Hedley Freake, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator and STRONG-CT Director at the University of Connecticut

Hedley Freake is a Professor at the University of Connecticut in the Department of Nutritional Sciences, with a joint appointment in Molecular and Cell Biology. He is a first generation college student, receiving his B.Sc degree in Nutrition from Queen Elizabeth College and his Ph.D. in Physiology from the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, both parts of the University of London. He moved to the US in 1983 to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship in Molecular Endocrinology at the University of Minnesota. He has been at UConn since 1988. Dr. Freake's research has been funded by NIH and USDA. His laboratory uses molecular approaches to address questions of nutritional significance, currently related to zinc. He teaches introductory nutrition courses to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as an advanced nutrition and gene expression course to graduate students. Hedley has served on the editorial board for the Journal of Nutrition and is active in his professional society, the American Society for Nutrition. He also serves on the University Senate, for which he chairs the General Education Oversight Committee. Dr. Freake is committed to diversity, especially in the area of science, and was recently awarded the Vice-Provost's award for diversity at the University of Connecticut.. Hedley lives with his wife and three sons in an old farm house in Willimantic, which they are gradually restoring.

Damon A. Williams, Ph.D.
Co-PI of STRONG-CT and Assistant Vice Provost for Multicultural and International Affairs at the University of Connecticut
Dr. Williams is the Assistant Vice Provost for Multicultural and International Affairs (OMIA) at the University of Connecticut. As the Assistant Vice Provost for multicultural and international affairs at the University of Connecticut and former Program and Research Associate at the University of Michigan, he has developed deep insight into the dynamics of large, complex, and decentralized institutions and is keenly aware of the boundary spanning communication and leadership abilities necessary to align systems, accrue buy-in and support for new initiatives and priorities, and navigate the unique culture of the academy of higher education.

As a member of the Vice Provost's senior staff at the University of Connecticut, Dr. Williams provides point and collegial leadership to several initiatives related to issues of academic success, leadership development, retention, student development, organizational change, capacity building, strategic planning, faculty recruitment, teaching and learning, and evaluation with a specific focus on diversity defined broadly to include issues of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability status, economic status, perspectives and other considerations of the concept.

In recent years, Dr. Williams has consulted and lectured broadly within higher education and is a national leader in the discussion of retention, diversity, organizational change, and academic success in higher education. For nearly 10 years, his research and leadership have been featured at conferences like the: (1) Association of Institutional Researchers (AIR), (2) the American Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), (3) the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), (4) the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE), (5) the National Association of College and University Registrar and Admissions Officers (NAACRO), (6) the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU), and (7) several other local, regional, and national meetings. For the last two years, he has served as scholar in residence for over 75 institutions at the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU) Greater Expectations Leadership Development Institute (2006 & 2007). He also co-wrote "Towards a Model of Inclusive Excellence and Change in Higher Education", a scholarly monograph on organizational change and diversity for AACU in 2005.

Dr. Williams is currently engaged in several research projects, including a national study of "Chief Diversity Officers in Higher Education." His work on this project has been featured in Diverse Issues in Higher Education and will be presented at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity, the AACU sponsored Diversity & Learning Conference, and the Workforce Diversity National Meetings as an invited presentation in 2006.

Dr. Williams obtained his PhD from the University of Michigan in organizational strategy and management from the Center for the Study of Higher and Post-Secondary Education (CSHPE). While in Ann Arbor, Dr. Williams worked as a Program Associate, executing campus wide educational programs on behalf of the Associate Provost. Dr. Williams attended Miami University where he obtained a Master of Sciences Degree in College Student Personnel Services and a Bachelor of Arts in Black World Studies and Sociology.

