Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Steering Committee

The faculty, staff and trainees of the Department of Cell, Development and Cancer Biology engage in activities to promote and support a diverse academic work place to improve inclusion, equity and tolerance. Active and sustained participation of all faculty members to lead groups focused on discrete topics and actionable activities; including a) recruiting and retaining diverse faculty, staff and trainees, b) support and career development of our diverse faculty, staff and trainees, c) education on topics of diversity and inclusion, d) community outreach and engagement at the elementary, middle school and high school level, and e) supporting internships to promote excitement in science at the high school and university level. Each group, composed of faculty, staff, and trainees, will develop actionable, metric-driven activities to meet the diversity, equity and inclusion mission of the Department of CDCB.

For questions and information about the steering committee and its work, please contact Vice Chairperson Melissa Wong, Ph.D.

Committee members

Missy Wong

Melissa Wong, Ph.D. 
Associate Professor and Vice Chairperson, Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology
Email

Anupriya Agarwal, Ph.D.

Anupriya Agarwal, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, School of Medicine
Email

Jonathan Brody

Jonathan Brody, Ph.D.
Professor, Departments of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology and Surgery
Associate Director, Translational Research, Brenden-Colson Pancreatic Center for Patient Care
Vice Chair of Research, Department of Surgery 
Email

Dr. Steve Kurtz

Steve Kurtz, Ph.D.
Research Associate Professor
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Sanjay Malhotra

Sanjay Malhotra, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology
Director, Center for Experimental Therapeutics, Knight Cancer Institute
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Parker Mattson

Parker Mattson, MPA-HA
Administrative Manager, Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology

Grace McCarthy

Grace McCarthy
Graduate student, Brody lab

Grace is a 5th year PhD candidate passionate about science communication and a strong advocate for cultivating diverse, equitable, and safe environments in research. Outside the lab, Grace has worked on social media campaigns for Thomas Jefferson University and Thermo Fisher Scientific, in addition to being an active member of AVDS. 

Karen Morris

Karen Morris
1st year PBMS student

More info coming soon!

Dr. Olga Nikolova

Olga Nikolova, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Division of Oncological Sciences

Rebecca Ruhl
Senior Research Assistant and Lab manager, Anand lab

Rebecca's research focus is on finding biological markers that will both predict and identify early stage colorectal cancer in patients under the age of fifty. The incidence of colorectal cancer in people under fifty years of age is growing at an alarming pace. She also founded the Knight Gender Equity Group in Spring of 2019, to move the needle on equity in the Knight Cancer Institute.  In her spare time Rebecca loves to spend time with family, cook, and travel.

Josh Walker

Josh Walker, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Departments of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology and Radiation Medicine
Email

Kelly Williamson

Kelly Williamson
Department Administrator, Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology
Administrator, Knight Cancer Institute and Division of Oncological Sciences

Nicole Yoder

Nicole Yoder
Administrative Coordinator, Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology