Vision. Ambition. Achievement. Advice. Support. Annual Report 2010-11

Reaching for the Top: The Most Prestigious Fellowships Points of Note Drexel Recipients of Prestigious Student Fellowships  IN 2010-11, MORE DREXEL Two students came separately STUDENTS RECEIVED FULBRIGHT, into my office last week to ask GOLDWATER, AND NSF GRFP about applying for a Rhodes THAN EVER to Oxford Univer- BEFORE IN OUR SCHOOL‟S HIS- sity. No, this isn‟t the begin- TORY. ning of a joke. It‟s clear evi- dence that our students are  SOME STUDENTS ARE USING becoming more aware of fel- FELLOWSHIP APPLICATIONS TO SHARPEN THEIR CAREER VISION, lowships and are excited HONE THEIR WRITING SKILLS, about jumping into the ring, AND PREPARE FOR GRADUATE even for the most prestigious SCHOOL OR JOB APPLICATIONS. and competitive opportunities.  THE FELLOWSHIPS OFFICE CAN This is good news for our WORK WITH DEPARTMENTS, students, our faculty, and our And we‟re starting to see And this year, Phillip COLLEGES, AND OFFICES ACROSS University. While many of us some success stories. In 2009, Tomezsko (Biomed „11) was THE CAMPUS TO PROMOTE RELEVANT OPPORTUNITIES. know that we have some Alyssa Wilson (Physics „09) a finalist for the prestigious amazing students here, they received the Gates Cam- Truman Scholarship for haven‟t always gotten the bridge Scholarship, which public service. A Drexel recognition and support they supported her astrophysics Community Scholar in the deserve. The Drexel Fellow- research at Cambridge. In Lindy Center for Civic En- ships Office encourages and 2010, Uk Jung (Architecture gagement, Phil would like to Inside supports students to apply „09) was a finalist for the pursue graduate school in for the nation‟s most competi- elite . global epidemiology to sup- FULBRIGHT 2 tive scholarships. (Cont on pg. 3) GOLDWATER 2

Summer Workshops for Fellowships Applicants NSF GRFP 2 The Drexel Fellowships Of- series, we will also present a insight and skill to prepare fice is offering a series of panel of student award re- as strong and successful an LINDAU/JKCF 3 workshops this summer for cipients discussing their ap- application as possible. students who will be apply- plication experiences and a RECIPIENTS REPORT 4-5 Interested students should ing for competitive fellow- panel of faculty who have visit our website for more ships in 2011. sat on selection panels for information: CAMPUS PARTNERS 6 prestigious national awards The series features work- www.drexel.edu/fellowships. such as NSF, NIH, and Boren. shops such as Writing a Per- DFO CORE AWARDS 7 Warm thanks to Graduate sonal Statement, Writing a The workshops can be taken Studies, Hagerty Library, the Fulbright Research Proposal, individually or as a se- Writing Center and the FROM THE DIRECTOR 8 and Finding an International quence. They are designed Learning Center for lending Affiliation. As part of the to help students develop the their skills to these events. Annual Report 2010-11

Drexel Fulbrighters on the Rise Drexel students are seeking Karen Sullam (Environmental (Finance BA „10) has been out — and winning — Ful- Science PhD, „13) will re- investigating the effects of bright Scholarships with in- search the ecology of aquatic micro-interest rates on rural creasing regularity. Our stu- microbes in Switzerland, and poverty in China. dent Fulbrighters come from Dan Tedesco (IAS „11) will all colleges and majors. study a youth leadership pro- Drexel Fulbright Recipients 2002-2011

What they have in common is gram in China. 5 an enthusiasm for cultural In the 2010-11 academic 4 exchange and a strong rea- year, three Drexel students son to be in their host country. 3 have been abroad on Ful- For 2011-12, we are thrilled brights: Karen Miller (CAEE 2 to have four student Ful- BS, STS MS „10) has been 1 brights, more than ever be- working to help preserve 0 fore in Drexel‟s history. Cait- historic wooden houses in 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 lin Costello (IAS „10) will be Istanbul. Kara Spiller studying rice farming in (Biomed PhD „10) has been A program of the US State . Janani Singaravelu developing cartilage re- Department, Fulbright sup- (MMS, „11) will research HIV- placement tissue at a lab in ports students for one year of TB co-infection in India; Portugal. Kent Troutman study, research, or teaching.

