Undergraduate Research Alliance Membership

kebonine@arizona.edu

Kevin believes in the power of effective education and environmental protection to improve the quality of life for all. In practice, this includes connecting across silos, boundaries, and disciplines while engaging students in immersive, experiential opportunities. UArizona courses he has taught include Herpetology, Conservation Biology, Environmental Biology, Introductory Organismal Biology (ECOL182), Vertebrate Physiology, and field courses in the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) and Sonoran Desert Sky Island Region (Arizona & Sonora, Mexico). At Biosphere 2, he helps design learning experiences for 100,000 annual visitors and 10,000 K-12 school children, offers teacher professional development, and facilitates residential research internships. Kevin is on the board of trustees of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and enjoys studying Gila monsters in his spare time.

kjsc@arizona.edu

Kimberly J. Sierra serves as Co-Chair of the Undergraduate Research Alliance, Director of Undergraduate Research in the Office of Societal Impact, and Director of the STEM Learning Center. Kimberly’s experience participating in STEM pathway programs to attain degrees in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research at UC Berkeley and Management Engineering at Claremont McKenna College as an underrepresented, first-gen college student and Pell Grant recipient fuels her commitment to eliminating barriers for marginalized populations. Previously, she served as the College of Science Director of Undergraduate Research, the Education Director for the NSF Engineering Research Center CIAN, the Coordinator for the NSF Science and Technology Center MDITR, the Executive Director for the House of Neighborly Service in South Tucson, and a Process Consultant for Andersen Consulting. 

Lead, Tracking & Evaluation Working Group

fieldsj@arizona.edu

The Tracking & Evaluation working group strives to strengthen the systematic measurement of undergraduate research participation on campus and to ensure this information is used to enhance the availability, quality, and accessibility of research opportunities for U of A students.

Co-Lead, Curricular Integration Working Group

rikagawa@arizona.edu

The Curricular Integration working group expands access to undergraduate research by supporting the incorporation of research into courses and degree requirements, and by developing systems to recognize and credit existing classes that already engage students in research.

Co-Lead, Curricular Integration Working Group

cleligdon@arizona.edu

The Curricular Integration working group expands access to undergraduate research by supporting the incorporation of research into courses and degree requirements, and by developing systems to recognize and credit existing classes that already engage students in research.

Lead, Communication & Coordination Working Group

kmerriam@arizona.edu

The Communication & Coordination working group strengthens outreach about research experiences, opportunities, and achievements to audiences on and beyond campus. The group also works to consolidate research‑readiness workshops and related resources, making them more visible and accessible to all Arizona students.

Lead, Culture, Equity, & Inclusion Working Group

outfleet@arizona.edu

Members of the Culture, Equity, & Inclusion Working Group help cultivate a campus environment where all students can access research experiences. They collaborate with all UR Alliance working groups to ensure the development of barrier‑free pathways that enable every Arizona student to participate in research.

Lead, Funding and Support Working Group

kmcelvee@arizona.edu

The Funding & Support working group expands access to funding information and opportunities for mentors who offer paid research positions to U of A students. The group also secures funding and coordinates student award cycles for research experiences, including URSD’s Undergraduate Research Travel Grants.