2025 Day of Inclusion
A Place at the Table: Making Space for Every Voice in Science
Keynote Speakers
Prof. Malika Jeffries-EL
Professor Malika Jeffries-EL received BA degrees in Chemistry and Africana Studies at Wellesley College. She earned her Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in organic chemistry from The George Washington University. After spending one year at Smith College as a Mendenhall Fellow she then worked as a post-doctoral researcher under the direction of Professor Richard D. McCullough at Carnegie Mellon University. She joined Iowa State University’s Chemistry Department in 2005 and earned tenure in 2012, before joining the Department of Chemistry and Division of Materials Science at Boston University in 2016. She has received numerous awards, including the Stanley C. Israel Regional Award for Advancing Diversity in the Chemical Sciences and the ACS-Women Chemists Committee Rising Star Award.
Prof. Mona Minkara
Professor Mona Minkara is an Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at Northeastern University, where she uses computer simulations to obtain a better understanding of the chemical interactions that occur at the air-water interface inside the lungs. She received BA degrees in Chemistry and Middle Eastern Studies from Wellesley College. She earned her PhD from the University of Florida before starting her postdoctoral studies with Professor J. Ilja Siepmann at the University of Minnesota. In 2019, she joined the faculty at Northeastern University. Alongside her research success, Prof. Minkara is the director of the Academy of Blind Scientists and a tireless advocate for more accessible spaces.
Science Seminars
Design and Synthesis of Organic Electrode Materials
Dr. Malika Jeffries-EL
Unlocking the Secrets of Breath and Defense: Surfactant Proteins' Role in Lung Health and Fighting Disease
Dr. Mona Minkara
Keynote Panel: Reflections on Teaching
Our speakers joined us for a candid dialogue about redefining how we teach, mentor, and open doors in STEM. Hosted in partnership with the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Outreach (CTLO) and Caltech Future Faculty and Mentors (CFAM).
Workshops
