You are invited to join us for the National Community College Conference on CUREs

Please let us know if you want more information or are interested in attending:

Our Keynote Speakers

We are beyond grateful to have two nationally recognized experts in undergraduate research and education.

David Asai

David Asai is a cell biologist, educator, and advocate for inclusive science education. He was professor and head of Biological Sciences at Purdue University, professor and chair of Biology at Harvey Mudd College, and Senior Director of science education at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) from which he retired in 2024. At HHMI, his team developed several programs that encourage colleges and universities to create a more inclusive STEM learning environment for all students. Programs include Inclusive Excellence, Driving Change, the Gilliam graduate program, the Scientific Mentorship Initiative, and the Science Education Alliance which annually engages more than 5,000 beginning undergraduates in the SEA-PHAGES CURE.

David currently serves on the boards and advisory committees of several organizations including the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER), the Computing Alliance of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (CAHSI), Understanding Interventions, Nature Forward, and the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. He is a member of the committee that wrote the report Advancing Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEMM Organizations (National Academies, 2023). He is an elected Fellow of the AAAS and the ASCB. He is recipient of the Bruce Alberts Award for innovative and sustained contributions to education, the Wm. E. Bennett Award for contributions to civically responsible science, and was the inaugural Ambrose Jearld Lecturer.

Erin Dolan

Erin Dolan is a Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Georgia Athletic Association Professor of Innovative Science Education at the University of Georgia. As a neuroscience graduate student, she volunteered extensively in K-12 schools, which prompted her to pursue a career in biology education. She teaches introductory biology. Her research group, the SPREE Lab (Social Psychology of Research Experiences and Education), works to delineate the features of undergraduate and graduate research that influence students’ career decisions, including the influence of research mentorship and the design, implementation, and impact of course-based undergraduate research experiences.

Our tentative schedule

Day 1: Friday, May 15th 1pm-6pm

opening session 1:00 pm

Breakout sessions #1

Early evening hors d’oeuvres and keynote #1

Day 2: Saturday, May 16th 8am-5pm

Opening session 8:00 am

Breakout sessions #2

Lunch

Keynote #2

Breakout sessions #3

Closing session 4:30pm

Day 3: Sunday, May 17th 8-12:30pm

Opening session 8:00 am

Breakout session #4

Closing for the conference