Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory celebrated 18 staff members for their outstanding work to further the lab’s goals for equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility during a March award ceremony.
Speaking during the event, Chief Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Officer Sandra Charles addressed the significance of the Office of EDIA, taking time to honor these individuals who have profoundly impacted the lab by fostering a more inclusive and united workplace.
“It is important for us all to understand that building a culture of inclusion takes time, it takes effort, it takes engagement at all levels and in all job categories across the Fermilab campus,” Charles said.
Award recipients were honored in one of five categories: EDIA Ambassador Award, EDIA Influencer Award, EDIA Champion Award, Veteran Recognition and Special Recognition.
(Left to right) Anahi Ruiz Beltran, Martin Bentivengo, Jemila Adetunji, Norman C. Ho, Griselda Lopez, Jean Reising, Aisha Ibrahim, Pete Cholewinski, Minerba Betancourt, Erica Snider, Biswaranjan Behera, Chandler Lawrence, Alpana Shenai, Miguel Gutierrez, Sandra Charles, Jennifer Gondorchin, Genfa Wu and Dr. Terrell Odom at the EDIA Awards ceremony held in March at Fermilab. Photo: Dan Svoboda, Fermilab
EDIA Ambassador Award
EDIA Ambassador Award recipients were recognized by their peers for advocating for equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility. The awards were presented by Anahi Ruiz Beltran, Fermilab’s diversity and inclusion specialist.
- Minerba Betancourt is a scientist in the Neutrino Division of the Particle Physics Directorate. She’s a founding member of the Hispanic Latino Forum laboratory resource group, which launched in 2016. Throughout her time at the lab, she has continually engaged in outreach efforts to encourage aspiring scientific minds and to mentor high school students through graduate students.
- Erica Snider is a senior scientist for the Computing Division. For many years, Snider has been a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion. Snider’s advocacy has been instrumental in promoting non-binary self-identification options and Fermilab’s participation in Pride Month community celebrations.
- Martin Bentivengo is a principal engineer for the Infrastructure Services Division. Bentivengo is an ally and board member of the Fermilab Society of Women Engineers. In 2022 he was elected to the board and held the position of co-chair for the advocacy sub-committee. Additionally, Bentivengo is an active and contributing member of the African American/Black Association at Fermilab.
- Jemila Adetunji is deputy director of contractor assurance and head of quality assurance at Fermilab. Adetunji has made valuable contributions to organize and energize Fermilab’s African-American/Black Association, a group she has been a member of since 2014. Notably, for Black History month in 2018 Adetunji organized a panel discussion and screening of the biographical drama Hidden Figures for local middle school students. As highlighted in a previous Fermilab article, about 330 students and faculty from 13 different area schools attended the event. In 2022 Adetunji became the executive sponsor of the AABA.
- Biswaranjan Behera is a postdoctoral researcher in Fermilab’s Particle Physics Division. Behera has made substantial contributions to the Fermilab community as well as the particle physics community through his advocacy for equity. In a leadership role Behera chaired the 56th annual Fermilab Users Meeting and helped lead the 55th meeting, emphasizing equity, diversity and inclusion.
EDIA Influencer Award
Influencer Award recipients were nominated by the EDIA Office. Recipients were honored for their valuable dedication to advancing the mission and vision of their respective laboratory resource groups. The Influencer Awards were presented by Laura Rogas, the directorate administrator for equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility.
- Genfa Wu is a senior scientist who works in the Superconducting Radio Frequency Technology & Materials Science Division. Wu’s leadership has energized the Fermilab Asian Pacific American laboratory resource group to embrace the cultures, ideas and contributions of its members and allies to promote inclusion. Additionally, Wu played an important role in starting quarterly Asian American and Pacific Islander resource group roundtable meetings across the national lab complex.
- Aisha Ibrahim is a senior engineer in the Accelerator Complex Technology Division. As a former board member of the Fermilab Society of Women Engineers, Ibrahim has made notable contributions to the laboratory’s professional chapter of National Society of Women Engineers organization. Under her leadership, the lab’s organization of women engineers has strengthened connections with local college and university chapters to raise awareness of internship and employment opportunities at Fermilab.
- Pete Cholewinski is the senior compensation analyst for Fermilab’s Human Resource Division. Cholewinski is the co-leader of Spectrum laboratory resource group where he has made significant contributions to the group’s inclusion efforts. Cholewinski is one of four Spectrum members who co-lead the LGBTQ+ SafeZone training as part of the Inclusion Matters series. Based on a national model, the interactive presentation on LGBTQ+ SafeZones was created especially for the Fermilab community.
- Michael I. Geelhoed is an engineering physicist for the Accelerators Directorate. Geelhoed serves as co-lead of the Fermilab Young Professionals resource group, which is dedicated to building community for Fermilab’s early career professionals. The successful Buddy Program is an organized, yet informal, system of support to help new employees acclimate to the laboratory. Additionally, Geelhoed introduced the young professionals group to new employees, interns and lab users during the Annual Users Meeting to raise awareness.
