Dr. Michael Wolyniak
Dr. Michael Wolyniak is the McGavacks Professor of Biology and Director of Undergraduate Research at Hampden-Sydney College in Farmville, Virginia. He is also the current Division Chair of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) Biology Division, where he created the Mentoring the Integration of Research Into the Classroom (MIRIC) Program for current and future faculty looking to bring authentic research experiences into their curricula. Dr. Wolyniak has also been on the leadership teams of several National Science Foundation-supported educational initiatives, including a current project dedicated to the development of CRISPR-based gene editing work into the classroom.
Dr. Buffie Longmire-Avital
Dr. Buffie Longmire-Avital is a member of the Psychology Department, the inaugural director of the Black Lumen Project, an equity initiative, and is currently serving as the Faculty Administrative Fellow for Mentoring in Meaningful Relationships at Elon University. She previously served as the coordinator of the African and African American Studies interdisciplinary minor program for six years. In academic 2021-2022 she became the first Black-identified faculty member promoted to the rank of professor in the College of Arts & Sciences at Elon University. Longmire-Avital received her PhD in Applied Developmental Psychology from New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. For nearly two decades her research has focused on how systemic injustices in combination with various psychosocial factors contribute to health inequities that impact racial and sexual minorities. She has received both internal and external funding awards to support her ongoing health inequities research throughout her career. In 2023 she was one of 11 scholars awarded a fellowship through the Race, Religion, and American Judaism Project. Dr. Longmire-Avital was the Center for Engaged Learning (CEL) Scholar from 2018 – 2020 she wrote widely read CEL blogs focused on how to generate and sustain critically conscious, equitable approaches that support underserved and often invisible students’ engagement in High Impact Practices through critically informed reparative mentorship. In 2022 was asked to serve as one of four undergraduate research experts to revise the Council of Undergraduate Research’s Characteristics for Excellence in Undergraduate Research. She was appointed to the AURA selection committee in 2024. Longmire-Avital has received numerous awards in recognition of her excellence in mentorship as well as leadership service. She is also a recipient of the prestigious National Institutes of Health, Loan Repayment Program for Health Disparities, and a National Research Service Award.
Dr. Ashley Rea
Ashley Rea is an assistant professor of rhetoric and composition at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona. Her research examines methods for fostering educational equity in STEM programs and is published in Technical Communication, IEEE Transactions in Professional Communication, and Programmatic Perspectives. Currently, she is mentoring undergraduate researchers in a grant-funded study using user experience methods to improve the accessibility of writing and communication centers at ERAU. With Dr. Jon Adams, she leads a team of undergraduate researchers who have redesigned introductory engineering curriculum to improve the experiences of women in STEM and presented their research to NASA Space Grant consortium members and educators at the American Society for Engineering Education conference.
Dr. Jonathan Adams
Jonathan Adams is an assistant professor of rhetoric and composition at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona. His research examines methods for fostering educational equity in STEM programs and is published in Technical Communication Quarterly, and the American Society for Engineering Education, among other venues. He mentors undergraduate researchers in grant-funded course projects working toward maintaining the undergraduate world record for liquid rocket flight.
Elise Wilson
Elise Wilson is Director of the Career Services and Professional Development Center at The W. Elise comes to The W with a wealth of experience in leadership and management training, employee engagement and retention best practices. She worked as the employee engagement manager for Dutch Oil Company before joining The W in the fall of 2023. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and a Master of Arts degree in Women’s Leadership from The W. Elise also has experience working in student life and understands student services from a holistic approach. Elise is involved in the Columbus community as a member of Rotary and President of the United Way of the Golden Triangle Region. She resides in New Hope with her husband, Nathan, who is also a W graduate. Together they have three children, Rhyn, Rhys, and Riley, and an assortment of animals on their small hobby farm.