Goldwaters, Goldwaters Everywhere

Drexel students continue to for early-career undergradu- Our 2011 Goldwater Schol- be successful with the Gold- ate research opportunities ars are: water Scholarship, an award and Co-op. Magdalena Bielinski (ECE for the nation‟s most promis- Each year, a University can BS/PhD „15) Wireless signal ing undergraduate students in nominate a maximum of four applications for healthcare science, technology, engi- students to the Goldwater settings. neering, and math. Foundation. Of these four, Kevin Knehr (MEM BS „12) Goldwater Scholars tend to three of our 2011 nominees Renewable energy storage. have terrific undergraduate received the award. (In Sajjan Singh Mehta (Physics/ research experience, a focus 2010, two of our four nomi- Math BS „12). Particle cos- that fits well with Drexel, nees received the award.) mology and mathematical especially our STAR program physics.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program An extraordinary nine Drexel plus $30,000 stipend for up Rachel Magee (Information students and alumni have re- to three years. Studies) ceived the National Science Our 2011 GRFP recipients: Prineha Narang (Materials Foundation‟s Graduate Re- Eng) search Fellowship for 2011. An Joseph Angelo (Physics) additional five students re- Elizabeth Plowman (ECE) Magdalena Bielinski (ECE) ceived Honorable Mentions. Adria Wilson (Chemistry) Lily Brown (Psychology) (not This terrific award, known as pictured) Alyssa Wilson (Physics) the GRFP, supports early graduate students with tuition Jared Langevin (Archit Eng)

Page 2 Fellowships Office 2010-11

Reaching for the Very Top : Gates, Marshall, Truman

(Cont from pg. 1) port a more holistic approach to be competitive for Rhodes. In- Drexel Applicants for Elite National Awards AIDS treatment in the develop- stead, I steered them to some 2006-11 ing world. strong alternatives. But interest and enthusiasm Nonetheless, one of the students aren‟t enough. These most- said she had heard that fellow- competitive programs are look- ships applications are rigorous ing for authentic students who and wondered if she could apply can demonstrate substantive anyway as a way to strengthen leadership and the potential to her career focus and her ability to make a real impact on the articulate a strong vision for her world. future. I had to tell the two students The answer is yes, she should. And who came into my office that the Fellowships Office can help they probably are not going to her do just that.

Botta Hanging Around with Nobel Laureates Greg Botta, an MD/PhD student, has re- interdisciplinary career in academic medi- ceived the Lindau Award to attend the cine. annual meeting of Nobel Laureates in In his time at Drexel, Greg has also re- Lindau, Germany this summer. ceived the NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Botta has an interesting interdisciplinary Research Service Award and the Univer- background, holding undergraduate de- sity‟s Bondi Fellowship. grees in both Biomedical Engineering and Greg joins Erica Caden (Physics PhD ‟11) Information Systems. His current work and Jessica Schiffman (MEM PhD „09), as explores the computer modeling of cancer Drexel recipients of this prestigious award. signaling pathways in human pancreatic Schiffman and Caden received the Lindau cells. He is well on his way to his desired in 2008.

JKCF Graduate Arts Award Recipient Rachel Semigran (English „10) was one of Publishing Group, the Convention and just ten students nationally to receive the Visitors Bureau, and the Philly Fringe Fes- Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Arts Award tival. for 2011. This generous award supports Since graduating, Rachel has been work- students of exceptional promise and fi- ing in Philadelphia and volunteering with nancial need to attend graduate school in an afterschool drama program in a city the creative or performing arts. Rachel public HS. This award will enable her to will pursue a Masters in Community-Based pursue a professional career in drama- Theater from the Central School of Drama for-the-greater-good. at the University of London. The Graduate Arts Award is new from In addition to being an active part of sev- the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, which eral performing and improv groups while has long supported top students with fi- at Drexel, Rachel was a high-achieving nancial need at critical points in their English major who worked with the Drexel education. Page 3 Annual Report 2010-11

Congratulations To… Drexel Recipients of Prestigious Awards 2010-11 The Drexel Fellowships Office celebrates the accomplishments of all Drexel students who apply for prestigious fellowships, whether we work with them or not. This list shows all the students we know of to date who have received nationally- competitive awards in the 2010-11 academic year, tenable for 2011-12. Note that in cases where a program notifies students in the summer, indicated with a *, we‟ve included last year‟s recipients. If we‟ve overlooked someone on this list, please let us know. Congratulations to…..

