and hard work.”

The Annual AWIS Award recipients for 2024 are:

SPARK AWARD – Highlights students or early career leaders in STEM who are visible and vocal advocates for diversity and inclusive scientific practices.

  • Sarah Adjei-Fremah, PhD, Assistant Professor at Winston-Salem State University, co-established a program to provide hybrid research and clinical opportunities for students at HBCUs
  • Jubilee Cabellon, PhD Student and Lab Procurement Manager in the Mishanina Lab at University of California at San Diego, founded a program to help marginalized students transfer from the local community college and facilitates networking opportunities with industry professionals
  • Elizabeth Carlen, PhD, Living Earth Collaborative postdoctoral fellow at Washington University in St. Louis, provides marginalized students with hands-on research experience
  • Mahnoor N. Gondal, PhD Candidate, Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, created a guide to help international students navigate the U.S. PhD application process
  • Kiley J. McLean, PhD, postdoctoral research fellow at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute’s Policy and Analytics Center, has spent fifteen years advocating for neurodivergent individuals

MERIDIAN AWARD – Recognizes mid-career professionals whose diversity and inclusion efforts represent true leadership in the pursuit of workplace equity.

  • Moriah R. Beck, PhD, Talaty Endowed Full Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Director of the First Year Research Experience in STEM in the Cohen Honors College at Wichita State University, established an annual STEM conference for middle school girls and leads research experiences for high school students, first-year undergraduates, and teachers
  • Lady Catherine Cantor Cutiva, PhD, Assistant Research Scientist at The University of Iowa, led an international research collaboration and spearheaded the development of an online instrument – accessible in Spanish, Portuguese, and English – to support educators

ZENITH AWARD – Honors senior career professionals with a lifetime of innovative achievements in STEM and a commitment to workplace diversity.

  • Lora Billings, PhD, Dean and Professor of the College of Science and Mathematics at Montclair State University, has hosted events and programming that grew student enrollment to 50% female, leads participation in a program that promotes minority student success in STEM, and secured state and donor funds to support over 130 students at Montclair State, a Hispanic serving institution.
  • Mary Munson, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair for Diversity and Inclusion in the Dept of Biochemistry & Molecular Biotechnology, Assistant Vice Provost for Health Equity at UMass Chan Medical School, organized a large collaborative departmental team to create and implement a Diversity-Equity Action Plan and co-leads a program that has developed and retained 33 junior faculty – including 11 from marginalized and under-represented backgrounds – through mentoring and communication support including 76 funding proposals, 9 manuscripts, and other projects.

For more information on the award winners, visit https://awis.org/annual-awards

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About AWIS: Founded in 1971, AWIS is dedicated to driving equity and excellence in STEM by championing the interests of women across all disciplines and employment sectors so they can achieve their full potential. AWIS advocacy initiatives are committed to driving systemic change to support the 1.2M women in science and 4M women in STEM. Our supportive community provides a sense of belonging, as well as career resources, scholarships, and opportunities for networking, mentoring, volunteering, recognition, and professional development to over 7,800 members. AWIS communications inspire over 63,000 social media followers, 32,000 monthly website visitors, and 24,000 newsletter subscribers globally. To become an AWIS member, learn about partner opportunities, or donate visit www.awis.org.