ASPIRE Summer Program

The Advancing Spelman’s Participation in Informatics Research and Education, or ASPIRE, program focuses on developing informatics knowledge in science, technology, engineering and mathematics students and faculty to increase cross-disciplinary research and collaborations. ASPIRE also supports informatics-related curricular enhancements. This program is funded by NSF/HBCU-UP.

ASPIRE’S goal is to increase the quality and quantity of African-American women who pursue science-, technology-, engineering-, and mathematics-related advanced degrees and fields in interdisciplinary and informatics-related areas.

During the summer of 2012, six Spelman students were afforded the opportunity to participate in ASPIRE’s summer research experience, an intense six-week program for rising sophomores and juniors majoring in STEM-related fields.

This program provides opportunities for research fellows to engage in team-based interdisciplinary and informatics-related research that will assist them in acquiring the skills necessary to further ASPIRE’s mission of advancing the College’s participation in informatics research in education under the guidance of a research mentor. 

ASPIRE research fellows maintain a regular work schedule of 35 hours per week in the laboratory and have work steadily toward the objectives set out by the faculty mentor.

This summer's closing session will begin July 13, 2012. During this time, research fellows will present their research findings.

ASPIRE Research Fellows:
Joi Officer
Dr. Fred Bowers, Mentor

Britney Robinson
Dr. Fred Bowers, Mentor

Samantha Kelly
Dr. Yonas Tekle, Mentor

Ariel Lecky
Dr. Yonas Tekle, Mentor

Jazette Johnson
Dr. Alfred Watkins, Mentor

Zazie Lumpkin
Dr. Alfred Watkins, Mentor

ASPIRE STAFF

Carmen K. Sidbury, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Location: Science Center 151
Phone: 404-270-5705
Email: csidbury@spelman.edu

Andrea Lawrence, Ph.D.
Co-Principal Investigator
Location: Tapley 217
Phone: 404-270-5875
Email: lawrence@spelman.edu

Mark Lee, Ph.D.
Co-Principal Investigator
Location: Science Center 281
Phone: 404-270-5879
Email: marklee@spelman.edu

S. Jermaine Duffie
Program Manager
Location: Science Center 335
Phone: 404-270-5775
Email: sduffie@spelman.edu

Loretta Moore
Senior Administrative Assistant
Location: Science Center 387
Phone  404-270-5766
Email: lorettam@spelman.edu