03/04/2022 02:07:07 PMElsa Gonzalez, an associate professor at the University of Houston College of Education, will have the opportunity to shape research around the country as a newly selected program director for the National Science Foundation.
Gonzalez, who holds a one-year appointment with the agency, is working with the Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions program. The initiative aims to enhance the quality of STEM education for undergraduate students; it also works to increase the recruitment, retention and graduation rates of students pursuing associate or bachelor’s degrees in related fields at HSIs. 
“It’s a very important opportunity because of the impact it can have in underrepresented communities, but it’s a big responsibility,” said Gonzalez, whose own research focuses on Latinas in STEM fields.