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The stEm PEER Academy is a strategy of the Engineering PLUS Alliance to empower, resource, and support a national network of change agents who will accelerate the implementation of high-impact, evidence-based practices at their home institutions to increase the number of underrepresented engineering graduates.

In 2023, the DHS Science and Technology Office of University Programs provided funding for ten individuals from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Centers of Excellence and their Minority Serving Institution(MSI) and Community College partners to participate in the stEm PEER academy. The ten selected individuals, dubbed the DHS PEERs, are currently participating in a 2+ year professional development and research experience to design and build an action plan for implementation at their home institutions. The program encourages the DHS PEERs to learn from and engage with the Diversity Equity and Inclusion program and data experts, researchers, and practitioners as they develop and seek project funding.

2024 DHS PEERs

Diana Cheng

Professor and Graduate Program Director, Towson University

Get to Know Diana

Urmi Duttagupta

Professor, New York City College of Technology, City University of New York

Get to Know Urmi

Syreeta Dukes

HBCU and HSI Campus Manager, Collins Aerospace Howard University Campus Manager for RI&S, Raytheon Technologies

Get to Know Syreeta

Luke Landherr

Chemical Engineering, COE Distinguished Teaching Professor, Associate Chair of Undergraduate Studies, Northeastern University

Get to Know Luke

Kerry Meyers

Associate Dean of Student Development & Director of Women in Engineering, University of Notre Dame

Get to Know Kerry

News & Events

Upcoming Event

DASSH (Designing Actionable Solutions for a Secure Homeland) Student Design Challenge

Student teams will compete against other universities in the 3-day DASSH (Designing Actionable Solutions for a Secure Homeland) student design challenge. This annual event is co-sponsored by SENTRY and the fellow Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence, the Center for Accelerating Operational Efficiency (CAOE). Subject matter experts mentor student teams as they design, build, and implement innovative solutions. Unlike other hackathons that focus on coding, this challenge emphasizes finding real solutions, regardless of the medium those solutions happen to be in. To conclude the event, proposed solutions will be presented to Department of Homeland Security leadership, and cash prizes will be awarded to the top teams.

Read More DASSH (Designing Actionable Solutions for a Secure Homeland) Student Design Challenge Event Details

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