ARCS Foundation, Metro Washington Chapter (MWC) May 2024 Newsletter |
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May 8: Visit at University of Virginia, 11:30 am
May 23: Membership Meeting Potluck and Social, 12-2:30 pm, at Jane Riddle home
Jun 15: Picnic, 4 pm, at Sparrell home
Oct 17: SAR, National Academy of Sciences, 6 pm
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Wow!! Our Chapter's 55th Anniversary year is coming to a strong close. April's highlights include our very successful Eagle Award and 55th Anniversary Celebration. More than 95 people attended as we recognized Eagle Award recipient, Dr. Renee Wegrzyn, and celebrated university partnerships and scholar/scholar alum accomplishments. To top it off, our live auction raised more than $30,000 for our Scholar Fund.
Special thanks to Charlotte Knight and Chi Pham for chairing this event, Alice Laning for hosting us at the Army Navy Club, and to all the ARCS-MWC members who worked on the planning committee.
We visited three of our partner universities in April and came away impressed by the scholar presentations.Thank you to Miriam Erickson for organizing these. Our last university visit is May 8 at UVA. It’s not too late to sign up!
Did you know May 2 is “World Laughter Day”? What better way to share laughs than with your ARCS-MWC friends at the May Membership Meeting Potluck and Social at the home of Jane Riddle on May 23 from 12-2:30 pm. Between laughs, we will recognize our outgoing Board members, vote in our 2024-2025 Board (thank you Jane Riddle for leading the Nominating Committee), and approve the updated Standing Rules and Bylaws (thank you Sarah Doverspike for leading the Administration Committee).
Behind the scenes, the Board will be busy over the next few months developing a strategic plan for the upcoming year. Watch your email for details.
~Julie Hohl and Patty Sparrell, ARCS-MWC co-presidents
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Can you join us at the University of Virginia on May 8 from 11:30 am to 3 pm, our last university visit this year? We'd love to see you there! Click here for the almost final agenda. RSVP, with any dietary restrictions, directly to Miriam Erickson at Miriam.erickson@outlook.com.
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membership meeting and potluck |
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Register here for our Thurs, May 23 Membership Meeting Potluck and Social from 12 - 2:30 pm at the home of Jane Riddle, 917 Douglass Drive in McLean. We will wrap up MWC's 55th Anniversary and vote on next year's officers as well as some important bylaws and standing rules changes.
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The Administration Council has been working on revisions to our Chapter Bylaws and Standing Rules. At the board meeting on April 9, the ARCS-MWC board voted 1) to approve the revised Standing Rules, and 2) to recommend to the Active Members the revised Bylaws.
Here are the proposed revised Bylaws for your review. We will vote on these at our Membership Meeting Potluck and Social on May 23.
To develop the proposed revisions, Membership Council revised and approved proposed revisions to the Membership categories in the Bylaws and the Administration Council revised the other provisionsand approved the entirety of the Bylaws and Standing Rules. Key revisions to the Bylaws, which were also incorporated into the Standing Rules, are as follows:
- Membership
- Creating the Emeritus Membership category and revising the Life, Honorary, and Recent Graduate Membership categories to better describe their roles and responsibilities.
- Adding a provision to the Bylaws for the removal of Members.
- Board of Directors
- Clarifying the role of Directors (voting), Advisory Directors (non-voting), and Members-at-Large (non-voting).
- Revising the term limits and staffing to reflect our current practices.
- Adding a reference to our Policies in the Bylaws to ensure they remain on our radar.
- Shall to Will - Changing the term "shall" to "will," which is the more modern term.
Pursuant to the Bylaws, the Board recommends the Bylaws for Active Membership consideration. The Bylaws revisions must be approved by a majority vote of all Active Members. (Bylaws Section 9.1.A) If a majority of Active Members are not present at the Spring General Membership Meeting, we will attempt to get approval through email. (Bylaws Section 9.2)
Click here for track changes version and here for a clean version of the Bylaws for your reference. Questions? Contact Sarah Doverspike, VP of Administration.
