GEM Fellows Find Their Way to Brookhaven Lab

By Jane Koropsak | July 15, 2009 | www.bnl.gov

The GEM program at Brookhaven is administered through the Human Resources and Occupational Medicine Division (HROM) and the Diversity Office. Each year, the Lab accepts at least two new GEM fellows who are pursuing master's degrees in science and engineering. Under the guidance and mentorship of a Lab scientist or engineer the students perform hands-on work related to their chosen field. GEM students may work at the Lab for several summers until their studies are complete.

"The BNL mentors have been extremely supportive of this program," said Terrence Buck of HROM who coordinates the program. "Many of the GEM fellows have told me that they consider their mentors extraordinary role models professionally, personally, and in their communities. The success of this program relies greatly on the dedication of our Lab mentors."

For more information and to meet the 2009 Brookhaven Lab GEM Fellows, visit http://www.bnl.gov/today/story.asp?ITEM_NO=1320

GEM at Lexmark International, Inc.

Photo Credit: Dewanna Marcum, HR Information Systems, Lexmark International, Inc.

GEM staff visited Lexington, Kentucky to meet representatives and fellows at GEM's 3rd largest employer, Lexmark.  Lexmark International, Inc. is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of printing and imaging solutions for offices and homes. Since separating from IBM in 1991, Lexmark's product line has expanded to include laser printers, inkjet printers, and multifunction devices, as well as associated supplies and services.

During the site visit GEM staff members had the opportunity to tour their customer center to understand Lexmark's cutting edge technology and vertical integration with several key industries, while also meeting with senior business leaders, members of Lexmark's Hispanic and African American affinity groups and all of the hiring managers who support GEM Fellows to engage them on how the GEM program works at Lexmark and to discuss process improvements in order to grow the program. GEM Representative, Dr. Ingrid St. Omer, from University of Kentucky joined the site visit to ensure we keep strategic connections between GEM University and Employer members. Sincere thank you to Krista Williams, the Lexmark GEM representative, and Jeri Isbell, Lexmark Vice President Human Resources for the opportunity to engage with the fantastic team at Lexmark!

Timothy Cardenas, a GEM Fellow sponsored by Lexmark and Stanford University, won the Lexmark Student Symposium for 2009. The Student Symposium is a showcase of engineering projects that all Lexmark interns have worked on all summer. At the end of the summer, a group of engineers rate the projects and the top six student projects are selected to then be presented to the entire symposium audience. From the top six, one is then selected for a grand cash prize. Timothy Cardenas is a Computer Science major who presented a project entitled "Algorithms with Eyes".

Johnson & Johnson holds 2nd Annual GEM Fellowship Recognition Luncheon on July 23, 2009

J&J is showing its strong and enduring commitment to GEM as is evidence by the number of high level executives who have taken a personal interest in the success of the relationship. Harlan Weisman, Chief Science and Technology Officer, Medical Devices and Diagnostics, Anthony Carter, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer and Jorge Rivera GEM Alumnus and Worldwide Vice President, Consumer Operations spoke passionately on the value of engaging diverse human capital at Johnson & Johnson and the Credo of contributing to the production of PhD STEM talent within the United States.

Each GEM Fellow also gave sincere testimonials on the significant contribution GEM and J&J have made in their professional lives by enabling both financial and research opportunities. Each student was accompanied by their supervisor and mentor to the luncheon. Arisa Batista Cunningham, Vice President, Diversity, Johnson & Johnson and a member of the GEM Executive Committee and Thomas Matlock, the J&J GEM Representative, implemented the vision of significantly increasing the number of GEM fellows sponsored each year by J&J in a dramatic turn-around moving J&J to the 2nd largest employer of GEM by sponsoring 11 PhD students and 1 MS student in the 2009 cohort!

Intel Foundation, GEM's Largest Employer

Intel once again is GEM's largest GEM Employer leading the way in the sponsorship of GEM Fellows both at the masters and PhD level. GEM staff had the opportunity to meet with several of the GEM Fellows at a site visit on July 27, 2009 in Folsom, California. Intel hosts GEM Fellows in several states, such as Arizona, Oregon and California. Those students not interning in California had the opportunity to fly Intel's corporate jet to attend the GEM site visit! Rosalind Hudnell, Intel's Diversity Director, engaged the students on the importance of a graduate education and the many resources available to high performing qualified talent. A sincere thank you to Shirley Maier, Intel's GEM Representative for coordinating the site visit.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, a committed partner

Michele Lezama, GEM Executive Director had the opportunity to visit Pacific Northwest National Laboratory at the end of July for a site visit to reestablish the GEM relationship with this committed employer. GEM Fellow, Paul Robinson, pictured, gave a tour of his contributions to the research in the field of material science.

Are you a GEM Employer that would like to conduct a GEM site visit? Please send an inquiry to info@gemfellowship.org.

University Site Visits

Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) knows how to keep GEM busy:

Marcus Huggans and Albert "Chip" Payne went to the Midwest to find the best in class University site visit. What is that? Opportunities to visit with Faculty, Staff, Students, Companies, and Potential Grants Collaborations. Through the leadership of Dr. Pat Crago, the great knowledge of Dr. LaRuth McAfee and connections of Elfreda Chatman-Walter, GEM had an outstanding university and employer site visit in Cleveland, OH. GEM was able to meet with Department Chairs, Senior & Junior Faculty, Graduate & Undergraduate staff, development officers, and corporations with strong relationships with CWRU. One major opportunity arose with the possibility to collaborate with on some grants that are in search of URM students looking for graduate school opportunities. Major thank you to Dr. Crago, Dr. McAfee and Ms. Chatman-Walter! The trip could not have been a success without their tremendous efforts. Finally, this is a bitter-sweet article since we say good-bye to Dr. McAfee as a representative at CWRU, but we hope to maintain contact with her as she transitions to her new role at University of Colorado-Boulder.

GEM is seeing Indiana Red and Sabic Plastic?

Through the vision and support of Dr. Michael Edwards and Dr. Yolanda Trevino, GEM was able to visit Indiana University. Also, through the work and connections of Dr. Edwards, GEM was able to secure its one of its newest members Sabic Plastics (formerly GE Plastics). Dr. Marcus Huggans gave an overview of the GEM Program to faculty and staff at Indiana University, and Marvin Hart and Dr. Priya Parandekar gave a great presentation on the opportunities that can exist between the Indiana University, Sabic, and GEM relationship. Dr. Edwards saw this opportunity and jumped right in.

GEM Goes to the other West (i.e. Virginia)

Kentucky/West Virginia LSAMP asked GEM to send Marcus Huggans to be one of their featured speakers at their 2009 Student Research Symposium in Roanoke, West Virginia.  Dr. Huggans told nearly 70 students that they should attend graduate school for at least a MS, but they should also consider the Ph.D.  Many of the students were engaged, and looking for opportunities to learn more about research. GEM would like to send a special thank you to Dr. Ingrid St. Omer and Jamie Nebbitt for all the support to make sure students have relevant programming to make wise choices about their education.

Would you like GEM to present at one of your programs? If so, please contact Dr. Marcus A. Huggans mhuggans@gemfellowship.org.