Black History Month Speakers

Athena Ganchorre received her PhD from the University of Arizona in Molecular and Cellular Biology. She is the Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the College of Veterinary Medicine and a Research Assistant Professor, in the College of Education at the University of Arizona (UA). She has over 25 years of experience in STEM education innovation. A former Fulbright alum and recipient of the Harriet G. Jenkins, NASA predoctoral fellowship, she has focused her career on supporting students at critical transition points along their educational career path. At the root of her work is understanding the sociocultural context that students experience in STEM and its impact on learning and student academic outcomes to deliver exemplary curriculum, student support services and resources. In her pervious roles as the Executive Director of Curriculum and Course Director for Foundations to Medicine at the UA, College of Medicine, she contributed to institutional practices, policies, and culture that improved the preparation and advancement of diverse students in the degree. The units she oversaw as the Director of the Office of Student Development included the National Board of Medical Examiners Testing Center, United States Medical Licensing Exam preparation and support unit and student advising consistently rated above the national average among all colleges of medicines in the United States. She is an expert in supporting neurodivergent learners and creating cultural change to improve the learning experiences of diverse others in biomedical sciences.