SSR Diversity Committee

Diversity Committee 

SSR is dedicated to building a strong and representative society that supports a diverse and inclusive membership. The Diversity Committee’s priority is to ensure that the voices of SSR members who self-identify as underrepresented are heard, from the speakers chosen to present at our annual meeting, to the composition of society leadership, and in the education of our society’s trainees. In order to facilitate these important components of inclusivity and support, the Diversity Committee serves as a nexus for resources for career advancement and training, financial support for attendance at our annual meeting, and as a resource for where issues of concern to underrepresented members of SSR can be raised for discussion. The Diversity Committee is committed to facilitating the diversification of the scientific workforce in the field of reproduction.

SSR Annual Meeting Events: 

President's Symposium I
Thursday, December 16th 
Diveristy Keynote
Kathryn Clancy, PhD

The 2021 SSR meeting in St. Louis will highlight inclusivity in STEM. One of our featured plenary speakers is Kathryn B.H. Clancy, PhD, an Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Illinois. Dr. Clancy co-authored the National Academies report on sexual harassment of women in STEM and was included in the documentary ‘Picture a Scientist’. She has been active in the field of reproductive justice working on inequalities that affect reproduction and reproductive health care, and has provided testimony on the subject to the US Congress in a hearing devoted to sexual misconduct in the sciences. She has consulted with Congress on 'The Federal Funding Accountability for Sexual Harassers Act (H.R. 6161)' and the 'Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act of 2019 (H.R. 36)'. At the University of Illinois she is involved in the 21st Century Scientists Initiative, a program developing new approaches to the training, culture, and communication of science. Her research program focuses on the

Trainee-Diversity Lunch
Friday, December 17th

This will be a diversity focused trainee luncheon event, including a panel discussion entitled “Making a More Inclusive Scientific Society”. Panelists will include Dr. Elizabeth Bonney (University of Vermont Medical Center), Dr. John Parrish (University of Wisconsin Madison), Dr. Olga Bolden-Tiller (Tuskegee University), and Dr. Lindsey Treviño (City of Hope).

Our goal for this new session is to highlight the importance of diversity in STEM, particularly for trainees, to ensure a welcoming, inclusive, and productive place for all scientists for years to come. This open discussion format will provide a safe space for trainees to explore topics affecting women and underrepresented minorities in STEM disciplines, and unconscious bias. We hope that this session will provide a positive environment to identify strategies to address the challenges of building and maintaining a diverse and inclusive society where all SSR members feel welcomed and valued.

Support:

Burroughs Wellcome Travel Fellowships for Underrepresented Minority Trainees and Junior Faculty Travel fellowships available for underrepresented minority trainees and junior faculty to enable their participation in the SSR Annual Meetings. The fellowships include complementary meeting registration, up to USD $1,200 for housing, food, and travel expenses; and complimentary SSR Membership through the next calendar year. Learn more about the Burroughs Wellcome Travel Fellowship HERE. 

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Travel Awards Recipients 

2020 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Travel Awards Recipients

Faculty:

Fernando Mesquita, Federal University of Pampa, Brazil
Hilda Guerrero Netro, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico
Omonseigho Talton, Avila University, USA


Trainees:

Crystal Roach, Iowa State University, USA
Alyssa Gonzalez, Dominican University of California, USA
Laetitia Lecante, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Canada
Daniela Reyes, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico
Ayana Henderson, Harvard Medical School, USA
Wendena Parkes, University of Kansas Medical Center, USA


2019 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Travel Awards Recipients 

Faculty:
Fernando Biase, Auburn University, USA
Angela Maria Gonella-Diaza, University of Florida, USA
Sharron Manuel, Northwestern University, USA

Trainees:
Ky’Era Actkins, Meharry Medical College, USA
Zully Contreras-Correa, Mississippi State University, USA
Carolina Gonzalez-Berrios, Auburn University, USA
Sophia Jean, Delaware State University, USA
Alejandra Ontiveros, Baylor College of Medicine, USA
Shally Wolf, Portland State University, USA

2018 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Travel Awards Recipients 

Faculty:
John Odhiambo, Florida A&M University, USA 

Trainees:
Berta Nieves Vazquez, Rutgers University, USA
Estela Jauregui, University of Arizona, USA
Khalda Fadlallah, Tuskegee University, USA
Sarah Munyoki, University of Pittsburgh, USA

2017 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Travel Awards Recipients 

Faculty:
Zelieann Craig, University of Arizona, USA
Kamilah Grant, Tuskegee University, USA

Trainees: 
Ashley Lindo, West Virginia University, USA
Brittany Foster, Louisiana State University, USA  
Arlette Rwigemera, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Canada 
Diana Monsivais, Baylor College of Medicine, USA
Erica Pandolfi, University of California San Diego, USA
Lauren Mayo, University of Missouri, USA 


Community:

SSR members are encouraged to support and participate in activities designed and implemented by the Diversity Committee to expand diversity and inclusion in our scientific society. Meet with committee members and trainee representatives at the annual meeting’s booth to discuss your ideas on our committee’s activities and communication. Attend our sponsored Diversity Panel to hear diverse voices in science discussing their perspectives, career trajectory, and opinions that are important to shaping and advancing diversity and inclusion in our scientific community. All SSR members, trainee and faculty and staff alike, are welcome to attend the committee’s meeting when we convene at the annual meeting to discuss upcoming diversity events, participate in current discussions in expanding events and resources, and to meet the members of our committee. Consider volunteering to serve on the Diversity Committee to help in our efforts to make SSR a diverse and inclusive society.