Eleanor Weseloh, M.S.
Co-PI and STRONG-CT Director at Manchester Community College (MCC)
Division Director - Mathematics, Science and Health Careers

Eleanor Weseloh is a first generation college student. She received her B.A. in Biology from Emmanuel College in Boston, MA. After graduating, Eleanor taught high school biology for 6 years. During that time, she earned her M.S. in Biological Sciences at Michigan State University. Eleanor spent several years doing laboratory research at Yale School of Medicine and later moved to teaching in higher education. She taught Human Anatomy and Physiology, and Microbiology at Sacred Heart University in Bridgeport and at Capital Community College in Hartford. After teaching at Capital for 3 years, Eleanor was offered the opportunity to coordinate a federal Title III grant that provided academic support to students in developmental mathematics and English as a Second Language programs. Five years later, at the completion of the grant, she became the Director of the Mathematics, Science and Health Careers Division at MCC, a position she has held for the past 12 years.

In her free time, she enjoys biking and running for exercise. Eleanor participates annually in the New York Five Boro Bike Tour with her husband. She is an avid reader who listens to classical music and enjoys traveling for relaxation and fun.

Diba Khan-Bureau, M.S.
Co-PI and STRONG-CT Director at Three Rivers Community College (TRCC)
Program Coordinator Environmental Engineering Tech Program

Diba Khan-Bureau is a first generation college student. She is a full Professor at Three Rivers Community College and received her M.S. in Environmental Management, Policy and Technologies from Rennsalear Polytechnic. Diba moved to teaching after working in industry for many years. Prior to teaching at TRCC, she worked as a Senior Environmental Engineer at Electric Boat providing environmental training, overseeing the hazardous waste program, performing inspections to ensure facility compliance, and auditing of other facilities that the company did business with. She also oversaw air compliance and helped to incorporate waste minimization programs and programs to reduce emissions. Diba worked closely with the regulatory agencies. She continues to be trained annually in Occupational Safety and Health, Hazardous Waste and Management, Environmental Laws and Regulations and Department of Transportation Hazardous Transportation Regulations. Diba is Three Rivers Community College's Environmental Health and Safety Advisor.

Diba takes great pride in taking her students out every semester to the Eightmile River, a soon to be federal Wild and Scenic designated river, to perform the Rapid Bioassessment (RBV - insect larvae identification) to monitor water quality. This provides the student with hands-on experience and is a community service helping the local towns of the watershed. All information is provided to the local towns, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and the Connecticut River Watch Program. She is a member of her town's Inland Wetlands and Conservation Committee and attends annual training in the environmental field regarding Inland Wetlands and Conservation laws and regulations.

Diba enjoys running, riding her horse, and especially spending time with her two children and family.

Melissa M. Philion, Ph.D.
Co-PI and STRONG-CT Director at Quinebaug Valley Community College (QVCC)
Faculty, Quinebaug Valley Community College

Melissa Philion is a biology instructor at Quinebaug Valley Community College (QVCC). Born in New Hampshire, Melissa received her B.S. in Microbiology from the University of New Hampshire. Melissa is a first generation college student and received a McNair fellowship, similar to STRONG-CT, this program supports first generation and minority student path into graduate programs. Following the completion of her Bachelors, she attended Drexel University School of Medicine and earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology. Her research focused on the immunology and genetics of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalitis (EAE), the rat model of multiple sclerosis. While in graduate school, Melissa began her teaching career. She taught in various areas of science at Camden County Community College. Following graduation, she began teaching at Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio. Dr. Philion served as both an Associate Professor of Microbiology and Director of the Honors program. She recently relocated to MA and is now s full time instructor at QVCC. She currently teaches General Biology, Microbiology and Genetics.

Melissa has two sons and enjoys spending time with them. She relaxes by working in her garden, scrap booking and kayaking

Teshia Levy-Grant, M.S.

Project Coordinator at MCC, TRCC, and QVCC

Teshia is a graduate from Central Connectcut State College and holds a M.S. in Counseling. During her graduate work, Teshia interned at the CCSU within the area of pre-collegiate access services.  Previous to this she earned her B.A. in English following a Pre/Med track from Wesleyan University.  Prior to joining STRONG-CT, Teshia coordinated the diversity initiatives at Saint Joseph College.