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EMERALD HONORS WINNERS Community Outreach


Andre H. Sayles, Ph.D. Director of Diversity, Strategy and Implementation U.S. Army


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n his letter of nomination for the Science Spec- trum Trailblazer Award, Deputy Assistant Secre- tary of the Army for Diversity and Leadership Larry Stubblefield, said commitment at all levels is a critical factor in achieving STEM initiatives; and that Dr. Andre H. Sayles exempli- fies “the commit- ment, tenacity, and expertise neces- sary to make a difference every day.” Few make a difference in the world every day. Indeed, Dr. Sayles, director of Diversity Strategy and Implementation for the U.S. Army, is an outstanding individual. He is credited with building the first diversity strategy in Army history, but Dr. Sayles first made history while at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point. There, in 1999, he was promoted to professor and head, department of electrical engineering and computer science, becoming the first and only African-American department head. He has dedicated much of his life to engineering education, research, and the development of opportunities for others in STEM, said Deputy Assistant Secretary Stubblefield. “During his superb military career, Dr. Sayles spent over 34 years as a leader in the Army Corps of Engineers and as a pro- fessor, director of phototonics engineering, head of the depart- ment of electrical engineering and computer science, and minor- ity admissions officer at the United States Military Academy.” While at West Point, Dr. Sayles established the student chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers and contin- ues his personal support of the organization as well as others that inspire minority students to pursue engineering. “Hundreds of minority leaders across the country, from senior military of- ficers to corporate CEOs, give Dr. Sayles credit for making an important difference in their lives,” Deputy Assistant Secretary Stubblefield said. As the Army’s diversity leader for the past five years, Dr. Sayles has developed the diversity and inclusion strategy for one of the largest organizations in the world, ensuring opportunities and professional development for minority soldiers and Army civilians well into the future. His most recent outreach initia- tive formalized the Army’s engagement of STEM organizations across the country, adding several that had not been previously supported.


66 USBE&IT I WINTER 2013 Educational Leadership


Treena Livingston Arinzeh, Ph.D. Professor of Biomedical Engineering New Jersey Institute of Technology


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reena Livingston Arinzeh is quite com- fortable being a frontier woman—leading the way in stem cell research and pioneering discoveries that have the potential to change lives. As a leader in the biomaterials and tissue engineering field, which uses cell therapy to treat damaged or diseased tissue, Arinzeh’s studies have served as the basis for submissions to the U.S. Food and Drug Administra- tion to pursue specific stem cell clinical trials. Arinzeh,


professor of biomedical engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), has received numerous awards and recogni- tion for her work including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the highest national honor awarded to young scientists and engineers. Arinzeh developed the first Tissue Engineering and Applied Biomaterials Laboratory at NJIT, which has received more than $4 million federal state and private funding since its inception in 2001. She has been the principal investigator for work related to $3.3 million of that funding. She has applied for seven patents in such areas as cartilage, tissue and nerve growth repair. However, Arinzeh’s focus is not entirely in the lab. She is also the director of the bioengineering graduate program at NJIT, which ranks eighth in the nation for diversity. She has advised more than 20 undergraduate, 17 masters and 11 doctorate stu- dents. Her interest in helping young people on their educational path extends to students in lower grades as well. Arinzeh has been an active mentor in four programs that expose minorities and female students to engineering topics and projects as early as elementary and junior high school. One of her colleagues at NJIT said Arinzeh is approachable to students at the school and described her as “a young, brilliant, well-spoken, accomplished professional who they can associate with, yet has achieved national and international acclaim for her research.” The graduate of Rutgers University and Johns Hop- kins University, where she earned a bachelor degree in mechani- cal engineering and a master degree in biomedical engineering respectively, Arinzeh also received a doctorate in bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, she has co- authored 22 journal articles as well as 80 abstracts, proceedings and presentations. A colleague in her field at Rice University in Houston praised Arinzeh as her ability to expertly juggle a mul- titude of tasks. “She masterfully balances excellence in research with mentorship, teaching and professional services, thereby increasing the depth of the impact of her work.”


www.blackengineer.com


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