Dr. Franklin’s research interests include promoting belonging in STEM fields and the association between muscle function and metabolism. Her research has led to local and international recognition as well as co-authored publications in several academic journals including The American Journal of Physiology and PLOS Genetics. Dr. Franklin’s passion led to being awarded the Paul Robeson Cultural Center Pioneer Award, Eberly College of Science Climate and Diversity Award, and the Stephanie Danette Preston Service Award. Latisha is also the founder and owner of Gratified Grad which is a consulting company that supports graduate students in realizing and living their holistically healthy and authentic lifestyle. She often engages with faculty and research mentors to support enriching research experiences for scholars. 

Dr. Glaucia (Glau) Del-Rio is a Brazilian field and museum ornithologist, as well as an evolutionary biologist with a passion for Amazonian birds. She was recently appointed as an Assistant Curator of Ornithology at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Dr. Del-Rio earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of São Paulo, and her PhD in Systematics, Ecology, and Evolution from Louisiana State University. She also served as an Edward W. Rose Postdoctoral Fellow at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

In her lab, Dr. Del-Rio conducts research in bird speciation, genomic architecture, population genetics, evo-devo, systematics, and spatial ecology. Her work primarily focuses on Neotropical birds and is grounded in a strong fieldwork program. In 2019, Glaucia led an all-women expedition (Emilie Snethlage Expedition) in Amazonia to raise awareness about gender disparity in field Ornithology.

Danielle N. Lee is a biologist and outreach scientist who studies the behavioral biology and natural history of nuisance rodents over human-modified environmental gradients. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Her research includes examining behavioral variation of field mice in the Metro St. Louis area and the natural history of African giant pouched rats of Tanzania. She is well known for her science promotion and outreach in social media. Her research and science outreach and advocacy have been recognized by The Explorers Club (2021), National Geographic Society (2017 Emerging Explorer), TED Fellows Program (2015), Essence Magazine Woke 100 (2019) EBONY Magazine’s Power 100 (2014) and the White House Champions of Change in STEM Diversity and Access (2014).

Krystal N. Clark, M.Ed., SHRM-CP is a native of Portsmouth, Virginia. She is a graduate of the College of William & Mary and the University of Maryland, College Park. In 2020, she launched Equip To Thrive, LLC which offers personal and professional development experiences for ‘talented and imperfect’ people. Krystal has worked at two Top 20 institutions of higher education including Duke University where she began her professional career as the Program Coordinator for the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Vanderbilt University where over the course of 13 years she served in three different roles including the Director of Employee Learning & Engagement, Associate Director of Greek Life and Director of Student Leadership Development. 

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Carolee T. Bull is Professor of Plant Pathology and Systematic Bacteriology and former Head (2015-2022) in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology at Penn State and was the Inaugural Director of the Penn State Microbiome Center (2016-2022) and currently heads the Microbiome Sciences Dual-Title PhD program. Professor Bull is also an Extraordinary Professor at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Bull’s research focuses on translational taxonomy to manage bacterial diseases of plants and mushrooms. Bull served as the convener of the Committee on the Taxonomy of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria for the International Society of Plant Pathology (2006-2022) and continues to serve as a member. She also serves on the Judicial Committee of the International Committee on the Systematics of Prokaryotes. ​