- Brian K. Niesman is the PIP-II logistics manager. Niesman’s longstanding commitment to Fermilab’s veteran community drives him to advocate, celebrate and participate in military-related in-reach and outreach efforts at Fermilab. Niesman also makes it a priority to bring veterans to the lab, attending career fairs with information about Fermilab internships and employment opportunities.
The EDIA Awards ceremony was held at Fermilab in March. Photo: Dan Svoboda, Fermilab
EDIA Champion Award
EDIA Champion Award recipients were recognized for their vital contributions to the success of lab inclusion initiatives and resource groups.
This year the Office of EDIA honored nine individuals who, as far back as 2009, have been champions for inclusion. Sandra Charles opened the EDIA Champion Awards segment saying, “None of them have been loud about their advocacy or their innovation or their passion for reaching out and speaking on behalf of a particular community. For each recipient, it was about getting things done to make the laboratory a welcoming place for all who want to contribute to the lab’s mission.”
- Steve Brice is the head of DUNE Coordination Office. Brice helped launch a pilot of the VetTech program in 2016 and the full laboratory initiative in 2017. Since its introduction VetTech has grown into the Veteran Applied Laboratory Occupational Retraining program supported by $4 million in Office of Science funding. The program provides multiple entry points for learning and training veterans returning to civilian life with short-term learning opportunities and long-term employment security. Since its formation in 2016, Brice has been the executive sponsor of the Spectrum laboratory resource group. He has also supported many internship, fellowship and outreach initiatives during his time at Fermilab.
- Griselda Lopez is the associate head of the Security and Emergency Management Division. She is the co-founder of the Hispanic Latino Forum, which launched in 2016. Throughout her career, Lopez has been a passionate advocate for reaching middle school students in neighboring communities. Lopez led the organization of the 2016 Dare to Dream: Get Educated! STEM conference for Latina middle school girls, and the 2017 Spanish Ask a Scientist community lecture – both firsts for Fermilab.
- Jennifer Gondorchin serves as the deputy division director for the Human Resources Division. Gondorchin served as a key member in establishing the Women’s Initiative laboratory resource group in 2016. She co-led the effort to set lab-wide meeting etiquette expectations to ensure all voices are heard and weighed with equal consideration.
- Lita Scott is the computing project manager for the Information Technology Division. She served as a key member in establishing the Women’s Initiative laboratory resource group in 2016. Scott helped to set the group’s priorities and co-led the lab-wide meeting etiquette poster project.
- Jeny Teheran is the principle cyber security architect for the Information Technology Division. Teheran is a member of the Hispanic Latino Forum, co-founder of the Fermilab Young Professionals resource group and co-designer of the Fermilab Buddy Program.
- Valery Stanley is the immigration specialist supervisor for the Site Security and Emergency Management Division. Stanley is an active member of the Spectrum laboratory resource group. Her advocacy led to the permanent installation of the Pride flag in the atrium of Wilson Hall in 2016.
- Jean Reising is a software developer for the Information Technology Division. Reising championed GLOBE, Fermilab’s gay, lesbian or bisexual resource group that was a forerunner of SPECTRUM. As a founding member of GLOBE, Reising envisioned an LGBTQ+ resource group dedicated to building awareness and providing resources to foster an environment of understanding, acceptance, and equity for all within the lab community.
- Norman C. Ho is a software developer for the Information Technology Division. Before founding the Chinese American Society at Fermilab in 2009, Ho maintained a communications channel for the Chinese community at the lab. The society was a precursor group for the Fermilab Asian Pacific Association.
- Alpana Shenai is a senior engineer for the Emerging Technologies Directorate. In 2009 Shenai co-founded Dhrishti, a laboratory resource group for the Indian community. It served as one of the precursor groups for the Fermilab Asian Pacific Association. Shenai’s initiative elevated and organized the communal needs of the Asian Pacific community at Fermilab.
The Fermilab Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility staff (left to right) Anahi Ruiz Beltran, Maria Cortes, Laura Rogas, Sandra Charles, Mallory Bowman, Amanda Early, Judy Nunez and Kaitlyn Anderson at the EDIA Awards ceremony held in March at Fermilab. Not pictured is Cortez Watkins. Photo: Dan Svoboda, Fermilab
Veteran Recognition
Veteran Recognition was awarded to U.S. military vets who are currently employed at Fermilab and have made significant EDIA-aligned contributions to the lab.
- Miguel Gutierrez and Chandler Lawrence were recognized by Sandra Charles for their engagement with and contributions to the EDIA Office. They are early career/next generation Fermilab professionals who are veterans. Since joining Fermilab, both have assisted the EDIA team with relationship-building efforts to inspire students and U.S. military veterans alike to consider Fermilab an employer of choice.
Special Recognition
Special Recognition was awarded for outstanding collaboration and guidance related to workforce development initiatives that engage military veterans both outside and within Fermilab.
- Terrell Odom is the director of the Office of Military-Affiliated Communities at the University of Chicago. He is a trusted and valued partner in fostering the success Fermilab has recently experienced with the VALOR apprenticeship program and the VetTech internship program. He also facilitates connections to SkillBridge program participants. Dr. Odom has opened many doors for the EDIA Office to reach U.S. military veterans.
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit science.energy.gov.