Responsibilities: Dr. Sharron Graves has been with the Graduate Program in Life Sciences (GPILS) in the University of Maryland School of Medicine since 2006. In her current role as Executive Director of Student Enrichment and Programmatic Initiatives, she leads strategic efforts to enhance student engagement, drive program development, and expand access through focused recruitment and marketing tactics. She assists students in navigating the challenges of graduate school. Her workshops emphasize ethical professionalism as faculty members and trainees navigate the occasional complex working relationships that exist in an academic setting. She facilitates conflict resolution to help fortify the working relationships between faculty mentors and trainees to address issues that impact the commitment to cultivating a respectful and welcoming work environment. She is dedicated to creating and preserving a sense of belonging within the mentor-trainee dynamic while sustaining an inclusive and professional work environment. She earned a Doctor of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Management from the University of Maryland Global Campus. She received certificates in Adult Mental Health First Aid and Ethical and Inclusive Leadership.
Responsibilities: As the Program Specialist, Melissa ensures the SESI Office is running efficiently by providing administrative support to the Executive Director. She serves as the liaison with the GPILS program leadership, the Office of Postdoctoral Scholars, and other SESI stakeholders. She contributes to assessing the success of initiatives in order to create and implement new or improved methods. She plays an integral role in the marketing and branding of the office, through frequent updates of webpages and managing the social media sites. Melissa stays current on trends in graduate scholarship and discourse to support programming.