Dear Colleagues,   I am excited to report that Sarah Vigmostad, associate professor in the Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, has accepted the position of co-chair of our college’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council. In this role, Sarah will provide leadership at the council’s meetings, coordinate the council’s role in DEI action planning and efforts, serve on the college’s Engineering Administrative Council, and report on council activities to the college community. Cathy Koebrick, senior HR director, serves as the council’s other co-chair.   Sarah has a long history in our college where she has earned three degrees in biomedical engineering. She is a member of the Biomedical Engineering Society, the American Society of Mechanical Engineering, and the American Society for Engineering Education. She has won a number of awards including the James L. Murray Award for creating an exemplary classroom atmosphere and the UI College of Engineering Outstanding Teacher Award. She is also a founder of SynderBio, a startup company focused on accelerating biopsy preparation to improve cancer diagnosis.    I have been impressed with Sarah’s commitment to DEI and her willingness to expose herself to different perspectives through reading, listening, asking questions, and, importantly, pushing herself outside of her comfort zone. The DEI Council will undoubtedly ask difficult questions and have uncomfortable conversations in moving our college forward, and I am confident that Sarah is well-positioned to take on this leadership role.   Please join me in congratulating Sarah as she begins in this position which will start immediately and continue through June 30, 2022.

Harriet B. NembhardDean, College of Engineering Roy J. Carver Professor of Engineering University of Iowa  P: 319-335-5766  E: harriet-nembhard@uiowa.edu