OIE selects Geneva DeMars, Malerie Payne as Inclusive Excellence Summer Fellows
The Office of Inclusive Excellence (OIE) has selected Geneva DeMars, Ph.D., and Malerie Payne, Ed.D., as its Inclusive Excellence Fellows for the summer.
DeMars and Payne will collaborate with the OIE to advance diversity, equity and inclusion across campus, particularly as it pertains to adult learners, parenting students and first-generation college students.
DeMars, senior lecturer in the Department of Biology, will concentrate on adult learners and pregnant and parenting students for her project. DeMars has previous experience working with this group of students and has provided assistance to those on the Armstrong Campus who sought to establish a student organization aimed at fulfilling their needs.
Payne, assistant director in the Academic Success Center, will center her project on first-generation college students. Payne's research focuses on pre-entry attributes as predictors of attrition for first-time, full-time, first-generation college students.
DeMars and Payne will utilize their expertise to create recommendations that will strengthen the University's support for these student populations.
Dominique A. Quarles, Ph.D., associate vice president for Inclusive Excellence and Chief Diversity Officer, will closely collaborate with both fellows.
"I am ecstatic to welcome Dr. DeMars and Dr. Payne as Inclusive Excellence Fellows," stated Quarles. "Their expertise and enthusiasm for promoting diversity and inclusion will be of tremendous value in our mission to foster an inclusive campus environment that is responsive to the needs of our students. I look forward to partnering with them and observing the impact of their projects on our community."
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