Aaron M. Ellison (BA: Yale University, 1982; PhD, Brown University, 1986) has been a staff scientist and faculty member at liberal-arts colleges and R-1 universities, a curriculum developer, department chair, senior academic administrator, and creator and director of award-winning undergraduate research programs. In 1992, Aaron was in the first class of the US National Science Foundation's Presidential Faculty Fellows, and was recognized for his "demonstrated excellence and continued promise both in scientific and engineering research and in teaching future generations of students to extend and apply human knowledge." Throughout his career, he has kept to this promise, crafting and collaboratively implementing a vision for inclusive and far-reaching education in STEAM: science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics.
Manisha V. Patel (BS: Rutgers University, 2002; MS: University of Vermont, 2007) has been working in the academic and non-profit sector throughout her professional STEM career. She started out as a lab technician and quickly proved herself capable of managing projects and labs. Manisha has built a reputation for defining "the role of a newly founded position" and setting a standard of excellence. She brings her talents of organizational skills, collaborative techniques, communication, networking, and logistics coordination to support science globally. She has led and participated in initiatives seeking to enhance diversity and equity in STEM. Manisha is committed to building and supporting inclusive and diverse communities in science and education.