Celebrating the AFFIRM Cohort: Honoring 11 Years of Impact in STEM at USD

The University of San Diego community gathered to celebrate the remarkable achievements of the Advancement of Female Faculty: Institutional climate, Recruitment and Mentoring program (AFFIRM) Cohort on October 10. 

The cohort is comprised of seven female STEM faculty members who joined USD in 2014 (one moved on to another university) and have since become influential leaders on campus and beyond. The cohort was established by the university to bring women to the forefront of STEM at USD.

The faculty members honored were Department Chair and Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Jessica Bell, PhD, Professor of Environmental and Ocean Sciences Jennifer Prairie, PhD, Professor of Mathematics Amanda Ruiz, PhD, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Joan Schellinger, PhD, Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering Odesma Dalrymple, PhD and Associate Dean of Graduate Programs and Professor of Mechanical Engineering Imane Khalil, PhD.

Hosted by the College of Arts and Sciences, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering and the AFFIRM Project Team, the reception recognized the cohort’s lasting impact on research, teaching, mentorship and equity in the sciences.

With the assistance of a National Science Foundation (NSF) ADVANCE grant aimed at increasing the representation and advancement of women in STEM fields, the AFFIRM Cohort has reshaped the landscape of STEM leadership at USD. Over the past 11 years, its members have gone on to serve as department chairs, associate deans, principal investigators on major grants and national award recipients.

As the cohort celebrated more than a decade of transformative work, the event highlighted not only their personal accomplishments but also the structural progress made toward gender equity in the sciences. From mentoring the next generation of scientists to redefining research, these exceptional faculty members have built a foundation for inclusion and excellence at USD that will persevere for years to come.

— USD News Center