The Wei LAB would like to thank each of you for your continued support throughout 2022. It is because of supporters like you that we are able to continue our work! We look forward to sharing our work with you in 2023.

(1) New Leadership: The Wei LAB welcomed Dr. Brian A. Burt as its new Director and Chief Research Scientist effective September 2022. Under Dr. Burt’s leadership, the LAB will be an “Incubator for educational research, theory, and policy, and a hub promoting promising practices for higher education to workforce pathways.

(2) Farewell to Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson: The Wei LAB said goodbye to its founder, Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson, who became the new Dean for Michigan State University’s College of Education. The Wei LAB has grown exponentially since its inception in 2010 thanks to the vision and exceptional work of Dr. Jackson and his colleagues. The Wei LAB sends it best wishes and greatest thanks to Dr. Jackson!

(3) Welcoming New Additions to the Wei LAB: In 2022, we welcomed a new Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dr. Selyna Beverly; and two new Graduate Research Associates, Devin Henry and Sofia Garcia Garbuno. Additionally, Dr. Donald L. Gillian-Daniel was appointed the new Assistant Director of the Wei LAB.

(4) Wei LAB Team Present a RedTalk and ITP Presentation:  Dr. Brian A. Burt, Josh Wallace, Tiaira Porter, and Blayne Stone Jr. presented for the Interdisciplinary Training Seminar in Education Sciences at UW-Madison and the CDIS RED Talk. Their presentations highlighted how to implement a caring and wholeness-promoting framework for graduate advising. Wei LAB Postdoctoral Research Associate, Dr. Dajanae Palmer, took the place as moderator in both the ITP and the CDIS RED Talk.

(5) Dr. Shawn A. Robinson Receives Wisconsin Innovation Award: Research Affiliate Dr. Shawn A. Robinson was awarded a Wisconsin Innovation Award for his innovative graphic novel series Doctor Dyslexia Dude. The Wisconsin Innovation Awards (WIA) seek to celebrate and inspire innovation. The WIA is awarded to individuals who have developed groundbreaking and innovative ideas.

(6) Dr. Brian A. Burt and Blayne Stone Jr. Publish Article: “Team Culture of Community: Cultural Practices for Scientific Team Cohesion and Productivity” authored by Dr. Brian A. Burt, Blayne Stone Jr., T. Perkins, and A. Polk was published in Small Group Research in June 2022.

(7) Dr. Donald L. Gillian-Daniel Appointed as DPD-IEDE: Effective October 2022, Dr. Donald L. Gillian-Daniel started a new position in UW-Madison’s College of Engineering as Director of Professional Development in Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity in Engineering.

(8) Dr. Dajanae Palmer Receives Tenured-Track Position: While serving the Wei LAB as a Postdoctoral Research Associate Dr. Dajanae Palmer accepted a tenured-track professorial position at the University of Missouri, Columbia. Dr. Palmer started her new position as Assistant Professor of Qualitative Inquiry in Fall 2022.

(9) Josh Wallace Selected for Project MALES Graduate Scholars Program: Wei LAB Research Associate Josh Wallace was selected for Project MALES Graduate Scholars Program. He is just one of four scholars selected for this program in the United States. The mission of Project MALES Graduate Scholars Program (PM-GSP) is to support the academic and career advancement of emerging scholars whose research is focused on improving the educational outcomes of boys and men of color.

(10) ASHE 2022 Conference: From November 16-19, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Wei LAB team attended the 47th Annual ASHE Conference and held three sessions. Their sessions were titled: Domestic and International Black Men’s Social Adjustment Transitions to Graduate School; Aspiring to Graduate School: Factors Influencing Black Males’ Pursuit of Advanced Degrees in Engineering; and Expectations vs Realities: Black Males Navigating Independence and Collaborations in Graduate Engineering Programs.

“2022 was an invigorating year for the Wei LAB team. Between delivering enlightening presentations, receiving awards and honors, taking on exciting new promotions and responsibilities, and preparing and publishing new scholarship, we had a fulfilling year. Indeed, 2022 was a year of Excellence and Abundance! We look forward to continuing our work and expanding in exciting new ways in 2023.”