Florida Poly Professor Chosen to Join Elite, International Fellowship for Female STEM Leaders
LAKELAND, Fla. (PRWEB) June 01, 2019 -- Dr. Grisselle Centeno is making history at Florida Polytechnic University by becoming the first Florida Poly professor selected for the prominent and highly competitive Executive Leadership in Academic Technology, Engineering, and Science (ELATES) program. ELATES at Drexel® University is a prestigious fellowship designed to advance senior women faculty in academic STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) disciplines into effective leadership roles. The selected incoming class includes 22 women faculty from 19 different institutions across the U.S. and Canada. Centeno, born and raised in Puerto Rico, is the only Hispanic in the group.
“I’m welcoming this experience with open arms. I’m ready to listen, learn, share, and grow,” said Centeno, professor of data science and business analytics and director of the Health Systems and Engineering program. “This incredible opportunity will help me hone my leadership skills and overall knowledge regarding organizational dynamics.”
The intensive full-year program focuses on increasing leadership effectiveness, managing change initiatives, and using strategic finance and resource management to enhance organizational missions. ELATES includes three in-residence sessions of one week each used to improve knowledge and skills in business practices of higher education, project management with stakeholders, and effective communication in a variety of leadership platforms.
“In academia, you don’t get trained to be a professor, or to do research, or to lead in your department. It’s assumed that because you’re going through your PhD, you can do the job well,” said Centeno, who joined Florida Poly in January of 2019 after an 18-year teaching career at the University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa. “So we never get that opportunity to really be trained in a pedagogical way to be effective.”
ELATES was created seven years ago at Drexel University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dr. Koren A. Bedeau, vice provost for academic programs and strategic initiatives and executive director of ELATES, said she is looking forward to the new cohort of fellows.
“We are thrilled to welcome another group of exceptional women leaders. Each new class brings unique experiences and perspectives that add value to the program and expands the national network of leaders and supporters of women in academic STEM leadership,” said Bedeau.
For the most recent university news, visit Florida Poly News.
ABOUT FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY:
Florida Polytechnic University is an accredited member of the State University System of Florida, dedicated exclusively to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). The University is a powerful economic engine within the state of Florida, blending applied research with industry partnerships to give students an academically rigorous education with real-world relevance. The campus is located in Lakeland, Florida along the I-4 High Tech Corridor. Connect with Florida Poly at http://www.floridapoly.edu.
Lydia Guzmán, Florida Polytechnic University, http://www.floridapoly.edu, +1 863.874.8557, [email protected]
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