CTSI welcomes the fifth cohort of researcher-moms into Mothers Leading Science, a program created at the University of Minnesota for research-intensive faculty in the health sciences who are raising young children. The yearlong program provides dedicated programming and facilitation, networking, annual retreats, peer support and connection, and resilience and leadership training.
Mothers Leading Science is designed to address the lack of representation of women in senior leadership, the high rates of attrition of female scientists and the challenges of women in academic health sciences research at the intersections of career, gender, and motherhood.
Since its introduction, Mothers Leading Science has helped researcher-moms become more confident leaders and parents, align their career paths with personal values, and sustain their passion for research. The program has played an important role in retaining highly skilled scientists in academic health research, and has expanded to other universities.
Welcome to the 12 participants in the new cohort!
New Mothers Leading Science participants
Alexandra Armstrong, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Assistant Professor of Pathology
College of Veterinary Medicine
Jannell Bazurto, PhD
Assistant Professor
College of Biological Sciences
Bethany Birkelo, DO, MSCI
Assistant Professor of Medicine
University of Minnesota Medical School
Sian Durward-Akhurst, BVMS, MS, PhD
Assistant Professor
College of Veterinary Medicine
Ida-Arlaine Fonkoue, PhD
Assistant Professor
University of Minnesota Medical School
Rachel Hawe, PT, DPT, PhD
Assistant Professor
School of Kinesiology
Kelly Makielski, DVM, MS, DACVIM
Assistant Professor
College of Veterinary Medicine
Alexandra Marquez, MD, MSTR
Assistant Professor
University of Minnesota Medical School
Sasha Prisco, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
University of Minnesota Medical School
Gillian Tarr, PhD, CPH
Assistant Professor
School of Public Health
Rachel Witt, MD
Assistant Professor
University of Minnesota Medical School
Serena Xiong, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor
University of Minnesota Medical School