Diversity & Inclusion

The fall BME DEI open meeting served as a forum to share/hear ideas about what would help create a sense of belonging and inclusion for all members of the BME department.

Additionally, Dr. Marjolein van der Meulen discussed her journey in academia with experiences relating to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

For the fall 2022 semester Diversity Dinner we welcomed Dr. Asher Williams, a Trinidad & Tobago National Scholar and current Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow at Cornell University where her research is aimed at developing a cell-free platform for manufacturing vaccines against emerging pathogens. She is also a part of a global team of scientists and vaccine experts working with the United Nations to combat vaccine misinformation. Dr. Williams holds a B.S. in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering from New York University and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She was awarded RPI’s Presidential Graduate Research Fellowship, named a Class of 2020 Changemaker, and co-authored several peer-reviewed publications with a patent. Dr. Williams also served as Vice President of the Black Graduate Student Association at RPI and worked on several initiatives and efforts to increase the recruitment and retention of minoritized students in graduate education. She is listed as one of 1000 Inspiring Black Scientists in America, named an MIT Rising Star in Chemical Engineering, and will be joining Columbia University as a tenure-track professor of chemical engineering in July 2023.

For the fall 2022 semester Diversity Dinner we welcomed Dr. Shivaun Archer, who shared her journey in academia, with a specific focus on efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Dr. Shivaun Archer, the John and Janet Swanson Senior Lecturer in the Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering She received her BS and M.Eng. from Cambridge University, England and her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Davis. Dr. Archer designs and teaches lab courses covering nanobiotechnology, cellular, molecular, and tissue engineering, as well as physiology. The labs are designed to illustrate the course material and bring research to undergraduate education whilst exposing students to cutting edge technology and research methodology. 

Dr. Archer is also a Faculty Teaching Fellow in the James McCormick Family Teaching Excellence Institute (MTEI). As part of the MTEI Teaching Fellow duties, Dr. Archer provides educational support for faculty members in the College of Engineering with the aim to enhance students' learning and performance, particularly in lab instruction and group work. In recognition of her efforts in undergraduate education, Dr. Archer has received two prestigious College of Engineering Teaching awards. She has also been a recipient of the Zellman Warhaft Commitment to Diversity Award as well the Academic Achievement Award from the Cornell Engineering Alumni Association. Dr Archer was inducted as a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) for her contributions to instructional labs.

Before coming to Cornell, she worked at a small research company specializing in biotechnology, biomaterials, chemical and biological sensors, medical biotechnology, and environmental remediation. Her research interests include nanobiotechnology and tissue engineering.

On Wednesday, June 22, 2022, we celebrated pride month at the Weill Hall patio with a community potluck/dish-to-pass picnic. There were games, a BBQ, and music. Because community is a central tenet of pride celebrations, we welcomed and encourage all in the department to attend this event!

The first of our new Diversity Dinner series occurred April 28th at 6:30PM in 125 Weill Hall with guest speaker Dr. Amal El-Ghazaly, assistant professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Cornell will present on her career journey, with specific focus on her DEI efforts, and will take questions.

The first DEI 2022 community meeting was held to explore the world of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The BME department is committed to creating an environment that is inclusive and reflective of the BME community and we would love to hear your ideas about what would help create a sense of belonging and inclusion for all members of the BME department..

Discussion: Socio-economic and racial inequalities in health, with Dr. Isabel Perera, Assistant Professor of Government at Cornell University and affiliated faculty at the Center for the Study of Inequality

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion task force held its first discussion event on Friday, November 5th, 2021 from 4-5 PM in 125 Weill Hall. We will view an episode of the PBS series "Unnatural Causes". This series examines the causes and consequences of socio-economic and racial inequalities in health. The viewing will be followed by a discussion with our special guest, Dr. Isabel Perera, Assistant Professor of Government at Cornell University and affiliated faculty at the Center for the Study of Inequality.