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Mechanical Engineering PhD Engineering Alexander Alspach Honorable Mention Arts and Sciences/ Physics BS alumnus National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Joseph Angelo PHC Rosemary Bastian Biomedical Engineering PhD BIOMED Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Program National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Electrical Engineering BS/PhD Engineering Alyssa Batula Honorable Mention Erasmus Mundus Class A Scholarship. Robert Belardi Architectural Engineering BS Engineering Advanced MS in Structural Analysis of Monuments and Historical Construction (Portugal and Italy)

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Electrical Engineering BS/PhD Engineering/PHC Magda Bielinski Goldwater Scholarship (declined); Vanguard Women in IT (declined)

Medicine/Biomedical Science DUCOM Lindau Award for Annual Meeting of Nobel Laureates (Germany) Greg Botta MD/PhD Arts and Sciences/ Psychology BS Alumna National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Lily Brown PHC Christine Chung Medicine MD DUCOM Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship

Caitlin Costello International Area Studies BS Arts and Sciences Fulbright Scholarship to Senegal

DAAD RISE (German Academic Exchange Service Research Intern- Computer Engineering BS/MS Engineering/PHC Brian Dolhansky ships in Science and Engineering) National Science Foundation East Asia Pacific Summer Internship Materials Sci Engineering PhD Engineering Amalie Donius (Japan) Darryl Fields Epidemiology MPH Public Health HBCU-STEM Fellowship* National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Mechanical Engineering Engineering Paul Freeman Honorable Mention Jennifer Gaffney Information Technology BSIT iSchool Vanguard Women in IT Scholarship Mechanical Engineering BS/ National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Engineering Haider Hasan MS (NDSEG) Arts and Sciences/ Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Undergraduate Fellowship International Area Studies BS Tetyana Ivanishena PHC (Woodrow Wilson Foundation) DAAD RISE (German Academic Exchange Service Research Intern- Electrical Engineering BS/MS Engineering Prativa Kharel ships in Science and Engineering) Germany Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Fellowship; Medicine MD DUCOM Sarah Kim American Medical Association Foundation Seed Grant Kevin Knehr Mechanical Engineering BS Engineering/PHC Goldwater Scholar

Jared Langevin Architectural Engineering PhD Engineering National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

National Science Foundation East Asia Pacific Summer Internship Materials Sci Engineering PhD Engineering Oren Leaffer (Australia) Fellowships Office 2010-11

Victoria Lewis Epidemiology MPH Public Health HBCU-STEM Fellowship* Rachel Magee Information Studies PhD iSchool National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Michelle McCloskey Public Policy MS Arts and Sciences Critical Language Scholarship (Turkey) Arts and Sci- Sajjan Singh Mehta Physics/Math BS/MS Goldwater Scholar ences /PHC

Biomedical Engineering IEEE Microwave Theory and Technique Society (MTT-S) Graduate Xu Meng BIOMED PhD Fellowship for Medical Applications Materials Sci Engineering Farah Moldover Engineering Congress-Bundestang Youth Exchange (CBYX) (Germany) BS Materials Sci Engineering Prineha Narang Engineering/PHC National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program BS/PhD Library and Information Katherine Orr iSchool Presidential Management Fellowships Sciences MS National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Daniel Parry Mathematics PhD Arts and Sciences Honorable Mention Electrical Engineering Elizabeth Plowman Engineering/PHC National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program BS/PhD Jessica Posey Epidemiology MPH Public Health HBCU-STEM Fellowship* Biomedical Engineering National Science Foundation East Asia Pacific Summer Internship Pavithra Ramakirshnan BIOMED MS (China) Molecular and Cell Biol- Vladimir Ratushny DUCOM NIH Pre-Doctoral Training Grant ogy MD/PhD Christina Roberts Epidemiology MPH Public Health HBCU-STEM Fellowship* Andi Rosso Epidemiology PhD Public Health ASPH/CDC Environmental Health Scholarship Rachel Semigran English BA Arts and Sciences Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Arts Award Janani Singaravelu Medical Sciences MS DUCOM Fulbright Scholarship to India Materials Sci Engineering National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Steven Spurgeon Engineering PhD (NDSEG) Biomedical Engineering Collin Stabler BIOMED NASA Graduate Student Researcher Program (GSRP) PhD Environmental Science Karen Sullam Arts and Sciences Fulbright Scholar to Switzerland PhD Amber Taylor Epidemiology MPH Public Health HBCU-STEM Fellowship* International Area Stud- Arts and Sci- Daniel Tedesco Fulbright Scholar to China ies BS ences/PHC Rhea Thompson Biology BS Arts and Sciences Amgen Scholar Cymara Tolbert Epidemiology MPH Public Health HBCU-STEM Fellowship* Biomedical Engineering Phillip Tomezsko BIOMED/PHC Truman Scholar Finalist BS Mechanical Engineering National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Eric Wargo Engineering PhD Honorable Mention Mechanical Engineering DAAD RISE (German Academic Exchange Service Research Intern- Mickey Whitzer Engineering/PHC BS ships in Science and Engineering) Germany Arts and Sci- Adria Wilson Chemistry BS alumna National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program ences/PHC Arts and Sci- Alyssa Wilson Physics BS alumna National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program ences/PHC Faisal Yayah Epidemiology MPH Public Health National Minority Stem Fellowship* Annual Report 2010-11

