Two College Faculty Members Receive Bonnie Cone Fellowships

Two College of Computing and Informatics faculty members were among seven female faculty members in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields who will receive a total of $40,000 through the annual Bonnie Cone Fellowship program. This initiative by the UNC Charlotte ADVANCE Office is designed to support faculty who stake their claim to scholarship and leadership. Dr. Cynthia Gibas, Associate Professor, and Dr. Jessica Schlueter, Assistant Professor, from the Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, have been recognized for their work in applying visual analytic methods in soybean comparative genomics.

“The Bonnie Cone Fellowships play a critical role in fulfilling UNC Charlotte’s efforts to recruit, retain, and advance women faculty, particularly those in STEM areas,” said Yvette Huet, ADVANCE Faculty Director. “Over the past few years, the fellowships have helped numerous women further their individual careers and institutional leadership. We’re excited to add these women to the group of distinguished recipients.”

In evaluating applications, the review committee – made up of a cross section of UNC Charlotte STEM leadership – considered how the proposals would advance the applicants’ careers, how proposals align with ADVANCE goals, and the strength of the plans for use of the funds.

The UNC Charlotte ADVANCE Office seeks to create an institutional environment to support the recruitment, retention, and academic success of women faculty, especially in the STEM disciplines, and to increase faculty success campus wide. The office does this through policy work, faculty mentoring and leadership development, grants, and a prestigious women’s speakers series. The National Science Foundation funds the ADVANCE work, and Provost Joan Lorden leads the effort.

Through the Bonnie Cone Fellowships, ADVANCE focuses on early-career and mid-career women.