Housed within the School of Health Sciences, Start Early in Medicine nurtures academic and career interests among children in the Alamance-Burlington School System. It is a community-based program structured to support students that are traditionally underrepresented in the health sciences.

Through immersive, hands-on learning in anatomy, physiology, 3D modeling, and research, since 2021, Start Early in Medicine has served more than 300 youth – many of whom live in predominantly Black and Hispanic communities – guided by mentorship from ������Ƶ PA students and faculty.

The new funding will expand medically based STEM curriculum, strengthen research mentorship, and deepen community partnerships. It will also foster continued collaboration among School of Health Sciences faculty, students, and other departments and programs across the university.

“We’re grateful to the Burroughs Wellcome Fund for supporting the next phase of SEIM’s development,” Moore said. “This award allows us to continue creating early pathways for young learners to imagine themselves in science and health professions.”

Faculty across departments secured funding from major agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, British Association of American Studies, American Council of Learned Societies, Mathematical Association of American and the National Endowment for the Humanities, among others.

“We put this event together because often grant writing is invisible labor. Faculty are doing grant work in the cracks of the days, early in the mornings and late at night,” said Hilton Kelly, dean of ������Ƶ College, the College of Arts and Sciences. “To those who received a grant or is writing one, we want them to know that we see them, know their work and support their efforts.”

The reception honored not only successful award recipients but also the investment in time, collaboration and innovation involved in developing grant proposals.

The Office of Sponsored Programs provides essential guidance and resources to help faculty navigate the proposal process, identify funding opportunities and strengthen applications.

“Faculty are always looking to push beyond where we are with research,” said Dana Clar, director, Office of Sponsored Programs. “The work our faculty are doing through grants is cutting edge, and it’s not done just in a lab.

“When faculty get grants, they almost always include undergraduates as part of their research team. Exposure to research in any fashion makes our students better at critical thinking and exposes them to the world outside of the classroom. When people get external grants, they are growing future leaders.”

Sirena Hargrove-Leak, professor of engineering, received funding from the National Science Foundation for Supporting Undergraduates from Community College to Excel and Succeed in STEM, a grant project aimed at creating programming to help Alamance Community College students transfer to ������Ƶ to pursue a bachelor’s degree in STEM.

Hargrove-Leak and her co-principal investigator, Jennifer Hamel, associate professor of biology, worked on the grant for four years before it was successfully funded as a planning grant with Jessica Merricks, associate professor of biology, as the evaluator.

“The most challenging part of seeking a grant is that it requires persistence because it is rare that you have a successfully funded project on the first try,” Hargrove-Leak said. “It is a process of learning, growing and adapting. Then there is the joy of receiving a grant, which makes it all worth it.”

The Office of Sponsored Programs works with faculty and staff in advancing research and scholarship through expert guidance on finding funding opportunities, crafting proposals, securing external funding, managing awards and ensuring compliance with policies.

The goal of this project is to create an open-source model for developing research data infrastructure for small Emerging Research Institutions (ERIs) who aspire to grow their research enterprise from both sponsored programs and research productivity perspectives. Project objectives include: 1) Creating interactive tools like a Research Publications Dashboard and a Sponsored Programs Dashboard for informed decision-making, 2) Developing a Forecasting Model to predict institutional return on investment through sponsored programs, and 3) Providing customizable tools for adapting the open-source data model. The design will integrate with the institution’s existing databases, providing a comprehensive view of research productivity and funding activities.

An open-source model reduces start-up costs and technical skill requirements, benefiting small ERIs. Data output from the dashboards will be incorporated into the forecasting model, integrating historical data and real-time inputs. Unlike generic models, this forecasting model is specifically designed to address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by small ERIs. The model will be created by University of San Diego and then validated through partnerships with peer institutions (������Ƶ and Pepperdine University), ensuring credibility and knowledge sharing. It is designed to be scalable and adaptable, supporting long-term strategic planning and aligning research priorities with funding trends.

Doug Purnell and Scott Sawyer will be working with Hall on this project.

• Dollar General provided $3,000 to create 100 summer reading kits, each filled with books to help students continue their growth and learning over the extended break.
• The Alamance Community Foundation contributed $5,000 to support Engineering in the Village, an innovative outreach initiative led by Sirena Hargrove-Leak and Blake Hament. This funding will sustain the program through the 2025–26 school year, providing hands-on STEM learning experiences for students.
• A second award from Dollar General for $4,000 will make possible the annual end-of-semester Book Bash, where ITAV tutoring students receive new books to take home and enjoy.
• Impact Alamance granted $6,000 to purchase two Unicom Mini Interpretation Systems, which will ensure families can fully engage in parent workshops, information sessions, and focus groups. By breaking down language barriers, these systems will make parent programs more inclusive and accessible for all participants.
• LabCorp awarded $7,376, further supporting Engineering in the Village for the 2025–26 school year and expanding opportunities for students to explore engineering concepts in engaging, real-world contexts.

These grants were secured through the collaborative efforts of the Center’s team, including the leadership of Laura Clemmons, assistant director of the Center for Access & Success and lead for the It Takes a Village programs, and Sydney Gilbert, family engagement, fundraising, and evaluation coordinator, who worked together to develop the successful grant applications.

Together, these awards strengthen the mission of ITAV: fostering a love of learning, expanding access to educational resources, and building connections between students, families, and the broader community.

Dean of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and Professor of Management Information Systems, Haya Ajjan, received a grant of $102,175 from Cone Health. The funds will support ten Master of Business Analytics (MSBA) students through paid internships, emphasizing the need for inclusion and professional development in healthcare analytics.

This initiative aligns with Cone Health’s mission of community engagement and innovation, while addressing the critical need for diverse perspectives in data-driven decision-making. By providing financial support across two semesters, this program will reduce barriers for students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, offering them invaluable experience in real-world analytics.

MSBA students, equipped with expertise in tools like Python, Tableau, and GenAI, will contribute to key projects at Cone Health, such as predictive modeling, operational optimization and data visualization. These internships not only enhance Cone Health’s capabilities by leveraging cutting-edge analytics but also establish a cost-effective talent pipeline. Supporting this program reflects Cone Health’s commitment to fostering inclusion, empowering future leaders and driving impactful improvements in healthcare operations and patient outcomes.

Cathy Quay, associate professor of nursing and department chair/program director for the Department of Nursing, received a grant from the North Carolina Area Health Education Centers for $14,285 to fund the ������Ƶ Clinical Site Development project.

In this project, nursing students enrolled in “Population and Community Health” will be placed at several clinical sites. These students are in either the second semester of their third year in the traditional four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program or in the third semester of the four-semester accelerated BSN program.

The purpose of this project is to enhance nursing education by integrating experiential learning opportunities that prepare students to address health equity and disparities in underserved communities. Through strategic partnerships with community health clinics in Alamance and Caswell Counties, the initiative will provide nursing students with hands-on experience, support CHC staff through preceptor training and strengthen academic-practice collaboration to improve healthcare outcomes.

Her work focuses on her desire to empower, uplift and heal marginalized communities. These grant funds will provide travel to the ACPA conference, where she will present a pre-convention workshop, developed with a senior scholar, that supports the work of those in identity centers. Additionally, she plans to submit an article to Developments – ACPA’s quarterly online publication – based on her research working with identity center practitioners of Color.

Pagnapech Ngoun ’26, an engineering major, presented her collaborative research in a poster titled, “ Mathematical Modeling of COVID-19 Reveals Immune Cell Dysfunction.” Their research represents recent findings based on a new mathematical model that accounts for the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and the human immune system. Her research team is mentored by Associate Professor Hwayeon Ryu, who also contributed as a judge in the undergraduate poster session. Their work has been supported by the  (under PI Ryu).

In the invited paper session “Trends in Mathematical and Computational Biology” organized by SIGMAA on Mathematical and Computational Biology, Ryu also delivered her oral presentation on her NSF-funded project.

Integrating Research in Science (IRIS), an innovative student-led conference, aims to celebrate interdisciplinary interactions by bringing together the realms of STEM and STEM-related fields. This one-day conference for undergraduates is designed to allow students to promote their research, network among professors and peers, and prepare for their academic and professional careers by attending expert panels.

By participating in IRIS, students engage in a collaborative environment that harbors values in creating a strong sense of community. Moreover, by bringing many departments and students with different interests together, students will explore new ideas within a diverse range of fields and be able to delve into the rich progress that cross-disciplinary interactions have to offer.

“Our students did such a wonderful job that they have collaboratively and effectively worked using each individual’s expertise and interest,” said Associate Professor of Mathematics Hwayeon Ryu, who is the lead faculty member for the IRIS conference. “Without their dedication and hard work, this conference would not have been successful. As a result, the enthusiasm and participation at the conference was excellent, and all of the presentations were very well attended with great audience engagement.”

