Drs. Olivia George and Kamuela Yong
UH West Oʻahu faculty members Olivia George and Kamuela Yong have been accepted into the Linton-Poodry SACNAS Leadership Institute, a leadership training program by Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS).
Dr. George, an assistant professor of Biology, and Dr. Yong, an assistant professor of Mathematics, will join 28 other minority educators and scientists for the institute’s training July 16-20 in Washington, D.C. The institute is considered the nation’s premier program for underrepresented minority scientists and provides training to help participants lead institutional change.
The institute was founded in 2009 by Drs. Clifton Poodry and Marigold Linton, who were also founding members of SACNAS, an organization dedicated to fostering success in Chicano/Hispanics and Native Americans in obtaining advanced degrees, careers and positions of leadership within Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
During the five-day institute, participants will perform small group exercises, listen to speakers, do leadership development planning, partake in networking opportunities and community building among selected participants.
George and Yong are advisors of the newly formed UH West Oʻahu SACNAS student club, have previously taken UHWO students to SACNAS’ National Diversity in STEM Conference, a national meeting. At the 2017 conference UH West Oʻahu students Kriselyn Cortado, Thalia Lawrence and Kristin Umakoshi wonder a presentation award in Mathematics.
Both George and Yong are Life Members of SACNAS.