FASEB Names Nine Scientists as 2025 Howard Garrison Advocacy Fellows

Wednesday, September 10, 2025
FASEB has named nine scientists as this year’s Howard Garrison Advocacy Fellows. Selected from an impressive pool of applicants across all career stages, these scientists will enhance their roles as advocates for science and help drive change within the research community.

In today’s landscape, it is increasingly important for scientists to engage directly with elected representatives, policymakers, and the broader public. Unfortunately, skills in this area of engagement are often overlooked in graduate school curricula and differ significantly from traditional scientific communication. To address this gap, FASEB launched the Howard Garrison Advocacy Fellowship in 2023.

This fellowship program highlights FASEB’s commitment to advancing science policy, securing sustainable funding for scientific research, and supporting the training and professional development of researchers.

Meet the 2025 Howard Garrison Advocacy Fellows:

• Jessica Chen, Graduate Student, Harvard Medical School
• Jillian Cox, Graduate Student, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
• Alejandra Flores, Graduate Student, Vanderbilt University
• Rebekah Kendall, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Montana
• Zari McCullers, Graduate Research Assistant, Penn State College of Medicine
• Jocelyn Olvera, Graduate Student, University of California San Diego
• Matthew Steinsaltz, Graduate Student Researcher, Yale University
• Rodney Williams, Graduate Student, Johns Hopkins University
• Anika Zaman, Postdoctoral Associate, Stony Brook University

After completing the 10-month fellowship, fellows will have received instruction in advocacy, science policy, science communication, leadership development, and career exploration beyond academia.