2018 Diversity Luncheon Speaker
Clayton Yates, Professor, Tuskegee University

Diversity Committee Members  

Diversity Committee Members

  • Laura Schulz, Chair
  • Marc-Andre Sirard, Board Liaison
  • Brian Cherrington
  • Beth Sefton
  • Géraldine Delbès
  • Kanako Hayashi
  • Sarah Bacon
  • Heloisa Rutigliano
  • Paul Dyce
  • Kenneth Campbell
  • Pamela Monahan            
  • Diana Monsivais
  • Stuart Moss
  • Evdokia Dimitriadis
  • Klementina Fon Tacer
  • Angela Gonella
  • John Odhiambo
  • Jose Cibelli
  • Shaila Khan (Trainee Member)
  • Camila Bruna de-Lima (Trainee Member)

Diversity Subcommittee Members  

Diversity Subcommittee Members

Burroughs Wellcome Fellowship

  • Sarah Bacon
  • Heloisa Rutigliano
  • Kanako Hayashi

Speaker's Bureau
  • Laura Schulz
  • Pamela Monahan     
  • Camila Bruna de-Lima

Meeting Mentors
  • Brian Cherrington 
  • John Odhiambo
  • Jose Cibelli

Pre-Meeting Grants Workshop
  • Klemnetina Fon Tracer
  • Angela Gonella
  • Stuart Moss
  • Laura Schulz


Social Media 
  • Pamela Monahan            
  • Diana Monsivais
  • Shaila Khan

LGBTQ
  • Géraldine Delbès
  • Paul Dyce
  • Camila Bruna de-Lima

Accessibility 
  • Kenneth Campbell
  • Evdokia Dimitriadis
  • Beth Sefton

Burroughs Wellcome Travel Fellowships Recipients 

2020 Recipients 

Trainee 

Crystal Roach, Iowa State University, USA

Alyssa Gonzalez, Dominican University of California, USA

Laetitia Lecante, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Canada 

Daniela Reyes, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico 

Ayana Henderson, Harvard Medical School, USA

Wendena Parkes, University of Kansas Medical Center, USA


Faculty 

Fernando Mesquita, Federal University of Pampa, Brazil

Hilda Guerrero Netro, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico

Omonseigho Talton, Avila University, USA



2019 Recipients 


Trainees

Ky’Era Actkins, Meharry Medical College, USA

Zully Contreras-Correa, Mississippi State University, USA

Carolina Gonzalez-Berrios, Auburn University, USA

Sophia Jean, Delaware State University, USA

Alejandra Ontiveros, Baylor College of Medicine, USA

Shally Wolf, Portland State University, USA

 

Faculty

Fernando Biase, Auburn University, USA

Angela Maria Gonella-Diaza, University of Florida, USA

Sharron Manuel, Northwestern University, USA



2018 Recipients 

Khalda Fadlallah, Tuskegee University, USA

Estela Jauregui, University of Arizona, USA

Sarah Munyoki, University of Pittsburgh, USA

John Odiambo, Florida A&M University, USA

Berta Nieves Vazquez, Rutgers University, USA

 

Resources

Feedback

SSR is dedicated to fostering a more inclusive community for all of its members. We would like to hear from you and we recognize that you may have comments that you are not comfortable sharing publicly.

Therefore, we would like to ask the following questions,

  • Have you ever felt excluded at SSR, perhaps because of your gender, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity, country of origin, disability, age or any other factor?

  •  Do you have suggestions to improve the SSR to make it fully supportive of all members?

If you would like to share your thoughts, PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS HERE .  All comments are anonymous. 

Please know that answers will be shared with the Diversity Committee, and potentially the Board of Directors, but will remain completely anonymous.









 


2018 Diversity Luncheon
51st SSR Annual Meeting
New Orleans, LA 



2018 Burroughs Wellcome Fellows Recipients
SSR 51st Annual Meeting
New Orleans, LA  


2019 Burroughs Wellcome Travel Fellowship recipient Angela Gonella-Diaza, DMV., MSc., PhD., Assistant Professor, North Florida Research & Education Center, University of Florida


"I was the recipient of the Burroughs Wellcome in 2019. For me, as a new faculty, it was a great honor and a big opportunity. After finishing my Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral Research in Brazil, I start working at the University of Florida. The Burroughs Wellcome award allows me to assist to the SSR meeting for the first time and to contact and personally meet other members of the SSR’s diversity committee. Since then, I have been working with the committee to address new strategies to measure the diverse climate in our society."