CEC professor named ELATES Fellow in national leadership program
Jessica Sparks, Ph.D., is Professor and Chair of CEC's department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering.
CEC professor named ELATES Fellow in national leadership program
Jessica Sparks, Ph.D., Department Chair and Professor of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University's College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), has been selected for the Class of 2024-2025 of Drexel University’s Executive ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉúhip in Academic Technology, Engineering and Science (ELATES) program. The ELATES program is a national leadership development program designed to promote women in academic STEM fields, and faculty allies of all genders, into institutional leadership roles.
The Class of 2024-2025 ELATES Fellows is a prestigious cohort of 46 faculty members from over 35 institutions of higher education across the U.S. and Canada. The ELATES Fellows include experts in engineering, mathematics, and science, all of whom have significant administrative experience on top of their scholarly accomplishments. Sparks was nominated by senior leadership for this intensive, yearlong program, which includes eight to 10 hours per week of personal and leadership development work as well as three series of on-site work in the Philadelphia area.
“I would like to thank Dean Beena Sukumaran and the College of Engineering and Computing at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University for supporting my participation in the program," said Professor Sparks. "I also am grateful to have received a fellowship from the to enable my participation in the program.”
Sparks is an expert in Biomedical Engineering and recently served as an Associate Dean in the College of Engineering and Computing at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University.
“What drew me to this leadership development program was the opportunity to grow my leadership skills in a supportive and focused environment tailored specifically to women in STEM," she said. "The program’s emphasis on developing both practical leadership tools and personal insights, combined with the chance to connect with a community of like-minded professionals, was especially appealing."
Facilitated by leaders in the fields of STEM research and leadership development, the ELATES curriculum is focused on increasing Fellows’ personal and professional leadership effectiveness, from the ability to lead and manage change initiatives within institutions, to the use of strategic finance and resource management to enhance organizational missions. Pairing online instruction and discussion with intensive, in-person seminar sessions, the program encourages Fellows to apply what they have learned at their home institutions. Ultimately, it aims to create a network of exceptional faculty who bring broad organizational perspectives and deep personal capacity to the institutions and society they serve.
"I'm eager to learn from experienced leaders and peers who share similar challenges and aspirations," said Professor Sparks, who added that she looked forward to being able to "apply these lessons to make a meaningful impact in my field.”
Sharon Walker, Ph.D., executive director of the ELATES program and dean of Drexel University’s College of Engineering, shared her excitement for welcoming the newest class of Fellows.
“We are excited to welcome one of our biggest classes of Fellows into the ELATES community,” said Walker. “Each Fellow participating in the 11th cohort of ELATES brings a wealth of expertise, knowledge and experience as well as a unique perspective that will enhance and enrich the overall experience of the program and further our mission of advancing and supporting women as leaders in STEM."
To learn more about ELATES at Drexel, visit ELATES online at .