The IRIS was initially developed in 2017 and has been run at Wake Forest University annually until spring 2023, when ������Ƶ hosted the event for the first time. This year is the second time ������Ƶ is hosting the event. The Student Organizing Committee consists of Kelly Donovan ’26 (co-leader; applied mathematics and statistics), Mia Webdell ’26 (co-leader; biochemistry), Clayton McLamb ’25 (computer science and data analytics), Bailey Reutinger ’25 (statistics and biology), Rony Dahdal ’26 (computer science, mathematics and philosophy), and Murilo Ferreira Lopes ’27 (computer science) under the supervision of ������Ƶ faculty members Hwayeon Ryu and Nancy Scherich.

“IRIS was able to bring a lot of students from different backgrounds together. I did not realize the amount of time and planning it took to run a conference. I am grateful for my other committee members for helping put together IRIS 2025,” said Kelly Donovan, the co-leader of the student organizing team.

Almost 20 oral or poster presentations were given at this year’s IRIS event.

“Presenting my research at IRIS was a rewarding experience that deepened my appreciation for interdisciplinary collaboration and the creativity driving scientific discovery. The conference provided an excellent opportunity to make meaningful connections within the scientific community,” said Grady Cooke ’25, a physics major at ������Ƶ.

“I found IRIS as a way of opening ������Ƶ’s campus to student researchers from different universities, and was a unique way to engage, learn about, and bridge the gap between ������Ƶ and other academic communities,” said Rony Dahdal ’26.

IRIS is attended by students and faculty from regional colleges and universities. This year’s keynote talk, “Sifting Through Junk: Can AI/Machine Learning Help us Determine What Matters?” was given by Keriayn Smith, associate professor at the School of Data Science and Society, with a secondary appointment in the Department of Genetics in the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. The keynote talk is followed by oral and poster presentations, and concludes with a panel session for both academia and industry.

“I was really impressed by the quality of the presentations and the confidence students demonstrated when presenting their lectures and posters,” said Associate Professor of Exercise Science Matt Wittstein. “The diversity of topics also made the conference more fun, because there were plenty of opportunities to learn something new that the presenters were passionate to teach us about.”

“The IRIS conference allowed students to increase their networking skills while teaching them how to present their work to a wider audience. Developing the skills associated with presenting highly technical research to audiences from diverse backgrounds and interests is a challenge for even the most experienced researchers, and experiences like participating in IRIS provides undergraduates with this opportunity,” said Assistant Professor of Biology Efraín Rivera-Serrano.

Graduate students, faculty and staff involved with the Health Outreach Program of ������Ƶ, known as the HOPE Clinic, celebrated the official launch of the “Food with HOPE” pantry with a March 27 ribbon-cutting at the on North Church Street.

Efforts to establish the pantry were led by Sixela Caballero G’26 and Sadie Thompson G’26, who secured a $1,500 community service grant from the

Since its inception in 2013, HOPE has served over 2,100 clients and saved the community more than $300,000 while giving graduate students in the Department of Physical Therapy Education opportunities to work hands-on with real patients.

The clinic operates from the Francis Center at ������Ƶ and, since 2022, from the CityGate Dream Center near downtown Burlington, North Carolina.

The HOPE Clinic conducted a comprehensive assessment last year to better identify client needs. Recognizing that medical care accounts for only 10-20% of a person’s health outcomes, HOPE sought to address broader health determinants.

The assessment found that food, transportation and healthcare were the most prevalent concerns, with over 40% of clients expressing decreased access to sustainable food sources.

“From taking the first psychosocial class in the beginning of last year, ������Ƶ has really emphasized multidimensional health,” Caballero said. “Being a part of the HOPE Clinic is such a blessing, being able to see change in the community through physical therapy, but other things can be going on in clients’ lives that affect their ability to get better.”

Faculty mentors praised both students for their leadership in addressing a community need.

“I am incredibly proud of the HOPE Clinic students for recognizing a crucial need in the community and taking meaningful action,” said Crystal Ramsey, associate professor of physical therapy and the clinic’s faculty advisor. “Their commitment to writing a grant, researching ways to make it culturally appropriate and thoughtfully considering how to ensure those facing food insecurity are treated with dignity is truly inspiring. Their dedication not only addresses immediate needs but also promotes respect and compassion for every individual.”

The HOPE Clinic also employs certified Spanish interpreters to assist clients and create Spanish-language flyers to increase awareness. People will choose their own foods and pay with points that are allotted based on need, which students described as a more dignified experience.

“The goal of Food with HOPE is to ensure that everyone in our community has access to nutritious food that honors their dietary needs and their cultural traditions,” said Charity Johansson, chair and program director in the Department of Physical Therapy Education. “High quality food is not only a basic necessity, it’s a powerful connector that brings people together—not just those who are here now but those who came before us and will come after.”

Donations to the HOPE Clinic and the Food with HOPE pantry can be made through ������Ƶ’s Office of University Advancement.