FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Shelley O’Brien
202-588-8175
obrien@awis.org
Association for Women in Science Announces New Board Members
WASHINGTON DC, June 21, 2025 – The Association for Women in Science (AWIS) is pleased to announce that the recommended board slate was approved by AWIS Membership at the annual Town Hall Meeting yesterday. The new board members who will begin their terms on July 1 include:
- Dr. Georgia Forrest is a board-certified Family Medicine physician and Associate Chief Medical Information Officer at Wellstar Health System.
- Dr. Maria Gallo served as Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls until her retirement in September 2024.
- Dr. Anita Chu Li is a seasoned STEM and healthcare leader with 15 years of experience in biotech, clinical practice, and heath tech advising.
- Adrienne Rackley is an economist in the Economics, Policy & Institutional Support Group at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
- Dr. Malek Ben Salem is a seasoned technology advisor with more than 20 years of experience in AI/ML, cloud security, and digital transformation.
Isabel Escobar, AWIS Past Board Chair and Paul W. Chellgren Chair Professor and Professor of Chemical Engineering, Director of the Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Student Excellence, University of Kentucky, led the AWIS Nominating and Governance Committee through the board member selection process. “This cycle brought us numerous high-quality applications,” said Dr. Escobar. “We’re happy to recommend these candidates whose expertise will strengthen the board’s capabilities.”
The new board directors replace Dr. Isabel Escobar, Dr. Andrew Bean, Dr. Brittany Parker Kerrigan, Karene Richards-Wise, and Dr. Reem Yunis who have completed their board terms. Tasneem Hajara and Dr. Joanne Kamens, who completed their first terms, chose to run for a second term. They will serve their second term until June 30, 2028.
At the Member Town Hall, AWIS Board Chair, Neelima Rao recognized the departing board members saying, “I’d like to thank Dr. Isabel Escobar, Dr. Andrew Bean, Dr. Brittany Parker Kerrigan, Karene Richards-Wise, and Dr. Reem Yunis for their service to AWIS. Thank you all for helping AWIS to empower more women to succeed in STEM.”
Rao will continue her term as Chair of the Board of Directors through June 30, 2026. Elections for the other officers will occur at the July board meeting.
To see the full list of AWIS board members, please visit awis.org/about-awis/governance.
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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.