Current Board of Governors for the Society of Self Fellows:
Ted Harris, Ph D Board: 2022-2026 President
Molly McVey, Ph D , PEng Board: 2023-2027
Cassidy Philips, Ph D Board: 2024-2028
Eileen Cadel, Ph.D. Board: 2025-2029
This fall, the Self Graduate Fellowship welcomed 20 new Fellows, the largest incoming cohort in program history. The Fellowship now consists of 57 Fellows for the 2025-2026 academic year. Picking up where we left off last year, the Self Graduate Fellowship is now the largest in its 36 year history
Participation in the Fellowship now comes with a $38,000 stipend, recently increased for cost of living. Additionally, Fellows are now awarded $12,000 for professional development opportunities that can be used throughout their four years in the Fellowship. The increased funding reflects Madison and Lila’s vision for preparing Fellows to be leaders of their time, and keeps the Self Graduate Fellowship competitive on a national level
Despite the academic year just beginning, recruitment for the next cohort of students has already begun. If you are attending any conferences for which we could provide you recruitment materials, please let us know at sgf@ku.edu. Thank you for being a part of our growing alumni network
Stefani Buchwitz, Ed.D.
Letter from the Society Board President
As we enjoy the 36 year of the Self Graduate Fellowship (SGF), our Society of Self Fellows (SSF) will continue to grow and provide opportunities to connect with other SSF members and current Self Graduate Fellows We now have over 200 SSF members (214 members to be exact) and will add over 10 new members to the SSF each year going forward as the fourth year cohorts transition to the SSF This is a great time to reconnect with your SGF cohort as SSF members, and also a pivotal time to expand opportunities to connect current SGF and recent SSF members with more established SSF individuals within the Kansas community and worldwide. I believe that as the SSF alumni network grows, networking will become increasingly critical for future Self Graduate Fellowship success and prestige.
Some SSF opportunities will be like previous years, while others will be new Similar to previous years, we will again have a book club to help us connect and share ideas as SSF members; however, unlike past years, the book will be written by an alumni While I am personally excited to read Dr. Mark Bailey's (2006-2010 cohort) book Unknowable Minds, I am even more excited that the SSF has made it to a point where the SSF book club is reading SSF written books!
We also want to invite all SSF to come back to Lawrence for our annual Symposium, which will be held April 23-24, 2026 To help make the trip back to Lawrence easier, we have a block of free (but limited and with a cutoff date to be communicated by the staff) hotel rooms at the Eldridge on Massachusetts Street for SSF members that can make it back for the weekend We want to especially welcome those cohorts who ended their time as a Self Graduate Fellows 5, 10, 20, and 30 years ago. The Symposium is a great time to connect with and help support current fellows, including those who are about to embark on starting their professional careers.
We also plan to have a casual, after work SSF event in Kansas City for those in the KC area sometime in January 2026 Our SSF Board of Governors goal is to get as many SSF members as possible to attend the event, which we hope will strengthen SSF connections already in place and give an opportunity to connect with newer SSF and 4th year fellows We will have more information later this year on when and where the event will be
Thank you in advance for attending one of the SSF events in 2026 to show our support for current Self Graduate Fellows and to make connections within the Society of Self Fellows!
Ted Harris, Ph.D. (Fellow, 2013-2017)
Society of Self Fellows Board of Governors President
Society Personal Updates
If at any time you have personal or professional news you would like to include in the newsletter, please submit your update to sgf@ku.edu. News does not have to be about significant changes. The Society enjoys hearing regular updates, including employment milestones, continuing research on an ongoing project, etc. Please also share email and mailing address updates to ensure our communication reaches you.
