2020 Greene Scholars Souvenir Book - Web GSP 2020 Souvenir Book (Web) | Page 9

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Executive Director’s Message
Dr. Ayodele Thomas, PhD
Thank you for joining us for the 18th Annual Greene Scholars Program Science
Fair Awards Celebration as we celebrate our 170 scholars, which include
fourteen graduating seniors. The Greene Scholars Program is an outstanding
STEM enrichment model for African American children in Silicon Valley and
across the country. Founder Debra Watkins and long time Program Director
Gloria Whitaker-Daniels established a strong foundation during the program’s
first 14 years. As GSP’s third director, I remain honored to have been given
the opportunity to lead the Dr. Frank S. Greene Scholars Program. Under the
leadership of our Board of Directors, Greene Scholars is poised to make an even
greater impact on STEM diversity in our community.
As we enter a new year, I look forward to continuing this journey with all of you
– our corporate supporters, our community volunteers, and most especially our
amazing scholars and parents. Our parents are simply amazing and provide the
vision, the effort and the leadership that make this program extraordinary. Thank
you for your support and encouragement. Here’s to a great event.
Sincerely,
Ayodele Thomas
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Dr. Ayodele Thomas is the Associate Dean for Graduate and Career Education &
Diversity in the School of Medicine at Stanford University. As a Lecturer for more
than a decade, she teaches a self-designed course for 1st year doctoral students
focusing on the academic, psychosocial, financial and career issues that face
graduate students. Ayodele earned her Bachelor’s of Electrical Engineering from
the Georgia Institute of Technology. At Stanford University where she received her
M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Ayodele was the first Black female to receive
a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. Ayodele is married to
Jonathan Thomas and they have two children.
As both a parent of two Greene Scholars and a trained engineer, I am honored
to be in a position to inspire the children of our community, and watch them
learn, grow, and achieve as true scholars fully engaged in STEM. I want all of
our scholars to graduate from GSP with confidence and competence in their
ability to engage with STEM, no matter what they choose to pursue in college.
With 107 alumni and 15 more joining their ranks this year GSP, is training the
next generation of tech and community leaders. And as our program continues
to grow, we expect to double the number of alumni in just a few short years!