The Krieger School of Arts and Science is excited to announce the 2023-2024 Graduate Diversity Ambassadors. They are part of the KSAS Dean’s Graduate Fellows program, which also includes peer navigators.
These ambassadors will work with the KSAS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office to advance the recruitment and retention of diverse graduate students in KSAS. Their roles will include participating in on campus visits, local graduate school fairs, fall preview program, monthly socials, etc. Ambassadors will also engage in programming that will enhance professional growth for graduate students. Each ambassador receives a stipend for their work in this one-year program.
This initiative is supported by the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate & Professional Education, Office of Diversity & Inclusion, and the KSAS Dean’s Office.
Samantha Soto
Samantha Soto is a PhD candidate within Patricia Janak’s laboratory within the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. When in the lab, Samantha is interested in investigating the neurobiology behind the motivation to drink. Outside of the lab, she is excited to engage with the next generation of doctoral scholars. Samantha is a McNair Scholar and Leadership Alliance alum and excited to answer questions about graduate student life, opportunities in outreach, and navigating resources within graduate school.
Mahmoud Abouelkheir
Mahmoud is a third-year PhD student investigating receptor tyrosine kinases within the Chemistry-Biology Interface Program. Mahmoud also serves as an Education Research Fellow at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, contributing to the NSF funded longitudinal 10-year study “Staying in Science”. He is committed to fostering diversity and equity in STEM education, ultimately aiming to create a more inclusive environment for students within academic communities.
Vincent Clark
Vincent Clark is a fourth-year graduate student in the Arroyo lab studying DNA-based biosensors. He is originally from the Bronx and briefly lived in Massachusetts during his undergraduate studies before coming to Baltimore. Outside of work, he is typically taking care of his many houseplants and hanging out with his two cats.