Diana Acevedo, Ph D (2017-2021), was accepted to the highly competitive T32 Clinical Pharmacology Fellowship Program Additionally, one of her manuscripts from her Ph D dissertation was recently published
Camille Delavaux, Ph D (2017-2021), started as a tenure track researcher at Netherlands Institute of Ecology this fall, joining the Terrestrial Ecology Department
Fernando Estrada, Ph.D. (2007-2011), was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry In January 2025, he was selected as the recipient of the Richard Okita Early Career Award in Drug Metabolism and Disposition
Ted Harris, Ph D (2013-2017), is working with John Shelley (2007-2011) and others to study a new tool known as a Water Injection Dredge (WID) to help remove infilled sediment in lakes It will be the first time a WID is used in a lake, and their goal is to see if the WID can help recover lost water storage volume due to sediment infilling. The WID project will start this Fall at on Tuttle Creek Lake
Kaylee Herzog, Ph.D. (2017-2021), recently accepted the position of Robert L. Rausch Chair, a dual appointment as tenure track assistant professor in the Department of Biology and Curator of the Division of Parasites in the Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico in Alberquerque! It is her dream position, and she is thrilled to start in January 2026
Amy Hinkelman, Ph D (2009-2013), was promoted to Vice-Chair of the Microbiology & Immunology Department as well as Executive Director of Academic Support & Assessment for the Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Nikki Johnson, Ph D (2011-2015), won the Leo Leadership Award for demonstrating leadership aligning with the company’s mission to put patients first
Rena McDonald, Ph.D. (2020-2024), is celebrating one year of happy marriage! She participated in a fellowship with Axiom Labs and now is an intern with Neurona Therapeutics Each step has pushed Rena to stretch, adapt, and find resilience in the exciting, ever-changing world of science
Dave Minnick, Ph D (2012-2016), and his wife celebrated the birth of their second daughter, Shelby Jane Minnick on April 7, 2025 She joins Caroline (2 years old) They still reside in Marietta, OH
Daniel Owen, Ph.D. (2021-2025), started working full time as an engineer at Advanced Space in Colorado working on missions with NASA and others.
Chris Weithoff, Ph D (1997-2001), transitioned from academia (as a virologist) to the Drug Disposition lab at Eli Lilly in 2016 Currently, he supports the discovery of novel genetic medicines for neurodegeneration, pain and diabetes & complications His most memorable experience at Lilly so far was in 2020, when he helped accelerate discovery and development of monoclonal antibodies to treat and prevent severe COVID-19 for emergency use authorization He lives outside of Indianapolis, IN with his wife, son (20), daughter (17), and two rambunctious dogs
Tristan Yount, Ph.D. (2019-2023), changed companies from Exponent to Secretariat He is helping build a new engineering and science consulting team He received his PE license in April and moved to Denver in June.
Jeffrey Xu, Ph D (2022-2026), successfully defended his dissertation in August, 2025 He will continue his work at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM
Mikayla Smith-Craven, Ph.D. (20212025), successfully defended her dissertation in August, 2025 She has accepted the role of Senior Associate Scientist, Project Scientist at Charles River Labs in Kalamazoo, MI
Connecting with the Society
We want to share the incredible work of current Society of Self Fellows with our broader KU community! If you are willing to serve as the subject of an upcoming Society of Self Fellow Spotlights on Self Graduate Programs social media platforms, please complete the update form linked below.
There are two different ways to connect with the Self Graduate Fellowship on LinkedIn. The Self Graduate Programs page provides updates related to the program at large. We also have a private group which is exclusively for Society of Self Fellows to network and update one another on what is happening in their personal and professional lives! We encourage you to join both
Society of Self Fellows Book Club
Starting this year, the staff and Board of Governors have decided to feature alumni work annually with the Society of Self Fellows Book Club. As such, the first alumni featured book is Unknowable Minds, written by Mark Bailey, Ph D , Bioengineering (Fellow, 2006-2010)
Imagine that in the cold heart of a secret military facility, a new form of intelligence awakens. It is a synthetic mind born from intricate algorithms and complex computations, operating in ways unfathomable to its human creators. Charged with safeguarding national security, this intelligence orchestrates strategies that defy human ethics and laws of war, leaving its creators both awed and unnerved
Unknowable Minds delves into the unsettling reality of entrusting our safety to an intelligence that lacks human essence As we navigate the Age of Artificial Intelligence, these systems powering everything from our smartphones to military defenses remain inherently opaque and unpredictable The book explores how AI differs from any technology we've ever developed, its inherent complexities, and the profound risks it poses to our future
Drawing on philosophy, AI theory, and national security insights, this book offers a thought-provoking examination of AI’s potential and peril From the complexities of neural networks to the unpredictable nature of emergent behaviors, Unknowable Minds challenges us to rethink our relationship with AI and its role in the theater of global security
Can we control an unknowable intellect, or will it redefine human existence? As we stand on the precipice of unprecedented technological advancement, understanding and navigating the unknowable minds of artificial intelligence becomes a quest fraught with extraordinary challenges and existential questions.
