Purpose
STEMM Prep Academy, Inc. is a newly formed nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering education, mentoring and workforce preparedness in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM).
Our Academy is based in the State of Maryland, and our services are purposed for both a local and national audience. We are currently recruiting scholars that have an interest in STEMM careers.
STEMM Prep Academy is also purposed to introduce STEMM opportunities to candidates without any formal training experience.
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Our Scholars
At STEMM Prep Academy, Inc., our scholars inlcude participants from K-12, undergraduates, and graduate level (through specialty-level trainees) programs. Our academy strategy follows our mission: to provide accessible and high-quality STEMM education to scholars, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and inspiration to pursue careers in STEMM fields and make meaningful contributions to society.
Meet Our Executive Team
The Dedicated Team at STEMM Prep Academy, Inc.
Dr. Emmanuel Peprah
Board Chairman
Dr. Peprah is the Director of Implementation Science for Global Health and Implementing Sustainable Evidence-based interventions through Engagement (ISEE Lab) and Implementation Science for Global Health at the New York University School of Global Public Health. His research endeavors are positioned at the dynamic nexus of unraveling the intricacies behind the efficacy differentials of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) across diverse populations within low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). With a specialized focus on comprehending the contextual determinants shaping the adoption of EBIs for conditions such as sickle cell disease (SCD), HIV/AIDS, and Obstetric Hemorrhage (OH), Dr. Peprah's work delves into the nuanced interplay of factors influencing healthcare delivery. Amidst the escalating burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), there emerges a pivotal opportunity to amalgamate NCD management into implementation frameworks, capitalizing on global infrastructure to enhance healthcare provisioning across Africa and other LMICs.
Dr. Peprah fosters robust collaborations with diverse, multidisciplinary teams of researchers, nationally and internationally, to tackle the escalating NCD burden within African populations. The mission of the SCD section at Peprah’s ISEE lab is to dissect the intricacies of intervention adoption, aiming to forge sustainable and scalable strategies tailored to the contextual nuances. Acknowledging the paramount importance of context, his approach underscores cultural sensitivity, innovation, and sustained engagement with stakeholders to optimize health outcomes amidst resource constraints.
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Prior to his tenure at NYU GPH, Dr. Peprah played a pivotal role as a senior program official at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), spearheading strategic planning and initiative development in translational research, implementation science, and global health. He received numerous awards for this strategic planning and programmatic management of various NIH initiatives.
Dr. W. Marcus Lambert
Board Treasurer
Dr. Marcus Lambert is the Associate Vice President for Research at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, NY. In this role, Dr. Lambert oversees efforts to expand the university's extramural research portfolio in areas of health equity and clinical research. He also co-leads several National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded training initiatives, including TRANSPORT, a $20 million endowment program to strengthen research capacity in health equity, and the Clinical Research Scholars Training Program (CREST), a $2.6 million award supporting clinician-scientists.
As an Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dr. Lambert investigates disparities in the health workforce and how they shape health outcomes. He is Principal Investigator of an NIH Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA R35), an R01-equivalent grant studying the science of effective mentorship networks for biomedical researchers, as well as a foundation award focused on community-engaged research.
Recognized as one of New York’s Life Sciences Power 50 and one of Cell Press’ 100 Inspiring Black Scientists in America, Dr. Lambert serves on the Howard University College of Medicine Board of Visitors. He has also served on numerous NIH study sections and was previously a member of HHMI’s Advisory Board for the Center for the Advancement of Science Leadership and Culture.
Dr. Lambert earned his Ph.D. in biomedical science from the Vilcek Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at NYU Langone Health, his M.S. in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Research from Weill Cornell Graduate School, and his B.S. from Howard University. He lives in Brooklyn, NY with his wife and four children.
Dr. Brandon Brown
Board Secretary
Dr. Brandon Brown is a Full Professor in the Department of Social Medicine, Population and Public Health at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine. His primary research interests are in facilitating community partnered research and ethical issues in HIV research. He has received funding from both private and federal organizations, working closely with community partners in every step of the research process. The first in his family to attend college, Dr. Brown earned his bachelor's degree in applied mathematics from the University of California, Irvine, followed by an MPH in epidemiology from UCLA. His time spent training in Singapore and Cape Town were formative to his career. He then attended the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to earn his PhD in international health with a focus on epidemiology. After returning from his dissertation studies in Peru, he conducted postdoctoral work at UCLA. Dr. Brown received additional training as a HPTN Scholar, a Resource Center for Minority Aging Research Scholar, and visiting scholar at the Hastings Center for Bioethics. Brandon is the Chair of the Board of Directors of TruEvolution, which advocates for health equity and racial justice for LGBTQ+ people; faculty advisor for the recently terminated Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program; Chair of his institutional IRB; faculty in the Fordham HIV Research Ethics Training Institute, a National Academy of Medicine emerging leader, an elected Hastings Center for Bioethics Fellow, and member of the HPTN ethics working group. With over 200 publications, Dr. Brown is an author of the updated HIV Prevention Trials Network 2020 updated guidance document and was a consultant on the NAM report on Improving Representation in Clinical Trials and Research. He is currently working on ethical issues related to participant payment in HIV research and enhancing transparency of faculty experiences in academia and achieving a life/work balance.
Dr. Robert C. Walker, Jr.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Robert C. Walker, Jr., is the Senior Advisor to Director in the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Walker provides expert leadership and direction for the institute in the areas of patient advocacy, health equity, health disparities research, and community engagement within the biomedical sciences. In this role, he leads the development and implementation of research, research capacity building, training, and career development programs to support the scientific mission of NIAMS. His efforts are aimed at broadening and increasing scientific opportunities in biomedical sciences. Dr. Walker also advises on the establishment of scientific goals and ensures parity is considered clinical trials and participation, the development, funding, administration of grant awards, and implementation of complex cooperative agreements among all divisions in NIAMS.
Previously, Dr. Walker served as the Director of the Office for Scientific Operations in the NIAMS Intramural Research Program (IRP) for over a decade. In this role, he managed the NIAMS IRP Technology Transfer portfolio, facilitating partnerships between government, universities, and industry to develop patents, licensing agreements, and the commercialization of biomedical innovation.
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Before joining NIAMS in 2013, Dr. Walker completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in Bethesda, MD, studying the pathogenesis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1). He then subsequently completed a second fellowship in the NIAID Office of Technology Transfer. Dr. Walker earned his Ph.D. at Meharry Medical College, and his B.S. in Biology from Rust College.
Join Our Team Today
Volunteer Opportunities
Embark on a fulfilling journey with STEMM Prep Academy, Inc., where you can contribute to shaping the future of STEMM education and inspiring the next generation of STEMM leaders.
Teaching and Mentoring Positions
We are looking for passionate educators and mentors to join our team in guiding and inspiring students in their STEMM learning journey.
Educational Support Specialists
Join us as an educational support specialist and play a vital role in providing resources and support to ensure a conducive learning environment for STEMM scholars.
Career Development Coaches
Explore opportunities to make a difference in the lives of students by helping them navigate their career paths and develop essential skills for success in STEMM fields.
STEMM Advocates
We are seeking passionate individuals to advocate for the importance of STEMM education and contribute to creating a future where STEMM excellence is accessible to all.
