Celebrating Diversity

Emory’s James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies Names 2021-2022 Kharen Fulton Award for Diversity Winner. Juan Rodriguez was recognized for his commitment to setting others up for success in STEM careers.

Juan D. Rodriguez, a doctoral candidate in the Genetics and Molecular Biology Program at the James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies, won the 2021-2022 Kharen Fulton Award for Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement in Graduate Education.

The award, which was established in 2016, is named for the late Dr. Kharen Fulton, the longtime Director of Recruitment, Diversity, and Admissions at James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies. It is presented annually to a doctoral student who demonstrates an unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion in their academic community and the city of Atlanta. 

Juan’s commitment to diversity and inclusion runs deep. He has created a path to college for middle school students in San Juan, Puerto Rico; he prepared students in an English as a Second Language course in his community for the math and science portions of the GED; and Juan helped many graduate students find a home at Emory.

Upon accepting his award, Juan talked about the importance of helping others along the way. "No one can do it alone," he said. "If you can, help someone who needs it."

Left to Right: David Katz, Juan Rodriguez, and Kimberly Jacob Arriola