QUALITY EDUCATION FOR MINORITIES (QEM) NETWORK PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5, 2026
Contact: Shaunette Bishop
202-659-1818/sbishop@qem.org
Esteemed Equity Researcher to Join QEM Research-HEROES Leadership Team
Dr. Christine Wood selected Assistant Program Director to HEROES
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Effective Today— The QEM Network (QEM) today announces selection of Dr. Christine Wood as the Assistant Director to the inaugural Hiring Experienced Researchers to Optimize Ecosystems in STEM (Research-HEROES), a national initiative designed to strengthen research ecosystems at less-resourced colleges and universities. The experience Dr. Wood has in engaging with stakeholders such as members from Congress, University presidents and government officials will contribute greatly to the HEROES leadership team.
Dr. Wood served as Senior Advisor to the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the National Science Foundation, where they contributed to over $100 million in federal equity and inclusion investments. In this role, they advised on program modernization, developed funding solicitations, led policy and best-practice development for community engagement, and participated in interagency initiatives addressing workforce equity, inclusion, and compliance across the federal science enterprise.
“We are thrilled to have a talent and scholar like Dr. Wood helping to lead the Research-HEROES, a program that will deploy former federal research scientists to support capacity development across the country,” says QEM Network President, Dr. Erin Lynch. “With Dr. Wood’s contributing leadership, we are confident in being able to scale the intended impact of this program.”
Beginning February 2026, the Alpha Cohort of 25 QEM Research-HEROES will be available for designated States and Regions of Service (S/ROS) for provision of free national virtual and local face-to-face technical support to institutions. The inaugural $3 million investment for this program has been provided by Google. The anticipated outcomes include reaching over 500 colleges and universities a year, and over 5,000 faculty, staff, and students at these institutions across the country.
About QEM
Established in 1990, the QEM Network is a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Baton-Rouge, Louisiana, dedicated to improving education throughout the nation. QEM seeks to put into practice the recommendations in the QEM Action Plan by working with individuals, organizations, and institutions around the country to help coordinate and energize efforts to improve the education of domestic talent, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Learn more at QEM.org
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