Rose-Hulman Selects Veteran Professor to Head Transformative Scholars Program
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Associate Professor Christine Buckley will lead Rose-Hulman's transformative new Noblitt Scholars program.
Rose-Hulman has selected Associate Professor Christine Buckley to lead a first-of-its-kind college-based merit and leadership scholars program designed to transform its top students into world-changing science and technology leaders.
The nationally-ranked science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) college named Buckley as the Faculty Director of the Noblitt Scholars program, which launched this academic year with 81 students representing 23 states and four countries. The program provides one-on-one mentoring, leadership training, and scholarship to selected students with a demonstrated passion for improving the world through chosen areas of interest including health care, social justice, cybersecurity, renewable energy, or other critical fields.
Noblitt Scholars are “a powerhouse group of students,” said Buckley, who has taught biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering at Rose-Hulman for more than 20 years. “My job is to put them in touch with the faculty, alumni, and other experts who can help them better understand the areas where they hope to have an impact.”
In addition to teaching at Rose-Hulman, Buckley is actively involved with United Way of the Wabash Valley and Project Lead the Way, a nationwide not-for-profit program designed to boost K-12 student preparedness for careers in the STEM fields.
Rose-Hulman launched the Noblitt Scholars program this fall with a $10 million gift from alumnus Niles Noblitt and his wife, Nancy. The four-year program aims to give students the tools they need to make meaningful change in their areas of interest while enhancing the institute’s ability to recruit the world’s top STEM students regardless of racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic background.
“The program allows us to improve our ability to recruit the best students and increase our diversity. That’s very important to me,” said Buckley, adding that the first cohort of Noblitt Scholars have an academic profile in the top five percent of all students nationally, roughly half are female and one in five is African American.
“I know Dr. Buckley is the right person to launch this program and ensure its future success,” said Rose-Hulman President Robert A. Coons. “The Noblitt Scholars program will transform our students’ desire to improve the world through measurable results.”
Niles Noblitt, whose generosity made the program possible, concurs.
“I am very pleased to learn that Christine Buckley will be the Faculty Director. I have been very impressed with her and I look forward to seeing her apply the same energy and critical thinking to this responsibility that she has displayed in the past,” said Noblitt, a 1973 Rose-Hulman graduate and chairman of the institute’s board of trustees “I’m excited to see what changes these scholars will bring to Rose-Hulman and the world.”
The nationally-ranked science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) college named Buckley as the Faculty Director of the Noblitt Scholars program, which launched this academic year with 81 students representing 23 states and four countries. The program provides one-on-one mentoring, leadership training, and scholarship to selected students with a demonstrated passion for improving the world through chosen areas of interest including health care, social justice, cybersecurity, renewable energy, or other critical fields.
Noblitt Scholars are “a powerhouse group of students,” said Buckley, who has taught biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering at Rose-Hulman for more than 20 years. “My job is to put them in touch with the faculty, alumni, and other experts who can help them better understand the areas where they hope to have an impact.”
In addition to teaching at Rose-Hulman, Buckley is actively involved with United Way of the Wabash Valley and Project Lead the Way, a nationwide not-for-profit program designed to boost K-12 student preparedness for careers in the STEM fields.
Rose-Hulman launched the Noblitt Scholars program this fall with a $10 million gift from alumnus Niles Noblitt and his wife, Nancy. The four-year program aims to give students the tools they need to make meaningful change in their areas of interest while enhancing the institute’s ability to recruit the world’s top STEM students regardless of racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic background.
“The program allows us to improve our ability to recruit the best students and increase our diversity. That’s very important to me,” said Buckley, adding that the first cohort of Noblitt Scholars have an academic profile in the top five percent of all students nationally, roughly half are female and one in five is African American.
“I know Dr. Buckley is the right person to launch this program and ensure its future success,” said Rose-Hulman President Robert A. Coons. “The Noblitt Scholars program will transform our students’ desire to improve the world through measurable results.”
Niles Noblitt, whose generosity made the program possible, concurs.
“I am very pleased to learn that Christine Buckley will be the Faculty Director. I have been very impressed with her and I look forward to seeing her apply the same energy and critical thinking to this responsibility that she has displayed in the past,” said Noblitt, a 1973 Rose-Hulman graduate and chairman of the institute’s board of trustees “I’m excited to see what changes these scholars will bring to Rose-Hulman and the world.”