Bio for JoAnn Roberts

Dr. JoAnn S. Roberts has a passion for people which is evident in her teaching, mentorship, and service. She has a doctorate in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Pathobiology, is a published scholar, and has years of teaching experience in biology, metacognition/self-regulated learning, and inclusive and equitable pedagogy for Life Science, Physical Science, and Medical School faculty. Dr. Roberts continues to enhance her development as a faculty developer, researcher, and higher ed professional as a CIRTL Scholar engaging with the larger national CIRTL network in advancing equitable teaching practices in the training of future faculty. She is also a certified facilitator of the nationally recognized and validated CIMER (Center for improving mentoring experience in research) mentoring curriculum and actively facilitates training for faculty, postdocs, and graduate students on topics such as effective communication, aligning expectations, fostering independence and more. 

Specifically, in her role at CEILS, Dr. Roberts has led a collaborative effort to develop and facilitate a comprehensive and adaptable series of workshops and trainings that have been the cornerstone of CEILS Equity and Inclusion initiatives in STEM, specifically the “Becoming an anti-racist educator (B.A.A.E.) conversion series”. She has been and continues to be involved in multiple grant efforts focused on institutional change including a partnership with HBCUs to focus on the recruitment and retention of Black undergraduate students into UC graduate programs, and Dean Johnson’s HHMI Driving Change award to support faculty development. Dr. Roberts has also started an initiative called Mentor & Mentee Conversations, where research mentors and their mentees examine communication strategies, laboratory culture, expectations and other research laboratory topics together using a nationally recognized curriculum from CIMER. She has initiated an IRB-approved research study on this largely unexplored approach to mentor training. Dr. Roberts will continue to expand these initiatives, build on her inclusive excellence in teaching work, and integrate equity in higher education classrooms, systems, and academic practices both at the local and national levels.

One of Dr. Roberts’ favorite quotes by author and activist James Baldwin is that “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” She says “It reminds and encourages me to maintain a posture of growth and boldness. The world does not improve, technology does not advance, and relationships do not heal, if we do not critically examine our past and our present; then have the courage to take action, together.”