Campus Partnerships The work of the Fellowships Office would not be possible without the terrific partners that we are fortunate to have across the entire University. First and foremost, we are grateful to the many faculty and staff who take the time to be strong mentors and role models for students. This is the extraordinary and largely unheralded link that transforms, over time, an interesting student with some promise into one who is ready to apply for elite fellowships — one with a clear and interesting vision for where they want to go, rele- vant and substantive experience, and a good idea of what it takes to get to the next step. We are also thankful to have such strong partners in many key offices around the University. You have contributed your skills, knowledge, and resources to outreach efforts, participated in inter- views, brainstormed with us, and otherwise lent your goodwill to this campus-wide initiative. We thank you for your collaborative spirit and for your enthusiasm for student success.

 Acad Advising, Retention, Diversity  International Programs  Student Engagement (Student Life)  Drexel Learning Center  International Students and Scholars  Study Abroad  Faculty Development and Equity  Lindy Center for Civic Engagement  Registrar  Financial Aid  Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority  ROTC  Graduate Studies Participation  The Triangle  Hagerty Library  Online Learning Team  Undergraduate Research  Honor‟s Program  President‟s Office  University Communications  Information Resources & Technology  Provost‟s Office  University/Community Partnerships  Institutional Advancement  STAR Program  Writing Center (Foundation Relations)  Steinbright Career Development Center Finally, we are fortunate to now have at least one Fellowships Liaison in each school at Drexel. Our liaisons help us to identify the right students and get our message out to them at the right time. In some cases, they are also a student‟s go-to resource in their college for administrative and substan- tive questions regarding fellowships. We are grateful for their advocacy efforts and enthusiasm. Arts and Sciences (UG): Sandy Friedlander Goodwin: Lamont Wilson Arts and Sciences (GR): James Herbert iSchool: Kristen Samec BIOMED (UG): Laurie Lenz Law: Rashida West BIOMED (GR): Natalia Broz Medicine: Marie Hartman Business (UG): Ian Sladen Nursing/HP: Steven Gambescia Business (GR): Ron Nordone Public Health: Warren Hilton Engineering (UG): Erin Huver Westphal: Sandra Stewart Engineering (GR): Holly Burnside Westphal: David Miller

Fellowships Program Coordinator Extraordinaire Though many of you have munications and American on supporting students for already had an opportunity Studies from the University of international awards, such as to work with her, I am de- Leipzig, Germany. the Critical Language Schol- lighted to formally welcome arship won by Michelle She was a 2004-05 Fulbright Cindy Schaarschmidt to the McCloskey (Public Policy MS, grantee from Germany to the Fellowships Office. Cindy „12) for intensive Turkish lan- US and has studied and started in August 2010 and guage study. worked abroad in the US, has made quite an impact. Guatemala, the UK, Russia, You can contact Cindy at A native of Germany, Cindy and Spain. [email protected]. holds an MA in Media Com- Cindy Schaarschmidt Cindy is focusing her efforts

Page 6 Fellowships Office 2010-11

Fellowships Office Core Awards

The Fellowships Office is the official campus contact for the following awards. Fellowships marked with a ** require University nomination or endorsement through our office. Fellowships marked with a ++ require interview through our office.

Boren Scholarship ++ National Security Education Pro- Undergraduate study and language study overseas gram (non-Western Europe)

Carnegie Junior Fellows** Carnegie Foundation Work with Carnegie Senior Fellow

Fulbright Scholarship ++ US State Department Study, research, or teaching overseas

Goldwater Scholarship** Goldwater Foundation Outstanding undergraduate STEM students committed to research careers Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Arts Award** Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Graduate study in creative arts

Marshall Scholarship** Marshall Foundation Graduate study in the UK

Mitchell Scholarship** US-Ireland Alliance Graduate study in Ireland

Rhodes Scholarship** Rhodes Trust Graduate study at Oxford University

Truman Scholarship** Truman Foundation Juniors committed to public service leadership

Udall Scholarship** Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Undergraduates committed to environmental leader- Udall Foundation ship

We also encourage students to apply for, and regularly support students in their applications to, other nationally competitive awards, including: Boren Fellowship National Security Education Pro- Graduate research, study, language study overseas gram (non-Western Europe)

