We are committed to supporting opportunities to improve STEM experiences of students and faculty from diverse backgrounds.
Dr. Colleen Webb
Professor, Department of Biology Associate Dean of the Graduate School Faculty Member & Former Director, GDPE
Diversity & inclusivity activities: Women in Natural Sciences (WINS) Group; University Salary Equity Committee; Department of Biology Professional Learning Community for Women; Graduate Center for Diversity and Access; Undocumented Students Committee; International Affairs Committee; Equity and Inclusion Network; Mental Health and Well-being Advisory Board; Graduate Center for Inclusive Mentoring.
In addition to her work on inclusivity and diversity: Dr. Webb studies how the interplay between ecological and evolutionary mechanisms affects the dynamics and persistence of ecological systems. Her lab uses a variety of quantitative techniques to address questions in disease ecology and trait-based approaches in ecology.
Professor, Department of Biology Faculty Member, GDPE PI, CSU NSF Noyce Program (2015-2025)
Diversity & inclusivity activities: Women in Natural Sciences (WINS) Group; Council for Gender Equity on the Faculty; Graduate Center for Inclusive Mentoring; Inclusive Pedagogy Initiative; Multi-ethnic Faculty & Staff Network; Department of Biology Professional Learning Community for Women; Consultant, Brookings Institute for report on UNESCO’s Education for Sustainable Development, Climate Change, and Girls; Pretty Brainy non-profit organization aimed at increasing inclusivity of girls/women in STEM.
In addition to her work on inclusivity and diversity: Dr. Balgopal is interested in how people make meaning of natural science concepts. Her lab explores meaning making (interpretation) and learning (storing and recalling information) by studying how people speak, read, and write about science. Her research informs how science educators can support science learning.
Assistant Professor, Department of Biology Assistant Director, GDPE
Diversity & inclusivity activities: Women in Natural Sciences (WINS) Group; WINS Non-Tenure Track Faculty Mentoring Group; Department of Biology Professional Learning Community for Women; Department of Biology Inclusive Pedagogy Initiative; First Four Weeks Initiative; Learning Assistants Program for Peer-Learning; Association of Public Land-Grant Universities Adaptive Courseware Program.
In addition to her work on inclusivity and diversity: Dr. Neuwald’s research program investigates how environmental variation and evolutionary processes converge to influence the patterns of demographic, genetic, and genomic variation in natural populations, especially those of conservation concern. In addition, she is working to enhance pedagogical initiatives across campus.
In addition to our PIs, several faculty members at Colorado State University with experience in gender and minoritized group inclusivity and mentoring served on our Advisory and Review Board. We would like to thank and formally recognize the following for their valuable perspectives and contributions.
Lisa Angeloni
Professor and Associate Chair for Graduate Studies, Department of Biology Faculty Member, GDPE
CSU Diversity & Inclusion Groups: Faculty Board Member for the CSU chapter of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS); Member of the CSU Multicultural Staff and Faculty Network; Executive Committee of the Graduate Center for Inclusive Mentoring; Participant in the training offered by the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research Other Diversity & InclusionAffiliations: Ford Foundation
María Fernandez-Gimenez
Professor, Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship Faculty Member, GDPE CSU Diversity & Inclusion Groups: Co-chair of the Warner College Committee on Diversity and Inclusion; CSU President’s Commission on Diversity and Inclusion; Chaired the Forest & Rangeland Stewardship Committee on Diversity and Inclusion; Fellow of the Faculty Institute for Inclusive Excellence; Co-developed Student Ambassador and Summer Internship program for students from underrepresented minorities. Other Diversity & InclusionAffiliations: Former co-chair & board member for the Society for Range Management Diversity Task Force; Chaired the Diversity Committee for the 2020 SRM Annual Meeting.
Shane Kanatous
Professor, Department of Biology Faculty Member, GDPE CSU Diversity & Inclusion Groups: Faculty Advisor for the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (CSU-SACNAS); Member of Athletic Council, MFSN, GCDA, Diversity and Inclusion; Advisor to the MAPERC Program
Paul Laybourn
Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology CSU Diversity & Inclusion Groups: CSU SACNAS Chapter Steering Committee member; Graduate Center for Diversity and Access CIMER faculty; First Generation University Initiatives Group, Data and Research Committee Faculty; Engagement and Mentoring Committee member; Faculty Institute for Inclusive Excellence Fellow Other Diversity & InclusionAffiliations: SACNAS member; SACNAS/AAAS Leadership Institute Alumnus; NRMN Train the Trainer Workshops for Entering Mentoring and Entering Research; Mobile Summer Institutes Workshop CSU Coordinator/Organizer; Director and Co-Director of three minority student directed programs (W2R S-STEM, NoCo B2B and REU) supported by grants from NSF and NIH
Liba Pejchar-Goldstein
Associate Professor, Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Faculty Member, GDPE CSU Diversity & Inclusion Groups: Chair, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology; Former co-chair and member, WCNR Diversity and Inclusion Committee; Member, Council for Gender Equity on the Faculty; Member, Executive Committee of the Graduate Center for Inclusive Mentoring; Participant, Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research
Cori Wong
Assistant Vice President for Gender Equity Office of the Vice President for Diversity Former Director, The Women and Gender Collaborative CSU Diversity & Inclusion Groups: Council for Gender Equity; Faculty, President’s Commission on Diversity and Inclusion; President’s Commission on Women & Gender Equity Other Diversity & InclusionAffiliations: Women’s Foundation of Colorado
Website Development
As with any scientific endeavor, communication is a key component. The following members of our RMAIS community worked together to create our website and provide our broader community with the resources needed to hold valuable conversations about diversity and inclusivity.
Jennifer Neuwald, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Biology Assistant Director, GDPE
