2018-2019 Rising Stars Fellows Announced

November 14, 2018
Rising Stars Front Graphic 18-19
Meet Baylor's newest Rising Stars

Contact: Whitney Richter, Director of Marketing and Communications, Office of the Vice Provost for Research, 254-710-7539
Written by: Gary Stokes, Office of the Vice Provost for Research

WACO, Texas (November 14, 2018) –  The Office of the Vice Provost for Research is pleased to announce the 2018-2019 class of Rising Stars Fellows.  Baylor's Rising Stars program has been cited by EAB as a Best Practice for research universities.

Selected from nominations provided by their deans, Rising Stars represent a broad range of disciplines that includes the sciences, arts and humanities and professional schools. Rising Stars Fellows participate in an intensive mentorship program designed to provide them with the skills needed to successfully pursue external research funding, produce scholarly publications, and to collaborate with colleagues across disciplines and at other academic institutions.

Rising Stars nominations are based on both research record and potential for recognition in his or her field of study. Faculty selected for the program receive instruction and support in developing proposals for external funding, meet with past Rising Stars cohorts to aid in the development of interdisciplinary research, and are introduced to external advisors who provide additional mentorship and instruction.  The Vice Provost for Research, Dr. Truell Hyde, also offers each Rising Star the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., to meet personally with funding agency program managers to discuss their research and explore potential funding opportunities.

The Rising Stars Fellows for 2018-2019 are:

  • Jessica Akers, Department of Educational Psychology, School of Education
  • Matt Asare, Department of Public Health, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences
  • Kelli Barr, Department of Biology, College of Arts & Sciences
  • Tamar Carter, Department of Biology, College of Arts & Sciences
  • Tomas Cerny, Department of Computer Science, School of Engineering and Computer Science
  • Julia Daniel, Department of English, College of Arts & Sciences
  • Monique Ingalls, Division of Academic Studies, School of Music
  • Kelly Johnston, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, School of Education
  • Tae Hun Kim, Department of Information Systems, Hankamer School of Business
  • Jeonghun (John) Lee, Department of Mathematics, College of Arts & Sciences
  • Brianna Lemmons, Social Work, Diana R. Garland School of Social Work
  • Stanley Ling, Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering and Computer Science
  • Briana Martinez, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences
  • Jocelyn McGee, Social Work, Diana R. Garland School of Social Work
  • Jonathan Meddaugh, Department of Mathematics, College of Arts & Sciences
  • Rebecca Meraz, Louise Herrington School of Nursing
  • Melanie Millar, Department of Accounting and Business Law, Hankamer School of Business
  • David Montgomery, Division of Music Education, School of Music
  • Phil Nichols, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, School of Education
  • Brittany Perrine, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences
  • Elizabeth Petsios, Department of Geosciences, College of Arts & Sciences
  • Michael Richards, Department of Economics, Hankamer School of Business
  • Yulia Sullivan, Department of Information Systems, Hankamer School of Business
  • Zachary Ward, Department of Economics, Hankamer School of Business
  • Yang-Soo Yoon, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences

A new cohort of Rising Stars has been added to the program each year since 2014. Dr. Hyde explains that previous participants are invited to act as part of the current Rising Stars program:

"Previous Risings Stars are offered the opportunity to meet with each new group to act as mentors and establish connections for collaboration. They also help new faculty acclimate to the program by letting them know what to expect and how they can best benefit from the various opportunities provided. These kinds of interactions add an important layer to the mentorship that goes on within the academic departments."

Learn more about the 2018-2019 Rising Stars and Fellows from prior years at: www.baylor.edu/research/rising-stars.