Critical Language Scholarship US State Department Critical language study overseas

DAAD RISE (Research Internships in Science and Engi- German Academic Exchange Ser- Research internships in Germany neering) vice

Gates Cambridge Scholarship Gates Cambridge Trust Graduate study at Cambridge University

Hertz Foundation Fellowship Hertz Foundation Support for graduate school in physical sciences

Institute for International Public Policy United Negro College Fund Special Support for students from underrepresented groups Programs interested in international affairs. National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate US Department of Defense Tuition + stipend for graduate STEM students whose Fellowship (NDSEG) work is in area of national need National Institutes of Health awards National Institutes of Health Various training programs and support

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fel- National Science Foundation Tuition + stipend for graduate study in science and lowships Program (NSF GRFP) social science

Science, Mathematics & Research for Transformation US Department of Defense Support for STEM students, either undergrad or grad. (SMART) Requires service

UNCF-Merck Science Research Awards United Negro College Fund/Merck Support for African-Americans in Life Sciences Science Initiative

Whitaker Fellowships Whitaker Foundation Biomedical study, research, or work overseas “APPLYING TO FELLOWSHIPS IS Started by the Pennoni Honors College in 2007, the Drexel Fellowships Office supports Drexel stu- ALWAYS REWARDING BECAUSE IT dents and alumni across the University in their applications for competitive national and international PROMOTES SELF- fellowships. We raise campus-wide awareness of opportunities and directly help students create REFLECTION AND strong applications through intensive individual advising and support. THOUGHT ABOUT WHERE YOU WOULD For more information about the Drexel Fellowships Office, or about any of the Fellowships programs LIKE YOUR CAREER that we work with, find us at http://www.drexel.edu/fellowships. You can also contact us at fellow- AND LIFE TO GO.” [email protected]. - 2010 APPLICANT

From the Director: Defining the Fellowships Office As a relatively new and very page are from that survey. workshop series (pg 1) to regu- small initiative in a large Uni- lar info sessions to presentations From administrators, we versity, the Fellowships Office to departments and student learned which kinds of oppor- has taken time this year to groups. tunities would work best for “MY WRITING evaluate and reflect on our their programs and students Above all, we have been re- work. We surveyed the stu- HAS IMPROVED, and how we might best com- minded through this feedback dents we‟ve worked with to plement their capacities. of the ways in which applying AS WELL AS MY understand how they perceive for fellowships, regardless of our supports and met with key As a result of this feedback, CONFIDENCE IN outcome, helps develop the administrators in each of we have tweaked our mission APPLYING TO core academic, intellectual, Drexel‟s colleges and schools (above) to more clearly re- and personal skills that we PROGRAMS AND to be sure our efforts align flect the dual focus of our value at Drexel: self-directed with their strategic priorities. work: university-wide outreach AWARDS IN THE and experiential learning, stu- and awareness as well as We learned that overwhelm- dent research, and civic en- FUTURE.” intensive individual advising ingly students value and ap- gagement. In the survey, stu- and support. -2010 APPLICANT preciate our work, though dents themselves affirmed the many wished they had known For this coming academic value of the application proc- about us earlier in their tenure year, we will focus on a hand- ess, noting that they‟d devel- at Drexel. More specifically: ful of awards with strategic oped their writing and commu- importance and/or broad nication skills, time management * 97% of respondents told us appeal, particularly Fulbright, and organization, and long- “THEY GAVE SO that we met or exceeded their Goldwater, and NSF GRFP. term life-planning. Perhaps expectations. MUCH SUPPORT, We will also continue to work most importantly, they devel- FROM MY FIRST * 85% of respondents had hard with ambitious and tal- oped a more focused vision for their essay drafts reviewed by ented students who wish to their futures. INQUIRY TO MANY us and 2/3 had drafts re- pursue any of the highly com- We welcome your feedback MANY REVISIONS. viewed multiple times. 64% petitive “core” awards we and ideas. Contact me directly have used our website to iden- work with (pg 7). THEIR HELP WAS at: [email protected]. tify specific awards to apply We are also doing more out- WELL BEYOND for. Rona Buchalter, PhD reach around these awards ANYTHING I HAD Director The quotes that appear on this this year, from the summer Drexel Fellowships Office EXPECTED.” -2010 APPLICANT Drexel Fellowships Office, Pennoni Honors College MacAlister 3013 , 3141 Chestnut Street * Philadelphia, PA 19104-2875 * 215-571-3818 [email protected]* http://www.drexel.edu/fellowships