The Educational Leadership College-level Promotion of Education Award recognizes a university faculty or administrative staff member who is committed to maintaining excellent engineering, science, or technical education programs.
Whitney Gaskins is the first African-American female dean and serves as an assistant dean at the University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science.
(Photo credit: Dr. Gaskins addressing high school graduates during the 2023 graduation ceremony at Hughes STEM High School located in Cincinnati, Ohio.)
She administers the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Community Engagement, which works towards recruiting, supporting, and retaining marginalized and minority students.
Under her guidance, the engineering college is expanding its programs to support underrepresented groups and fostering an inclusive environment.
Dr. Gaskins' innovative teaching methods have earned her prestigious recognition. She inspires students with her honors course that combines engineering and art to address real-world problems.
During her acceptance speech, Gaskins started by thanking God for all the blessings and lessons she has received along the way. She also thanked her family for their love and support, expressing her regret for not bringing her 11-month-old daughter to see her village and know that this is a place where she belongs.
She also expressed her gratitude to the conference organizers for helping her feel seen.
Being a Black woman in the academy and the nonprofit world, her success is often defined by the size of the check that she secures instead of the impact she makes.
She urged everyone to keep working and pushing towards the goal.
Anne-Marie Kosi-Kupe is a professor at the University of Detroit Mercy. She is also a winner of the 2023 Women of Color Educational Leadership – College-Level Promotion of Education Award.
Her teaching style is exceptional, bringing life to complex scientific concepts while igniting the students' passion for leadership.
"Growing up, I was drawn to college-level education as a means of equipping and empowering others through knowledge," she said in her acceptance speech. "Education is a calling for me. My contribution is adapting my teaching style to meet young women where they are and help them embrace and become passionate about STEM, especially those in underserved communities. To aspiring young leaders, I say: Be not afraid. Be tenacious. Please do not listen to those who say you cannot do it."
Kosi-Kupe is an expert in various fields, including anatomy-physiology, microbiology, immunology-mycology-parasitology, nutrition, cell biology, and pathophysiology.
She has authored several publications and led several STEM-related research projects as a Principal Investigator.
Her outstanding clinical experience makes her an excellent research leader, including the Comparative Efficacy of Mun root extracts on fibroid cells in partnership with Bindley Bioscience Center/Purdue University.
Aside from her academic pursuits, Kosi-Kupe is committed to giving back to the community. She has initiated four outreach projects aimed at engaging high school students of color from underserved communities, encouraging them to pursue STEM education at the college level.
She has also invited local high school students to campus for presentations in the Detroit Mercy cadaver lab, inspiring them to share their experiences with monitoring their nutrition.
