South Texas College Biology faculty member and lead Microbiology instructor Elizabeth Gonzalez is one of seven who were selected nationwide for the Community College Presidents’ Initiative in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Fellows Program.

CCPI-STEM is a national initiative to strengthen leadership skills among community college faculty and administrators to support the growth and diversification of the STEM technician workforce.

Gonzalez will join a cohort of seven fellows who are engaging in graduate research focusing on STEM education and workforce development at community colleges.

“I am truly excited to learn from other like-minded professionals who are committed to expanding research opportunities and providing quality STEM education,” said Gonzalez. “Being part of a community that prioritizes access to STEM education is an incredible opportunity that will help me implement innovative approaches within my institution.”

Gonzalez contributes to undergraduate research and student engagement in the Biology department through her work with the Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science program.

Maria Cervantes, Ph.D., chair of the Biology Department, expresses great pride in Gonzalez’s achievement. She notes that Gozalez’s selection for the fellowship will open valuable opportunities for students.

“Being able to empower faculty to look for opportunities where they can expose students to fellowships, research and even training is going to help expose them to possibilities they otherwise might not know about, said Cervantes. “We have a lot of first-generation students who are already overwhelmed with the classes they’re taking and I think being able to have that network brought to them through her efforts in this fellowship is a huge advantage.”

Gonzalez said she is most excited for the networking opportunities available through the program and to see what strategies other institutions are implementing to better prepare her students.

“They put you in a group with all these people from different places that otherwise you wouldn’t have access to. It’s interesting to see how things are run at different colleges and how we can implement at STC to better serve our students.”