ELATE at Drexel® is a national leadership development program designed to advance senior women faculty in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and related disciplines into leadership roles within their universities. Rickus is one of 26 women faculty from 23 institutions across the country and Canada nominated by their dean or provost and selected for the prestigious program by Drexel.

"I am especially excited to connect with other senior women leaders in STEM around the country and to gain the skills necessary to bring about institutional change in today’s dynamic landscape of higher education," said Rickus.

The one-year, part-time program focuses on increasing personal and professional leadership effectiveness, leading and managing change initiatives within institutions, using strategic finance and resource management to enhance organizational missions, and creating a network of exceptional women who bring organizational perspectives and deep personal capacity to the institutions and society they serve. Facilitated by leaders in the fields of STEM research and leadership development, the curriculum includes classroom lessons and activities, online instruction and discussion, and on-the-job application at each Fellow’s home institution.

The fellowship year begins in May 2017 and culminates in March 2018 with the completion of an institutional change project that has been developed in collaboration with the leadership of the fellow’s organization.