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Laura MacDonald, a graduate of ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ, was hired in 2016. Laura received her Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Microbiology and Immunology and completed Postdoctoral research in biophysics and thyroid cancer. At ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ, Laura has focused her work on creating structures and communities that build belonging in the STEM disciplines. She has managed over $3.7M in funding, over $3M of which is supported by National Science Foundation funding and is dedicated to helping students from economically disadvantaged communities thrive. Her work has resulted in invited presentations and peer-reviewed articles. The ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ STEM Scholars program has supported the graduation of 95% of its participants by supporting its students with intentional advising, learning and living communities, internships, and research. It has resulted in job, professional, or graduate school placement for all its graduates. Laura’s secondary research focus is investigating teaching, grading, and classroom structures that create an introductory biology experience that matters. She is supported by an institutional grant to reimagine how the first-year biology curriculum is imagined and consider how to translate the needs of today’s students into a new pedagogy model. Laura has participated in numerous workshops on inclusive teaching, leadership, and assessment practices, including the American Association for Colleges and Universities Project Kaleidoscope STEM Leadership Institute and the Deep Teaching Residency program.