Mark Bailey, Ph D writes about the intersection between artificial intelligence, complexity, and national security He is an Associate Professor at the National Intelligence University, where he is the Department Chair for AI, Cyber, Influence and Data Science. His work has appeared in publications such as the journal Futures, Nautilus, and Homeland Security Today, and he was named to Homeland’s 50 Trailblazers of 2023 Previously, he worked as a data scientist on several AI programs in the U.S. Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community He is also an Officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. In his spare time, he does ceramics, is a beekeeper, urban qual farmer, and endeavors to turn his yard into a vegetable garden
2025-2026 Society Programs at a glance
Fall 2025
Tuesday, August 5: Self Graduate Fellowship Reception and Dinner
Local members joined the 2025-2026 Self Graduate Fellows for an evening of celebration and connection at Maceli’s to kickstart the academic year.
Local Members: You are invited to attend the Holiday Luncheon & Poster Session. Please RSVP at sgf@ku.edu by Monday, November 17.
Spring 2026
January: Call for Board of Governors nominations
Are you interested in serving as a SSF Board of Governor or know someone who would be a great addition to the alumni leadership team? Watch for information on how to submit a nomination.
March (exact date and time TBD): Book Club Conversation with author
Join us for a virtual conversation with Mark Bailey, Ph.D. to discuss his book Unknowable Minds.
April 23 & 24: Self Graduate Fellowship Symposium
Local Members: You are invited to attend the symposium in Lawrence, Kansas! More details to come in the spring.
S e l f G r a d u a t e F e l l o w s h i p 2 0 2 52 0 2 6
Current Fellows
This year, 57 Fellows are pursuing Ph.D.’s in five schools at the University of Kansas. The current Fellows are among the more than 250 students who have benefited from the Fellowship since it was established in 1989.
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - 29 Fellows
Anthropology (3)
Chemistry (8)
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (6)
Geography and Atmospheric Science (3)
Neuroscience (1)
Geology (2)
Mathematics (1)
Molecular Biosciences (2)
Physics and Astronomy (3)
School of Pharmacy - 4
Pharmaceutical Chemistry (4)
School of Engineering - 11
Aerospace Engineering (5)
Bioengineering (2)
Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering (1)
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (1)
Environmental and Water Resources Engineering (1)
Chemical and Petroleum Engineering (1)
School of Medicine (KU Medical Center) - 12
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2)
Cell Biology and Physiology (1)
Molecular and Integrative Physiology (2)
Neuroscience (6)
Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences (1)
School of Business - 1
Accounting (1)
2024-2025 Symposium Recap
Dr Stefani Buchwitz facilitates an Alumni Career Panel
-Michael Handley, Ph D (1994-1998 Fellow), Budget Manager, Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization
-Lisa Castle, Ph.D. (2000-2004 Fellow), Associate Researcher Senior, Kansas Biological Survey and Center for Ecological Research
-Cassidy Philips, Ph.D. (2015-2019 Fellow), Chief Development Officer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas
A Poster Presentation featured current Self Graduate Fellows, discussing their research with alumni, KU faculty and staff, and other University stakeholders
This year’s Symposium Lecture came from Noelle Russel, who presented “Scaling Responsible AI: From Enthusiasm to Execution ” Russel is an award-winning technologist and sought-after advisor to many of the world’s top companies and is the guiding force behind the innovative strategies and programs implemented by major enterprises worldwide In her previous roles, she has built more than 100 conversational AI applications She is regarded among the most authoritative voices on how we can create a world where AI and humans coexist harmoniously, where innovation is a force for good, and where progress knows no bounds
The
Fellows chat and discuss the day’s events during the Symposium Reception
2020-2024 Self Graduate Fellows take one last photo to celebrate their achievements
SELF GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP
2025
FALL SKILL SESSION
The week-long program included customized workshops from Franklin Covey and KU faculty. Workshop topics focused on effective communication, personal branding, presenting to a public audience, persuasion, grant writing, and interview prep.
International Seminar
May 2026
Graduate Fellowship International Seminar will occur from The program will include a semester-long outbound ovide cross-cultural context for fellows, share skills in working abroad.
be attended by 30 Self Graduate Fellows (2023-2027 and s) and four KU staff members. The 2026 International l to Brussels, Belgium and The Hague, Netherlands.
y is still being developed, Fellows will have the opportunity nizations focused on international policy and governance. ws will visit university labs and facilities with a focus on nology.
y p or any program ideas, please email them to prestonb@ku.edu!
Stay tuned for more updates!
Self Graduate Programs Annual Report
The Self Graduate Programs public annual report for 2024-2025 is now available online. The report highlights the two programs within the Self Graduate Programs department – the Self Graduate Fellowship and the Self Memorial Scholarship.
Read here: https://issuu.com/selfgraduatefellowship/docs/2025 annual public re port
