Elizabethtown College Dean Named ELATES Fellow

Elizabethtown College Dean of the School of Engineering and Computer Science Sara Atwood was recently selected as a Fellow for the 2024-25 Executive Leadership in Academic Technology, Engineering and Science (ELATES) program by Drexel University.

“ELATES is a prestigious program I’ve admired for many years,” Atwood said. “I’ve seen the impressive achievements of its alumni, and I’m grateful to be selected and to have funding support from the Kern Family Foundation that allows me to attend,” Atwood said.

Atwood is one of five of this year’s Fellows who were awarded a scholarship by the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN) – a partnership of 64 colleges and universities across the US with a shared mission to reach all undergraduate engineering students with an entrepreneurial mindset

The 2024-25 ELATES Cohort

As an ELATES Fellow, Atwood will commit eight to 10 hours per week of personal and leadership development work as well as three series of on-site work in the Philadelphia Area. She will also complete an applied project at Elizabethtown College as part of ELATES.

“I’m honored that as an ELATES Fellow I get to work with some of the most inspiring women leaders in academia across the country, as well as have access to high-quality professional development such as an individual professional coach and additional mentorship for my project focused on enhanced engagement with industry partners,” Atwood said.

The ELATES program is a national leadership development program designed to promote women in academic STEM fields, and faculty allies of all genders, into institutional leadership roles. The program is part-time and consists of a year of classroom immersions, virtual instruction, coaching, and mentorship.

ELATES Fellows are made up of experts in engineering, mathematics, and science with significant administrative experience on top of their scholarly accomplishments. Fellows are nominated by the senior leadership teams at their institutions.

This year’s ELATES Fellows is the 11^th cohort and consists of 46 faculty members from over 35 institutions of higher education institutions across the U.S. and Canada. After graduation, this year’s ELATES Fellows will join an alumni network of more than 230 faculty leaders from institutions across North America.