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In accordance with the ARCS MWC Bylaws, Article 5 the nominating committee proposes this slate of officers for the 2024-2025 year. On May 23, we will vote on this slate at the Membership Meeting Potluck and Social.
Proposed Board Slate for 2024-25, showing Office and Nominee(s):
2024-26 terms
Co-VPs Development: Trish O'Malley and Christine Peterson
VP University Relations: Michelle Francis
Co-VPs Communications: Vacant
Secretary: Kristen Bloshock (evening meetings only)
VP Endowment: Jane Riddle
Assistant Treasurer: Lubna Zahir
Continuing Officers (2023-25 terms)
Co-Presidents: Patty Sparrell and Julie Hohl
Treasurer: Silvija Strikis
Co-VPs Activities: Charlotte Knight and Mary Jo Ruane
VP Administration: Sarah Doverspike
VP Finance: Sharon Gross
VP Membership: Neela Babu
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Tis the Season for Membership Renewal!!
The Membership Council is eager to get a head start on membership renewals this year, and we will be ready for you to pay your dues at our May 23 Membership Meeting Potluck and Social.
We will make it easy for you. Your dues are based on your membership status:
Active: $500
Active Emeritus: $300
Non-resident: $150
Honorary: $0
You can pay via check payable to ARCS-MWC or Zelle, a free and electronic payment means. Check with your bank if Zelle is available, then send payment to:
Purpose: Membership Renewal (and donation)
Membership Council will email you separately for any updates to the blue book directory and/or changes to which committees and councils you are on.
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ARCS Scholar Ori Fox was part of The James Webb Telescope: Are We Alone? for The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper on Sun, Apr 14. Click here for details and a link to the story.
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eagle award and 55th anniversary recap |
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Oh what a night! Our 2024 Eagle Award and 55th Anniversary Celebration at The Army and Navy Club in DC raised over $30,000 – enough to sponsor two PhD Scholars. Our Eagle Award Honoree, Dr Renee Wegrzyn, provided inspiring comments for more than 90 attendees including members, donors, university partners, scholars, and scholar alums. The scholar comments were also very special. A good time was had by all!
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On Apr 10, ARCS-MWC members Miriam Swydan Erickson and Anne Wingo, co-VP’s of University Relations; Patty Sparrell and Julie Hohl, co-Presidents; Elli Nesbitt, former co-President; Becky Corcoran and Jane Riddle, board members visited Georgetown University. Attendees from Georgetown included DaVonne Henry, PhD candidate in Physics and Endowed Fellow, 2024-25; Maria Snyder, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs; Mia Hernandez, Senior Development Associate, Office of Advancement; and Elizabeth George, Associate director of Graduate Fellowships and Awards.
Introduction was given by Becky Pfordresher, Senior Director, Institutional Partnerships, Office of Advancement. Patty Sparrell, ARCS-MWC co-President, gave opening remarks, followed by introductory remarks from Alex Sens, PhD, Dean, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Georgetown University. Then, the scholars—Ellen Jacobs, PhD Candidate in Biology, Mars Foundation Scholar with her mentor Dr. Janet Mann, Distinguished University Professor, Department of biology and Psychology (in attendance) and Zoe Malchiodi, Ph.D. Candidate in Tumor Biology, Matt Riddle Scholar with her mentor Dr. Louis M. Weiner, Francis L. and Charlotte Gragnani Chair, Department of Oncology (in attendance)—presented their research.
After a lovely catered lunch at Alumni house, Jeff Urbach, PhD, Vice Provost for Research, Office of the Provost, gave closing remarks.
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On Apr 15, ARCS-MWC members Patty Sparrell, co-President, Miriam Swydan Erickson and Anne Wingo, co-VP’s of University Relations, Elli Nesbitt, former co-President, and board members Chi Pham and Rebecca McNeilly visited the Johns Hopkins University Center in their new building at the Bloomberg Center in Washington, DC, formerly the Newseum. Ms. Amy Burdette, from the JHU office of Foundation Relations, and others also attended. Dr. Denis Wirtz, vice Provost for Research, provided opening remarks and thanks from JHU, then Patty Sparrell, co-President spoke on behalf of ARCS-MWC.
