Appendix A

Town Hall Agendas

Defense Research Capacity at HBCUs, TCUs, HSIs, and ANNHSIs:
Town Hall on Capacity Development (April 24 and 25, 2023):
Transformational and Transactional Culture Shifts (Hybrid)

MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2023

Purpose

• Highlight barriers that dissuade capacity-building activities at MIs.
• Investigate faculty workload policies.
• Elucidate strategies for research portfolio diversification.
• Address the threshold for infrastructure investments.

10:00 – 10:10 Opening Remarks

Oscar Barton, Jr., Ph.D., P.E., Committee Chair

10:10 – 12:00 Barriers to Building Defense-Related Research Capacity

The first session of day 1 will include a series of panels with representatives across Minority Institution designations (HBCUs, TCU, HSIs, etc.) to discuss the challenges their institutions and like institutions face when developing defense-related capacity.

Panel 1 – HBCUs

Moderator: Oscar Barton, Jr., Ph.D., P.E. – Morgan State University

Panelists:

John M. Anderson, Ph.D. – Howard University

Farin Kamangar, M.D., Ph.D. – Morgan State University

Panel 2 – TCUs

Moderator: Abraham Wolcott, Ph.D. – San José State University

Panelists:

Andrea Christelle, Ph.D. – Diné College

Al Kuslikis – American Indian Higher Education Consortium

Emily Biggane, Ph.D. – United Tribes Technical College

Panel 3 – HSIs

Moderator: Abraham Wolcott, Ph.D. – San José State University

Panelists:

Karen Butler, Ph.D. – Texas A&M University

Frank A. Gomez, Ph.D. – Cal State System

Folarin Erogbogbo, Ph.D. – San José State University

Panel 4 –ANNHSI

Moderator: Abraham Wolcott, Ph.D. – San José State University

Panelists:

Helen Turner, Ph.D. – Chaminade University of Honolulu

Aaron Dotson, Ph.D. – University of Alaska Anchorage

Michele Yatchmeneff, Ph.D. – University of Alaska Anchorage

12:00 – 12:15 Break

12:15 – 1:20 Reimagining Faculty Workload Policies

The session will highlight best practices used by a diverse suite of institutions to provide novel opportunities for administrators at MIs to incorporate that offer room for faculty to participate in research and better balance teaching loads.

Moderator: Oscar Barton, Jr., Ph.D., P.E. – Morgan State University

Panelists:

Mark Ginsberg, Ph.D. – George Mason University

John Crockett, Ph.D. – San Diego State University

1:20 – 1:30 Break

1:30 – 2:45 Culture and Leadership Models to Facilitate Research Capacity Building

The last session of the day will explore institutions that have successfully shifted to be more responsive to the Department of Defense’s research priorities through institutional culture shifts and leadership models. Panelists will outline both institutional policies and procedures and DOD programs and policies that have facilitated a more robust research enterprise within their institutions.

Moderator: Abigail S. Newsome, Ph.D. – Mississippi Valley State University

Panelists:

Jagannathan Sankar, Ph.D. – North Carolina A&T University

Twyla Baker, Ph.D. – Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College

2:45 – 3:00 Closing Remarks and Recapitulation of Day 1

END OF DAY 1

TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 2023

10:00 – 11:30 Developing a Diverse Funding Portfolio

The first session of day 2 will highlight the diversity in funding opportunities at the Department of Defense (grants, contracts, etc.) and strategies that institutions have successfully adopted to facilitate the acquisition of diverse funding streams from the DOD.

Moderator: Oscar Barton, Jr., Ph.D., P.E. – Morgan State University

Panelist:

Kamal Khayat, Ph.D. – Missouri University of Science and Technology

11:30 – 12:30 Addressing the Critical Threshold for Infrastructure Investments

A panel of experts and stakeholders will elucidate the necessary investments in infrastructure for adequate participation in the Department of Defense’s research portfolio. Topics of discussion will include an investigation of critical thresholds, funding opportunities for infrastructure development, and strategies for institutions and the DOD to consider toward support for research infrastructure.

Moderator: Chad Womack, Ph.D. – United Negro College Fund

Panelists:

Shannon Arnold, M.Eng., M.S. – GBL Systems Corporation

Victor McCrary, Ph.D. – University of the District of Columbia

Jaret C. Riddick, Ph.D. – Center for Security and Emerging Technology

12:30 – 1:30 Break

1:30 – 2:30 Federal Capacity Building Programs

The final session of day 2 will spotlight federal programs that address research capacity-building needs through funding opportunities and other intervention methods.

