Celebrating the Transcendent Leadership

The Institute for Engineering in Medicine (IEM) extends its deepest gratitude and highest praise to Chris Pennell, PhD, and Rhonda Franklin, PhD, as they conclude their tenure leading IEM's INSPIRE Program. As the inaugural recipients of the IEM Abbott Professorships in Innovative Education, Drs. Pennell and Franklin have dedicated the last several years to turning a visionary concept into a powerful, sustainable reality.

Through their joint leadership, the INSPIRE Program achieved remarkable milestones—most notably their impact on the Annual INSPIRE Conference. This conference has engaged thousands of students from across Minnesota, opening minds to the incredible possibilities at the intersection of medicine, technology, and science.

Beyond the events, Drs. Pennell and Franklin became true allies to the students they served. They have fundamentally shifted how IEM approaches outreach, embedding a culture of team science, inclusivity, and intentional pipeline building into our core mission.

Connecting Communities to the STEM Pipeline

Under their guidance, the INSPIRE Program didn't just exist on campus; it actively reached into the community to establish a vital, cohesive Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) network. By building powerful partnerships with STEM NOLA and OIC of America, they created a direct link to K–8 students through multiple high-energy STEMFest and STEM Saturday events.

This infrastructure seamlessly connected early learners to the high-school-targeted INSPIRE Program, demonstrating a clear, accessible trajectory into higher education. Crucially, these efforts highlighted the groundbreaking work of IEM and the NSF ERC for Advanced Technologies for the Preservation of Biological Systems, showing young minds how engineering in medicine can solve real-world human health crises.

World-Class Scholars, Dedicated Mentors

The immense success of the INSPIRE Program is a direct reflection of the world-class academic prestige and profound personal commitment to equity that both co-directors brought to their roles:

• Chris Pennell (Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and past Associate Director of Education for the Masonic Cancer Center) is a distinguished immunologist whose laboratory develops cutting-edge immunotherapies and DNA-based cancer vaccines. Chris has long championed the philosophy that cutting-edge research is fundamentally a form of education. His ability to translate complex biomedical concepts into inspiring pathways has guided thousands of young learners toward the future of healthcare delivery.
• Rhonda Franklin (McKnight Presidential Endowed Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering) is a pioneering microwave and radio frequency engineer whose research bridges high-speed circuitry with biomedical applications like cancer diagnostics. Throughout her career, Rhonda has been a historic trailblazer for representation in engineering. Her passion for workforce development and mentorship—recognized nationally by the IEEE—has been the driving force behind creating spaces where every student feels they belong in STEM.

Thank you again, Chris and Rhonda, for your years of tireless dedication, your inspiring leadership, and the enduring legacy you leave within IEM and the broader community.