Dr. Valerie E. Taylor, Texas A&M University College of Engineering senior associate dean of academic affairs, is now serving a three-year term on the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Committee on Opportunities in Science (COOS).
COOS appointees advise the AAAS Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) Programs on initiatives and projects related to enhancing the status and accelerating the advancement of minorities, women and people with disabilities in science and engineering professions. The committee also advises the AAAS capacity and career centers.
“I look forward to the opportunity of serving on the Committee on Opportunities in Science and being deeply engaged with the American Association for the Advancement of Science,” Taylor said.
In 2017, EHR project development will focus on the following:
- Developing STEM outreach activities, including Resident science projects, that engage AAAS members and prospective members in their local communities;
- Development of electronic resources and platforms for the classroom (pre-K – college, and informal environments);
- International STEM education collaborations, particularly for women and developing countries;
- STEM education funding, policy, research and evaluation, especially as related to college and university retention and workforce diversity;
- Higher education institution-level transformation (particularly, as related to undergraduate STEM curriculum; graduate student and faculty diversity, policies and practices; and STEM pre-service teacher education);
- Conferences for STEM undergraduate and graduate students, including student oral and poster research presentations; and
- Leadership development and networks for scientists and engineers with disabilities.