Mission and Vision
People, culture, and community are core to our mission and operations. Our efforts and initiatives are centered on three objectives:
- Inspire Belonging – foster an inclusive intellectual climate in which all identities are affirmed and valued
- Empower Potential – equip individuals of exceptional promise to become scholars, leaders, and innovators by increasing opportunities for development and engagement outside of the classroom
- Create Community – develop spaces for connection, networking, and socializing to interact with and learn from others
“Belonging transforms spaces into communities and individuals into collaborators. By creating an environment where everyone feels empowered to innovate, we unlock the full potential to design solutions that serve the entire world. ”
Meet Our Team.
Office of Outreach and Belonging
Darlene F. Saporu
Associate Dean of Outreach and Belonging
Darlene Saporu, PhD serves as the Associate Dean of Outreach and Belonging at the Whiting School of Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. In this role, she provides strategic vision and programmatic leadership to support STEM access, outreach and engagement across the school, with a focus on initiatives that support faculty and graduate students.
Dr. Saporu designs and implements programs aimed at broadening participation in engineering. Specifically, she collaborates with department heads, faculty, graduate students and staff to develop innovative recruitment practices, establish mentorship networks, and enhance pathways for professional development and academic success. At the Whiting School of Engineering, Dr. Saporu works to establish sustainable practices that promote equity and foster an environment where all can thrive. Through her signature program called Explore Hopkins she strengthened partnerships between WSE and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions. She is the Co-PI of a 3.1 Million National Science Foundation AGEP grant called Project Elevate, an alliance with Carnegie Mellon and New York University to develop a career advancement model for early career faculty at selective engineering institutions.
Dr. Saporu earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her PhD in Sociology from The Ohio State University.
Stacey Marks
Outreach and Belonging Program Manager
As the Program Manager for the Whiting School of Engineering’s Office of Outreach and Belonging, Stacey is dedicated to strengthening recruitment programs and partnerships, fostering community engagement, and creating professional development opportunities to support the success and retention of graduate students. She also spearheads initiatives aimed at promoting belonging and cultivating a culture of inclusive excellence.
Stacey collaborates with NSF PROJECT Elevate grant partners at Carnegie Mellon University and New York University on faculty professional development efforts. She is actively involved in university-wide initiatives, serving on both the newly established Johns Hopkins University Staff Council and the Whiting School of Engineering Staff Council.
Her dedication and advocacy have been recognized with the James Calvin Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from the Johns Hopkins University Diversity Leadership Council.
Stacey is also a proud Army veteran.
University of Maryland Baltimore County, BS
Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School, MS