College of Sciences Advancing Success of Underrepresented Groups – Awards for Academic Year 2024-25 

What is it?
Overseen by the College of Sciences DEI Committee this program within the college recognizes that the career progression of underrepresented groups in the STEM fields faces a number of challenges at all levels. The program offers small awards to individuals and groups within all levels of the college to promote equity and inclusion both within UNLV and the STEM fields more broadly. This year a total of $16,500 was awarded. 

This year’s awards are for the following programs:

Society for Black Scientists: This award will support professional development of all students in the college of Sciences, particularly those from historically excluded communities in science. The objective of this award is to sponsor scientific interactions through a yearly seminar series. Students with the best presentations will be eligible to attend a conference of their choice. It is expected that this activity will foster networking among students and faculty in the CoS.
Director – Kingsley Ukandu

Women in Mathematics: This award aims to expand the world of mathematics to all students, including individuals from marginalized communities who may not have had such opportunities to learn about them. Also, the proposed activities are designed to increase the representation of women in math and promote inclusivity at all levels. This award will support the promotion of the field of Mathematics through math clubs and competitions, inviting speakers that are passionate about math education, and participating in UNLV-wide events such as the involvement fair.
Director: Sayla Daily

Increasing diversity in CoS graduate programs: This program seeks to increase the representation of students from underrepresented backgrounds in the CoS. Currently, there is a significant gap between undergraduate and graduate enrollment of underrepresented students in the CoS. Then, this award will support the recruitment of diverse students by promoting all the research programs housed by the CoS at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Students (ABRCMS Nov 2024). The CoS will be promoted through a booth display. A student and one faculty will be onsite to field questions about the CoS graduate programs.
Director: Boo Shan Tseng

Sciences Student Ambassador Program: The CoS serves a population of students in which minorities are the majority. To provide a better college experience to a diverse student population, this award will support a program of undergrad student ambassadors. Advanced undergrads will be selected as ambassadors to provide advice to incoming undergraduates. The expected impact of this activity is two-fold: ease the transition of incoming students to college and provide peer-mentoring (leadership and people skills) opportunities to advance undergrads.
Director: Megan Hullinger

Intensive Research Exposure Program: In this program, students in the Mathematical Sciences Department will visit and interact with an international scholar, Dr. J. Doumate (University of University of Abomey Calavi, Republic of Benin) for a month. Dr. Doumate will provide students with an international perspective and advice students, particularly those from minoritized populations, on how to advance their careers. The activities sponsored by this award include seminars and workshops in mathematics. In addition to mentoring students, it is expected that this award will foster international collaborations.
Director: Rachidi Salako