Dr. Julie Renner is an associate professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. Hailing from North Dakota and earning her BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of North Dakota and her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University, Dr. Renner’s scientific career has spanned across industry and academia, giving her valuable insight on the many diverse backgrounds and experiences that shape the scientific community.

With a passion for supporting underrepresented students and faculty in STEM, Dr. Julie Renner is heavily involved in inclusion efforts at CWRU, and serves as the Dean’s Fellow for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The position recognizes her extensive involvement in things like an affinity group for Women in Chemical Engineering (WIC), planning DEI workshops with leaders in the field, high school outreach programs, as well as the inception of a department DEI committee and gender minority faculty forum for CWRU’s School of Engineering.

Dr. Renner acknowledges that improving diversity in STEM fields is a long-standing and complex issue, but she notes that, “conversations around inclusion are becoming more normalized…There are a lot more people interested in helping with and understanding this problem, both locally and nationally.” Conversations are an encouraging way to directly engage with the issues at hand. “It’s hard to achieve overnight,” she states. “It’s a matter of taking the time to communicate what the goals are so we can all take practical steps toward them.”

Dr. Renner notes that resistance to change is one of the largest barriers to current local advances for diversity in STEM, but remains encouraged by the ongoing efforts to foster inclusion. “It’s almost like a chemical reaction. It’s going to take time, and depending on the starting materials it can be longer or shorter…but I think when we hold onto the vision for the future, it’s fun to watch these positive things take place.”

On the local level, it’s important to celebrate diversity and make everyone feel welcome in schools, universities, workplaces, et cetera. By encouraging students and faculty alike to talk about these issues, we step closer to solving them. Organizations like DEI committees aid this effort.

Consisting of two faculty members, one staff member, one undergraduate student, and one graduate student, the CWRU Department of Chemical Engineering DEI Committee spans across a variety of positions and engages in local affairs while working on surveys to analyze the current climate and implementing training for students and faculty to approach important issues and facilitate learning through open discussion. Dr. Renner notes that one of her favorite committee events is the “Spring into Diversity” potluck, which allows for the community to come together for a positive cause.

Dr. Renner describes diversity and inclusion as integral aspects of her profession. “In order to reach our full potential as scientists, we need diversity in our spaces, and we can’t get that diversity unless we start creating and prioritizing inclusive spaces,” she states. “Without it, we would be missing out on solving problems and finding creative solutions.”

She directs her passion for mentoring students toward creating inclusive programs throughout the local Cleveland area. She partnered with John Hay High School to implement the WOWS (Widening Opportunities for Women in Science) program, a 4-week summer program allowing high school girls to learn about science and engineering, meet with researchers, and engage in their own hands-on research projects with graduate mentors. “The idea is to have them realize that scientists are just normal people,” she explains. “We want the students to feel comfortable with research in a laboratory setting, and to see that doing science is really fun!”

Self-efficacy surveys, surveys taken before and after the program that analyze how students view their own abilities, have shown the WOWS program to positively impact students’ self-confidence in STEM.

In her journey to becoming a mentor, Dr. Renner has been guided by impactful scientists throughout her education. She worked with mentors who provided phenomenal learning experiences as she navigated the challenges that come with pursuing a Ph.D. Although she had positive experiences with both male and female mentors, seeing accomplished women in action was impactful. “It helped for me to see myself in my mentors,” she affirms. 
It’s important to acknowledge the wide range of perspectives in science. “Science is for and about people, and that human aspect is really the key to getting it done. We need people.” This perspective guides Dr. Renner through her pursuits in outreach, mentoring, advocacy, and more. Acknowledging the humanity and unity of science is key to creating a more inclusive, welcoming, and innovative future.