Moderator: Keith A. McGee, Ph.D. – Alcorn State University

Panelists:

Natalia Melcer – Department of Energy, Office of Science

Dina Stroud, Ph.D. – National Science Foundation, GRANTED program

2:30 – 3:00 Recapitulation of Day 1 and Day 2 Strategies and Federal Programs

Closing Remarks

MEETING ADJOURNS

Building Defense Research Capacity at HBCUs, TCUs, HSIs, and ANNHSIs: Town Hall on True Partnerships (May 22 and 23, 2023)

Albuquerque, NM (Hybrid)

MONDAY, MAY 22, 2023 (MST)

Purpose

• Provide an overview of the defense R&D environment.
• Illustrate strategies for articulating the value proposition for partnership development.
• Outline defense industry criteria for developing partnerships with academic institutions.
• Spotlight historic and current models for the development of synergistic partnerships

10:20 – 10:30 Opening Remarks

10:30 – 11:30 Igniting the Defense Research Ecosystem

The panelist for the first session will provide an overview of the stakeholders relevant to a high-functioning defense research environment that includes higher education institutions, the Department of Defense, industry, and others. Additionally, the session will spotlight partnerships that have led to productive activities in research and development and the matriculation of students into careers within the defense R&D environment.

Moderator: Melvin Greer, Ph.D. – Intel Corporation

Panelists:

Victor McCrary, Ph.D. – University of the District of Columbia

Santosh Devasia, Ph.D. – University of Washington

Thomas Tubon, Ph.D. – BioMADE

11:30 – 11:50 Break

11:50 – 12:50 Articulating the Value Proposition for Equitable Partnerships

The second session will highlight strategies for relationship building and partnership outreach used by industry and academic institutions to socialize scientific research priorities and capabilities to facilitate mutualistic partnerships.

Moderator: Oscar Barton, Ph.D. – Morgan State University

Panelists:

Eric Adolphe, Esq. – Forward Edge-AI, Inc.

Christina “Chris” Deckard – Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Biotechnology

Robert St. Amant, Ph.D. – DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory

12:50 – 1:10 Break

1:10 – 2:10 Models for Synergistic Partnerships

The third session will consist of a panel of university-industry-government partnerships that exhibit equitable relationships between organizations. Representatives from highlighted partnerships will provide best practices and recommendations for how academic institutions, industry, and the DOD can nurture true partnerships through policies and programs.

Moderator: Bryn Adams, Ph.D. – DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory

Panelists:

Kelly Freidenfelds, Ph.D. – Princeton-HBCU Alliance for Collaborative Research

Robert Shepard, Ph.D. – The Shepard Institute LLC

Aaron Wecksler, Ph.D. – Genentech

2:10 – 2:30 Closing Remarks and Recapitulation of Day 1

END OF DAY 1

TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023 (MST)

10:00 – 11:30 Institutional Challenges to Developing Partnerships

The fourth session of the workshop will provide insight into the obstacles encountered by HBCUs, TCUs, smaller HSIs, and ANNHSIs. A panel of representatives from each institution type will provide insight into the complications, limitations, and potential investment areas for the DOD to explore.

Moderator: Abigail S. Newsome, Ph.D. – Mississippi Valley State University

Panelists:

Ganesh C. Bora, Ph.D. – Fayetteville State University

Elmer Guy, Ph.D. – Navajo Technical University

Teresa Orok, Ph.D. – Alabama A&M University

Sheryl H. Ehrman, Ph.D., P.E. – San José State University

11:30 – 11:40 Break

11:40 – 12:20 Applied Research Institute for Mathematics and Computational Sciences

Chad Womack, Ph.D. – United Negro College Fund

12:20 – 12:30 Break

12:30 – 1:30 Federal Partnership Programs

The final panel will spotlight federal agency programs that have successfully facilitated the development of equitable partnerships between institutions (like and unlike) and industry. Panelists will be directed to outline how those programs were created and maintained and how outcome tracking is facilitated.

Moderator: Keith McGee, Ph.D. – Alcorn State University

Panelists:

Jesus V. Soriano Molla, Ph.D. – National Science Foundation

Terrence Mosley, M.S. – Department of Energy

1:30 – 2:00 Recapitulation of Day 1 and Day 2 Strategies and Federal Programs

Closing Remarks

MEETING ADJOURNS

Building Defense Research Capacity at HBCUs, TCUs, HSIs, and ANNHSIs: Final Town Hall (June 28 and 29, 2023)

Chicago, IL (Hybrid)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2023 (CST)

Purpose

• Evaluate the components necessary to elevate an institution’s research activity.
• Highlight research faculty and personnel support structures.
• Investigate recruitment strategies for research-centered faculty.
• Revisit the topics and discussions included throughout the series.