We heard presentations on research from the scholars. First, Jessica Stetzel, a Danaher Corporation Scholar, PhD candidate in Biomedical engineering. Her advisors are Dr.Joshus Doloff, Assistant Professor, Biomedical engineering and Dr. Hai Quan Mao, Professor, Materials Science and Engineering. Next, we heard from Reynolds Dziobek-Garrett via zoom, JCM Foundation scholar PhD candidate in chemistry. His advisor is Dr. Thomas Kempa, Associate professor of chemistry. We heard from Sheila Iyer, a Danaher Corporation scholar and undergraduate, and soon to be PhD candidate, in Biomedical engineering. Her advisors are Dr. Joel Bader, Associate professor, Biomedical engineering, and Dr. Ben Langmead, Associate Professor, Computer Science. Then, we heard from Harrison J.V. Sims, Danaher corporation Scholar, undergraduate, in Biomedical engineering and soon to be PhD candiate at the University of Michigan. His advisor in Dr. Scott Kuo, Associate Professor, biomedical engineering.
Following closing remarks by both Dr. Denis Wirtz and Patty Sparrell, and a very generous lunch, Amy Burdette provided a tour of the new JGU Bloomberg Building.
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On Apr 24, ARCS-MWC members Patty Sparrell and Julie Hohl, co-Presidents; Elli Nesbitt, former co-President; Miriam Swydan Erickson and Anne Wingo, co-VP’s of University Relations; and board members Jane Riddle, Susan Trice, and Rebecca McNeilly visited virtually with our scholar and faculty of George Washington University.
Dr. Suresh Subramanium, Vice Provost for Graduate and and Postdoctoral Affairs, Office of the Provost gave opening remarks. Patty Sparrell, co-President, provided opening remarks for ARCS-MWC. Dr. Chad Heap, Associate Dean for Graduate studies and Associate Professor of American Studies also spoke. Dr. Alexander J. van der Horst, Associate professor of Physics, introduced Ms. Hallie Fausey, the Michelle and Julian Francis Scholar.
Ms. Hallie Fausey presented her research on Gamma Ray Bursts and thanked ARCS-MWC for her award. She will be using her award in part to attend conferences in Copenhagen and other countries.
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As we celebrate our chapter’s 55th anniversary, we highlight Antoinette (Angie) Delaney who has been an ARCS-MWC member since 1986. We applaud Angie’s continued commitment to ARCS-MWC and her many contributions to our chapter, especially her participation in leadership roles on the Board.
Angie first learned about ARCS-MWC through another member, her dear friend Barbara Wooden, who invited her to join. Barbara told Angie that ARCS-MWC was a great organization and that she and her husband Larry would enjoy it. At that time, new members needed two sponsors so Angie was sponsored by Barbara Wooden and Lynn Heebner. Angie says that ARCS-MWC members are very special and she has made many friends in the chapter.
Angie said that the achievements that she is most proud of revolved around the teamwork needed for ARCS-MWC to meet its mission, especially while she was chapter President during 2010-2012. One of her primary goals as President was to attract new chapter members, and she initiated several programs to increase membership. She arranged for an exhibitor’s booth for two years in a row at the annual two-day USA Science and Engineering Festival. Chapter members enthusiastically informed Festival guests about ARCS-MWC while Scholars, scheduled in two-hour sessions each day, provided hands on experiments and informational material for everyone who stopped by the booth. Angie was also selected as an MWC ARCS Light!
Angie welcomes all the new ARCS-MWC members! She says that the ARCS goal is very important and to best meet the goal we need to continue strengthening our interests in STEM education, supporting the emerging scientists and engineers who will contribute so much to American innovation.
