Sharnnia Artis, PhD, Co-Principal Investigator
Assistant Dean of Access and Inclusion | University of California, Irvine
Dr. Sharnnia Artis’ expertise is in human-centered education, graduate recruitment and retention, and inclusive excellence in engineering and computing. She is the founding director for UCI’s Office of Access and Inclusion, which supports the recruitment, retention, and graduation of graduate students from populations underrepresented in engineering and information and computer science. Dr. Artis, who has a Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech, has also spent several years in industry developing online education and training systems.
Stacie LeSure, Ph.D., Co-Principal Investigator
Founder and Vice President of Research | Engineers for Equity
Dr. Stacie LeSure is the founder and Vice President of Research at Engineers for Equity. She is a self-published author of the book: Stories of Resilience in Engineering: Black Women Threatened by Stereotypes. Thriving to Destiny. Dr. Gregory earned a Ph.D. in Engineering Education at Utah State University. She also has a Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Spelman College. Her research interests include inclusive pedagogical practices, as well as the integration of Human-Centered Design and Service Learning opportunities to recruit and retain students in engineering degree programs.
Marjorie Shavers, Ph.D., Co-Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor of Counseling | Heidelberg University
Dr. Marjorie Shavers is an Assistant Professor and Clinical Director in the Graduate Counseling program at Heidelberg University. She has a Ph.D. in Counselor Education from The Ohio State University and is licensed as both a professional school counselor and a professional clinical counselor with supervising credentials. Her research areas include mental health, the overall well-being of Black women, impression management on social media, and interpersonal relationships. Dr. Shavers received the 2015 Counselor Educator of the Year Award from the Association of Counselor Education and Supervision.
Justin Ferguson, M.A., Graduate Student Researcher
Justin Ferguson is a College and Career Advising Manager at the Columbus based non-profit organization, I Know I Can. He has a M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Ashland University and is currently completing course work to be licensed as a School Counselor through Heidelberg University’s Graduate Counseling program. He’s had professional experience working in Community Counseling, Higher Education, and Secondary Education.
Breauna M. Spencer, M.A., Graduate Student Researcher
Breauna Spencer is a graduate student pursuing a doctoral degree in Sociology at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). She received her B.A. degrees in Education Sciences and Sociology (with Honors) as well as M.A. degree in Demographic and Social Analysis from UCI. Ms. Spencer’s research areas include the underrepresentation of minorities in STEM education, retention, and educational inequality.