Worsley Recognized for Diversity, Inclusion Efforts
Northwestern University professor Marcelo Worsley will receive the 2019 Daniel Linzer Award for Faculty Excellence in Diversity and Equity for his innovative teaching and efforts to bring STEM education to all, regardless of physical ability.
Worsley, assistant professor of learning sciences and computer science at Northwestern's School of Education and Social Policy and the McCormick School of Engineering, works to promote and improve STEM education among underserved populations through hands-on learning.
His goal isn’t necessarily to steer students to STEM-related careers. Instead, he wants them to be able to create solutions to the problems they encounter, regardless of the context, by drawing on their life experiences and perspectives. “At the same time, I want to empower students with the skills to access the resources they need to bring their ideas to fruition,” he says.
Worsley directs the Technological Innovations for Inclusive Learning and Teaching (TILT) Lab at Northwestern. He also teaches the Inclusive Making class, which brings together faculty members from computer science, communication, learning sciences and design. As part of the class, students develop interfaces to allow a broader population of students to participate in Making and increase access and inclusivity.
Born in Brazil and educated in Belgium and the United States, Worsley studied chemical engineering and Portuguese at Stanford University, where he later completed a master's degree in Computer Science and a
When he's not doing research, he's playing with prototypes, cooking, gardening, spending time with his family, or playing a range of sports, including skiing, running, basketball, biking, capoeira, gymnastics, swimming, and soccer.
“I’m very honored to receive this recognition, and I’m even more honored to be a part of a community that actively promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion across research, teaching, and service endeavors,” Worsley said. “Without question, my work would not be possible without the support of (McCormick) Dean Julio Ottino, (SESP) Dean David Figlio, my faculty colleagues, various community partners, and the unwavering commitment of my students.”
Worsley shares the award with Galen Bodenhausen, the Lawyer Taylor Professor of Psychology in the Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences.
Bodenhausen founded the Sneak Peak program, which brings undergraduate students from underrepresented groups to Northwestern to learn about graduate education in psychology. He is also the co-founder of the Center for Science Diversity and founder of a program to distribute a common reading and subsequent discussion within the department on economic inequality.
Worsley and Bodenhausen will be recognized at an April 29 ceremony and awarded $5,000 each for their commitment to diversity in their fields.
An additional $172,348 has been awarded to 12 projects through the Daniel I. Linzer Grants for Innovation in Diversity and Equity. The funding will be used to develop conferences, conduct research and build relationships to foster diversity and inclusion in fields including science, history, medicine, and engineering.
The Linzer Awards and Grants aim to build a more diverse, inclusive and equitable climate on campus and enhance diversity across the spectrum, including race, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, age, and political affiliation.