The WISE Team

Email us at umwise@umich.edu or call our voicemail at 734-615-4455 and leave a message for a call back within 24 hours.

To contact the WISE Residence Program, email wise-rp@umich.edu.

Main WISE Office

The WISE office is on the University of Michigan’s central campus in the Undergraduate Science Building. You can find us in room 3236 on the third floor of the USB at 204 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109. We look forward to hearing from you!

WISE Staff

Melissa Gross, PhD

WISE Faculty Director

mgross@umich.edu

Melissa Gross is committed to student success in her teaching, research and in WISE. As a faculty member in Kinesiology, her scholarship includes studies of human movement and innovative pedagogies. Reach out to Melissa if you are interested in contributing to the success of WISE through partnership or donations

Photograph of Melissa Gross

Rachel Niemer, PhD

WISE Managing Director

rkniemer@umich.edu

734-615-4456

Rachel Niemer aims to make higher education more equitable and just. As managing director of Women in Science and Engineering at University of Michigan, Rachel collaboratively develops initiatives to support the academic and professional success of women and gender minorities in STEM programs on campus. Rachel would love to hear from you about your experiences in STEM!

Photograph of Rachel Niemer

Eric Aiken

Program Manager for Student Support and Development

eaiken@umich.edu

Eric Aiken serves as a liaison for the WISE unit and the Center for Engineering Diversity & Outreach (CEDO). He works to identify and address the needs of women-identified undergrad and graduate students by creating co-curricular structures to support and advance their academic and pre-professional success. Eric looks forward to meeting with all individuals seeking to advance the mission of Inclusion and Equity on campus. 

Portrait of Eric Aiken

Victoria Alden

WISE Program Officer

vial@umich.edu

734-615-4455

Victoria Alden calls on her experience in program development, STEM outreach, informal education, and evaluation methods to design, host, and refine our signature programming. She works with student groups to create impactful programs, other UM units to better serve the needs of women in STEM, and community partners to meet or mentor the leaders and best at Michigan. Reach out to Victoria if you want to collaborate with WISE for your programs and events or promote your events to our audience of women in STEM at U-M. If she doesn’t have an answer to your question about Women in Science and Engineering, she knows who will.

Photograph of Victoria Alden

Rachel Barnes

WISE Project & Event Manager

rachbarn@umich.edu

734-615-4455

Rachel Barnes brings 5 years of event experience to the WISE team. She combines her skills in organizing meaningful projects and events with her passion for empowering students in higher education to further the mission of WISE: helping students succeed in STEM! Reach out to Rachel if you have questions about our events, would like to partner with us, or you have information you would like to share in our newsletter.

Photo of Rachel Barnes

Ronotta Holliday

WISE Senior Administrative Assistant

rnhollid@umich.edu

734-615-4455

Though her path has not been easy, Ronotta Holliday has persisted in both her education and supporting other women. Early in her career, Ronotta directed a community center in a low-income neighborhood, where she spent a lot of time working with girls to enhance their self-esteem and academic performance. Ronotta could relate to the experiences of these young women and was determined to make a difference. She secured a grant from the city of Ann Arbor to continue this work and partnered with the Women’s Center of America to create an empowerment program for girls. In 2009, Ronotta made the leap to return to school full-time, earning her Associate’s Degree from Washtenaw Community College and then transferring to earn her B.A. in psychology with a minor in marketing at the University of Michigan – Dearborn. Though she faced financial hardships during these years, Ronotta never gave up. Ronotta went on to work as a Senior Clerk and Administrative Assistant for Michigan Dining, where she continued to learn and excel. Tapping into her marketing skills, Ronotta rebranded Java Blu coffee shop into a Starbucks Café and helped run events that resulted in several dining awards. She has also worked as a freelance marketing assistant for multiple companies, including BNA Management, and a Business Assistant for Michigan Radio. Now a mother of two, Ronotta is only more determined to demonstrate that it is never too late to achieve your dreams. Ronotta earned acceptance to the School of Business at the University of Michigan – Dearborn, where she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in marketing.

Photograph of Ronotta Holliday

WISE Student Programming Board

  • Claire Arneson
  • Isabella Balza
  • Sofia Gryzenia
  • Shruthi Kanala
  • Riya Kashyap
  • Emma Leipsner
  • Montana Lyjak
  • Bailey Ross
  • Sofia Tosi
  • Fatima Zaidan
  • Jessica Villarreal
  • Susan Zhao
  • Yuchen Lei
  • Syeda Reza