Meet our interdisciplinary team and what each
one brings to the research project
Fred King
Ph.D. Chemistry
My symbol represents the lower free energy barrier, activation energy, to the change between two states achieved by the use of a catalyst in a chemical reaction. I view ADVANCE as a facilitator, catalyst, for the change we hope to achieve in the climate and culture of WVU with respect to equality and equity.
Jim Nolan
Ph.D. Psychoeducational Processes
The two words represented are "interdependence" (everything is an event with multiple layers involved.) and "wholeness" (we must look as things as a whole, breaking them down to smaller pieces limits your understanding and ability to pieces things together again).
Michelle Withers
Ph.D. Biology
My symbol equated to changing girls brains. I bring a background in neurobiology and training in scientific teaching which uses evidence-based teaching methods and an awareness of diversity issues to improve the success of women and underrepresented minorities in STEM degrees.
Maura McLaughlin
Ph.D. Physics
My drawing represents the concept of balance. Physicists are very good at balancing different forces to create a stable equilibrium. However, while there are simple equations to do that, work-life balance is very difficult to achieve!
Katie Stores
Ph.D. Political Science
Katie holds a Ph.D. in political science, and contributes her understanding of science policy to the ADVANCE project. Science policy examines the incentives and the environment for discovery and innovation.
Kasi Jackson
Ph.D. Biology
Women's studies is an interdisciplinary field which applies insights from the social sciences, the natural sciences, the humanities and the arts towards innovative solutions for complex problems. My drawing represents the process of bringing people from multiple disciplines together to develop these solutions.
Leslie E. Tower
Ph.D.
The International Breastfeeding Symbol was created in 2006. To me, it represents a paradigm shift that I am working toward: creating a workplace more satisfying and equitable for women and families.
Jim Clements
Ph.D. Operations Analysis
A decision tree analysis leads to more effective outcomes.
WVU ADVANCE STEM Faculty Amy Hessl
Dr. Hessl is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Geology and Geography at West Virginia University. She teaches courses in Physical Geography, Biogeography, and the Geography of Fire.
Hessl received a BS in Conservation and Resources Studies and a BA in Anthroplogy from the University of California at Berkeley in 1992…. read more
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Email us at ADVANCE@mail.wvu.edu
Call us at 304-293-0270
Visit us at 287 Chemistry Research Lab
Send us mail at PO Box 6691
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Partial support for this work was provided by the National Science Foundation’s ADVANCE IT Program under Award HRD-1007978. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.