9:00 – 9:05 Opening Remarks

Moderator: Oscar Barton, Ph.D., Morgan State University – Chair of the Workshop Committee on Building Defense Research Capacity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority Institutions

9:05 – 10:00 Transitioning from Low to High Research Activity

The first session of day one will discuss the actions necessary for institutions with historically low to no research activity to transition to high/very high research output successfully. Spotlighted institutions will illustrate the strategies used to ramp up their research activities and academic standing toward securing more federal funding and expanding their research capabilities.

Moderator: Tom Tubon, Ph.D. – BioMADE

Panelists:

Rosemarie Wesson, Ph.D. – CUNY City College

Gillian Wilson, Ph.D. – University of California, Merced

10:00 – 11:00 Recruiting Research-Centered Faculty at Non-R1 Institutions

The second session of day one will highlight best practices used by underresourced institutions to attract and retain research-capable faculty. Panelists will discuss approaches for attracting and sustaining a research-capable faculty population to advance departmental/institutional capabilities.

Moderator: Chad Womack, Ph.D. – United Negro College Fund (UNCF)

Panelists:

Joanna Brooks, Ph.D. – San Diego State University

Catherine K. Armwood-Gordon, Ph.D. – Tennessee State University

Ivan Mosley, Ph.D. – Tennessee State University

11:00 – 11:10 Break

11:10 – 12:10 Adapting Administrative Bandwidth for Increased Research Activity

The last session of the day will explore institutions that have successfully developed an agile and resilient administrative structure to facilitate, absorb, and efficiently manage growing funding portfolios.

Moderator: Abraham Wolcott, Ph.D. – San José State University

Panelists:

Almesha L. Campbell, Ph.D. – Jackson State University

Laura Collins, Ph.D. – North Carolina A&T University

Elmer Guy, Ph.D. – Navajo Technical University

12:10 – 12:15 Closing Remarks and Recapitulation of Day 1

THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 (CST)

10:00 – 11:00 Barriers to Expanding the Defense Research Workforce Pipeline

The first session of day 2 will investigate challenges and opportunities for expanding workforce pipelines toward a STEM-ready research workforce. Panelists will discuss articulation programs between secondary and postsecondary institutions and necessary financial support systems and explore ways institutions across stakeholder populations can collaborate toward student matriculation into defense-research-related degrees and careers.

Moderator: Bryn Adams, Ph.D. – DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory

Panelists:

Shannon Arnold, M.Eng., M.S. – GBL Systems Corporation

Kerin Hilker-Balkissoon, Ph.D. – George Mason University

Charlene Mello, Ph.D. – University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

11:00 – 12:30 Challenges and Opportunities for Researchers and Personnel Engaging in Federally Funded Research

The second session of day 2 will include a panel of faculty and trainees across Minority Institution designations (HBCUs, TCU, HSIs, etc.) to discuss the challenges they face as they attempt to engage in federally funded research and spotlight opportunities for the Department of Defense, other federal agencies, and the defense industry to facilitate and sustain their participation in the respective research ecosystems.

Moderator: Oscar Barton, Ph.D. – Morgan State University

Panelists:

Abraham Wolcott, Ph.D. – San José State University

Saleh Zein-Sabatto, Ph.D. – Tennessee State University

Jill Keith, Ph.D. – Winston-Salem State University

Michael Groves, Ph.D. – California State University, Fullerton

12:30 – 12:40 Break

12:40 – 1:30 Federal Capacity Programs for Faculty and Trainee Support

The third session of day 2 will spotlight federal programs that provide funding to support research faculty and trainees. Representatives will highlight programs and frameworks that address independent funding opportunities, faculty teaching time, and support structures for undergrads, graduate students, and postdocs.

Moderator: Keith McGee, Ph.D., Alcorn State University

Panelists:

Narcrisha S. Norman, Ph.D. – National Science Foundation

Sailaja Koduri, Ph.D. – National Institutes of Health

LaRico Treadwell, Ph.D. – Sandia National Laboratories

1:30 – 2:50 Discussion on Capacity Development and True Partnerships

The final session of day 2 will provide an overview of the topics covered throughout the workshop series, with spotlights on strategies and best practices used at academic institutions to increase research capacity building and foster equitable research partnerships.

2:50 – 3:00 Closing Remarks

Discussion leads:

Building Capacity: Oscar Barton, Ph.D. – Morgan State University

True Partnerships: Chad Womack, Ph.D. – United Negro College Fund

Federal Opportunities: Keith McGee, Ph.D. – Alcorn State University

• Michael Groves, Ph.D. –California State University, Fullerton
• Helen Turner, Ph.D. – Chaminade University of Honolulu

MEETING ADJOURNS

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