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Rachelle A. Turiello – ARCS-MWC Endowment Scholar
1st Year Scholar, PhD Candidate, Chemistry
University of Virginia
Research: the development of integrated microfluidic devices for the preparation and analysis of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, for clinical and forensic applications. This requires an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating themes from chemistry, engineering, physics, and genetics to provide solutions to real-world problems, such as viral detection and human identification.
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Community Service, Contributions to DEI, and VolunteerWork:
Prior to graduation from my M.S. program, I worked as an intern and forensic science professional for two local police organizations, serving my community. I began as a volunteer intern for the Baltimore City Police Department working with the Homicide Division. From April 2016 to March 2018, I secured a position with the Crime Scene Unit of the Baltimore Police Department identifying and collecting DNA, trace, and firearms evidence from crime scenes and providing exper t witness testimony in the pursuit of criminal prosecutions. From March 2018 to August of 2019, prior to beginning my PhD program at UVA, I worked for Prince George’s County Police Department as af orensic chemist, where I completed serological and DNA analysis on forensi cevidence, predominantly originating from sexual assault cases. Both police departments cater to largely underrepresented populations of African American citizens with a history of marginalization. During my time with BPD in particular, several departments were unde consent decree by the Department of Justice to reform policies and procedures that engendered trust between the agency and the community they served and promoted diversity and inclusion initiatives and trainings.
I have also served my community as a teacher and volunteer. Beginning in 2016, I taught a graduate course titled Crime Scene Processing and Impression Evidence in the Department of Chemistry at Towson University and volunteered as an instructor for the American Academy of Forensic Sciences to teach children of all ages about forensic science through interactive demonstrations. I also had opportunities to engage with local children on the subject of forensic science in Prince George’s County as a volunteer at the annual Tots to Teens Expo.
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Jessica Lorraine Stelzel – Danaher Corporation Scholar
1st Year Scholar, PhD Candidate, Biomedical Engineering
Johns Hopkins University
Research: seeks to understand the mechanism(s) by which a novel nano-fiber hydrogel composite material is remodeled in vivo into vascularized soft tissue by infiltrating host cells. It will leverage this information to optimize its formulation, thus developing an improved off-the-shelf material with enhanced capacity to achieve natural tissue restoration.
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Describe the expected benefit of your research to society: Restoration of soft tissue is a significant challenge facing clinicians. The available reparative options, whether prosthetic or autologous, present major drawbacks including donor site defects, unpredictable tissue survival, limited duration of restoration, prosthetic exposure, infection, and fibrosis. Therefore, a critical need exists for a solution which can replace missing tissue volume while encouraging natural remodeling of soft tissue over time. We have recently developed an injectable nanofiber-hydrogel composite (NHC) material which is capable of inducing remodeling of the injected volume into vascularized soft tissue with adipocytes without relying on exogenous growth factors and cells. However, the mechanisms by which it does so are not yet well understood.
The goals of this research are to characterize the immune and tissue remodeling kinetics of the injected NHC material, uncover the mechanism(s) by which it achieves soft tissue remodeling, and optimize its formulation to enhance this desired outcome. Gaining insight into how soft tissue remodeling can be accomplished with this biomaterial system will have wide-reaching implications for the regenerative medicine field as we work towards creating off-the-shelf biomaterials-based solutions for tissue replacement. The potential clinical applications of these materials range from restoration of congenital tissue defects to healing fistulas. Through modulation of physical and structural properties as well as leveraging our mechanistic understanding, the parameters of the NHC will be optimized to maximize desired soft tissue remodeling. If successful, this research will produce an improved off the shelf bio-stimulatory matrix with enhanced capacity to achieve natural tissue restoration outcomes as well as a mechanistic understanding of how to achieve soft tissue remodeling, thereby expanding the ability to treat patients and allowing scientists to engineer the next generation of biomaterials for tissue replacement.
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Check here for updates from the ARCS-MWC councils.
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Activities: Save the date! The Family Picnic at the Sparrell's is Sat, Jun 15 at 4 pm. Members, guests, kids, and grandkids are welcome. Watch your email for details.
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P.O. Box 60868
10221 River Road
Potomac, MD 20859-0868
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