Oklahoma State University professors named ELATES Fellow in National Leadership Program
Thursday, August 22, 2024
Media Contact: Kristi Wheeler | Manager, CEAT Marketing and Communications | 405-744-5831 | kristi.wheeler@okstate.edu
Dr. Mari Chinn, department head of the School of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering and Dr. Guiping Hu, department head of the School of Industrial Engineering and Management have been selected for the Class of 2024-2025 of Drexel University’s Executive Leadership in Academic Technology, Engineering and Science (ELATES) program. The ELATES program is a national leadership development program designed to promote women in academic STEM fields, and faculty allies of all genders, into institutional leadership roles.
The Class of 2024-2025 ELATES Fellows is a prestigious cohort of 46 faculty members from over 35 institutions of higher education across the U.S. and Canada.
The ELATES Fellows include experts in engineering, mathematics, and science, all of whom have significant administrative experience on top of their scholarly accomplishments. Chinn and Hu were nominated by senior leadership for this intensive, yearlong program, which includes eight to 10 hours per week of personal and leadership development work as well as three series of on-site work in the Philadelphia area.
Chinn’s research areas include biological engineering with an emphasis in bioprocessing and bioproducts that integrates both lab and field operations. Her research involves the production of biofuels and value-added products from renewable biomass and she has initiated projects as the lead PI that range from basic to applied research that encompass fermentation technology, analytical methods, and biomass harvest, storage, conversion and scale-up operations. Chinn is active in the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, currently serving on the Board of Trustees and Foundation Board of Trustees for the professional organization.
"I am very appreciative of the opportunity to participate in this national leadership development program. I am looking forward to expanding my network and relationships with talented women faculty while discovering new avenues for me to be an effective leader. I am thankful to OSU senior leadership for recognizing my contributions and capabilities as a woman leader in STEM and their investment in my future development and value to the institution.”
Hu’s research areas focus on operations research and data analytics with applications in supply chain design, manufacturing production, renewable energy systems and sustainable agriculture. Her research has been supported by NSF, USDA, DOE and DOD. Hu is an IISE fellow and a fellow at NSF IAspire Leadership Academy. Hu has been actively serving the profession of industrial engineering, including as the President of the Operations Research Division and the President of the Engineering Economy Division at IISE and chair in the Service Science section at INFORMS.
“It is an honor to be selected to join this prestigious leadership program. I look forward to the yearlong professional development and networking experience. I am excited about the opportunity to broaden my scope on institutional leadership and administration. I truly appreciate the support from the senior leadership at Oklahoma State University.”
Facilitated by leaders in the fields of STEM research and leadership development, the ELATES curriculum is focused on increasing Fellows’ personal and professional leadership effectiveness, from the ability to lead and manage change initiatives within institutions, to the use of strategic finance and resource management to enhance organizational missions. Pairing online instruction and discussion with intensive, in-person seminar sessions, the program encourages Fellows to apply what they have learned at their home institutions. Ultimately, it aims to create a network of exceptional faculty who bring broad organizational perspectives and deep personal capacity to the institutions and society they serve.
Dr. Sharon Walker, PhD, executive director of the ELATES program and dean of Drexel University’s College of Engineering, shares her excitement for welcoming the newest class of Fellows.
“We are excited to welcome one of our biggest classes of Fellows into the ELATES community,” Walker said. “Each Fellow participating in the 11th cohort of ELATES brings a wealth of expertise, knowledge and experience as well as a unique perspective that will enhance and enrich the overall experience of the program and further our mission of advancing and supporting women as leaders in STEM."