Funded by the NSF Eddie Bernice Johnson INCLUDES project, the Alliances for Graduate Education, and the Professoriate, we are re-imagining STEM equity within the University System of Maryland through innovative postdoc pathways.
Our mission is to assist our seven partner institutions to recruit, develop, and transition minoritized postdoctoral scholars into tenure-track positions. Together, we are committed to cultivating more inclusive and equitable climates in departments, institutions, and the entire university system.
Join us as we shape the future of STEM education and research in Maryland, one scholar at a time.
The success of the PROMISE Academy Alliance is being replicated in additional University Systems through the NSF Eddie Bernice Johnson INCLUDES funded RISE UPP Initiative.
Explore the links below to discover more about our alliance and how you can get involved.
The NSF Eddie Bernice Johnson INCLUDES project: Re-Imagining STEM Equity Utilizing Postdoc Pathways (RISE UPP) aims to diversify the professoriate create pathways for faculty conversion for postdocs from minoritized backgrounds.
The program leverages the success of two state university systems programs:
in recruiting, training, and converting postdocs to tenure track faculty members within their institutions.
The RISE UPP Alliance will bring these two university systems together as Core Model Partners, which aim to provide support to 3 additional state university systems that will replicate and adapt their models as Scaling Partners:
7 of 11 converted into tenure track faculty (5 within USM, 2 outside of USM), 3 more in the fellowship currently, 1 has transitioned to Industry
6 more fellows joining this year.
As an underrepresented minority in STEM, the PROMISE Academy has been instrumental in guiding me towards my career goals. This transformative opportunity has not only honed my skills across different areas, including understanding STEM careers, negotiation tactics, lab setup, hiring process, and teaching methodologies, but it has also provided me with a uniquely supportive community of mentors and peers. The PROMISE Academy is more than an academic platform; it offers us an invaluable sense of belonging, essential tools for success, and exceptional support in overcoming the unique challenges faced by minorities in the field.
PROMISE not only keeps its promises but is instrumental in cultivating a supportive community for graduate students at UMBC, with a particular focus on underrepresented minorities over the past two decades. By consistently surpassing expectations, PROMISE has demonstrated the critical role of community in achieving success in graduate school. The programs provided by PROMISE have met and exceeded the expectations of students who attend, including me, contributing significantly to my ongoing success at UMBC. The third space fostered by PROMISE has played a crucial role in shaping my academic journey
The RISE UPP PROMISE Academy is funded by the NSF’s Eddie Bernice Johnson INCLUDES Initiative: Re-Imagining STEM Equity Utilizing Postdoctoral Pathways (RISE UPP), Division of Equity and Excellence in STEM (EES), NSF Award # 2217329 and the following Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) NSF awards: #1820984 (UMBC), #1820974 (Towson), #1820971 (Salisbury), #1820983 (UM Baltimore – UMB), #1820975 (UM College Park). Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations presented on our social media platforms are only those of the presenter grantee/researcher, author, or agency employee; and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For official information about NSF, visit https://www.nsf.gov.
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