Meet the 2025 Fellowship Cohort
The strength of the program lies in the diverse expertise of the participants.Bridging research, innovation and community impact
The first cohort of C3 Innovation Fellows, sponsored by El Pomar, kicks off on September 30, 2025, with applied research and creative projects that deliver an impact at UCCS and throughout the Southern Colorado region.
Stephanie Gangemi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Aims to develop an interdisciplinary, online Forensic Care Academy. This academy aims to provide specialized clinical knowledge, interpersonal skills and reflective practices for the correctional healthcare workforce, correctional staff and law enforcement professionals operating in challenging carceral environments.
Anatoliy Pinchuk, Ph.D, Professor
Undergoing a collaborative research project with Lahjavida, a local startup, to develop a novel photothermal cancer treatment. His research focuses on using infrared laser or LED light sources and gold nanoparticle-dye conjugates to create a more effective, targeted and less invasive alternative to conventional cancer therapies. This project aims to maximize light-to-heat energy conversion efficiency and actively target cancer cells.
Paige Whitney, Ph.D. and Krysten Hill, Ph.D.
Seek to support caregivers in our community, recognizing the significant burdens faced by both paid and unpaid caregivers, especially with Colorado’s rapidly aging population. Their project involves creating both an in-person eight-week Caregiver Wellbeing Program and a user-friendly, app-based wellness resource. Both interventions will focus on topics like stress management, physical activity, nutrition, sleep and social connection, with content curated by faculty and community stakeholders and delivered by an interprofessional team of students.
Kyrsten Hill is an Assistant Professor, Geropsychology Psychology, College of LAS
Lynnane George, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Teaching
Will expand community engagement through STEM outreach with Cool Science. As Vice President of Cool Science, she plans to partner UCCS students and faculty to create hands-on STEM workshops, school visits and campus experiences. This initiative aims to enhance public understanding of science, engineering and space systems while strengthening ties between UCCS and underserved communities. She will also expand her collaboration with the U.S. Space Force’s Space Domain Awareness Tools, Applications and Processing (TAP) Lab with student teams.
Carolyn Gery, Ed.D. and Gail Richards
Pursuing linked fellowships to create a co-constructed information exchange based on layered asset mapping for Southeast Colorado Springs. Their project aims to increase economic and social viability within this community by identifying needs, mapping assets and supporting local entrepreneurial efforts. They emphasize designing with the community, not for them, leveraging their experience teaching social and commercial innovation.
Gail Richards is an Assistant Professor, Bachelor of Innovation
Joseph Kuzma, Ph.D. Teaching Professor
Will develop an AI Ethics Literacy Initiative to serve both the Colorado Springs community and UCCS students. This initiative includes tailored community workshops on responsible AI adoption, an AI Ethics Consultation Hub where local organizations can receive guidance (with students as research assistants) and quarterly public forums on technology and society to ensure diverse perspectives are heard. He aims to position Colorado Springs as a model for intentional technological change with care for human impact with potential partnerships in the Pikes Peak Library District, local school districts and Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation.
Joey A. Lee, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Plans to establish UCCS as a hub for training students on how to help community stakeholders adopt and implement the Active Communities Tool (ACT). This project, in partnership with the Prevention Services Division at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), will train students from various disciplines to evaluate active transportation infrastructure in communities. The goal is to provide students with practical experiences, professional competencies and opportunities to directly contribute to the health and sustainability of Colorado communities.
Karen S. Markel, Ph.D., Professor
Seeks to build a Design Your Life Lab at UCCS. This lab would apply design thinking principles to help students navigate their lives and careers, fostering resilience in times of disruption and change. The concept is based on Stanford’s Life Design Lab and aligns with learning outcomes and student support for personal change, resilience and career development.
Armin Moin, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Collaborates with the Catalyst Campus for Technology & Innovation (CCTI) in Colorado Springs to support their innovation and business creation ecosystem. He will help them in his areas of expertise concerning their entrepreneurial initiatives, such as the CCTI accelerator programs. For example, he will be mentoring and coaching startup teams and providing consulting services to CCTI in designing and implementing their programs. In addition, his Quantum-Classical AI and Software Engineering (QAS) Lab focuses on Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Software Engineering (SE), and Software Security with many innovation points to support campus and community venture creation endeavors.
Emily Skop, Ph.D., Professor and Interim VP of Faculty Affairs
Further the impact of a culture of care on the UCCS campus, aiming for lasting institutional transformation regarding student and peer support, collaboration and shared governance. This project will adapt existing frameworks like the “Ethos of Care Credential for Transformational Change” and the “Convening of Care” structure, working with innovation experts to engage students, early career faculty, staff and leaders.
Brandon C. Strubberg, Ph.D., Department Chair & Associate Professor
Develop a human-centered UX workflow training program with students, who will serve as UX Research Fellows. They will integrate AI-augmented design support for user feedback, content creation and rapid prototyping, while also developing UX learning modules for innovation teams, faculty, community groups and students.
Patricia Witkowsky, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Dept. Chair
Partner with UCCS’s Enrollment Management and Student Affairs (EMSA) Division to provide a faculty perspective on innovations they are considering. Her projects will support innovation around areas such as student wellness, engagement and satisfaction. The goal is to apply innovation principles in real time to improve student outcomes.