Creating STEM Leaders to Address Global Challenges

Creating STEM Knowledge and Innovations to Solve Global Issues Like Water, Food, and Energy

Student STEM Leaders of Tomorrow Solve the World's Biggest Challenges

Inspired by IMSA’s mission statement and its congruence with his personal passion and commitment to end poverty, Dr. Torres believes that, “this can only be accomplished if we have excellent, equitable education and learning systems for academically talented students and for all students, and I realized that I could accomplish my mission in life through partnership with those at IMSA who continue to be fully committed to igniting and nurturing creative, ethical, scientific minds that advance the human condition” (2014). Dr. José M. Torres was named President of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in 2014. He is a recipient of the Dr. Effie H. Jones Humanitarian Award (2014) from the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), an award honoring leadership in educational equity and excellence to those demonstrating an extraordinary “commitment to the advancement and mentorship of women and minorities in positions of leadership and/or demonstrate a commitment to address social justice issues among children, youth and adults in schools.” At the invitation of the Governor of Illinois, Dr. Torres serves on the advisory committee for the Governor’s Technology Advisory Group; and the Governor’s Cabinet on Children and Youth. He also serves on the Cost of Segregation Education Advisory Group; and on the board of directors of the Illinois Association for Gifted Children, the Governor’s P-20 Council and Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin, Illinois. He is the former School Superintendent of Elgin School District U-46 where he implemented a five-year accountability plan that established new benchmarks supporting the District's 40,000 students' efforts to achieve academic success. He served on the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Equity and Excellence Commission (2011-2013) and provided recommendations for closing the achievement gap of English language learners. He is a past regional superintendent for the Chicago Public Schools and has worked in school districts in San Jose, CA; Anne Arundel, Baltimore; Rockville, MD; Washington, D.C.; and the U.S. Department of Defense Schools. Dr. Torres holds the degrees from the University of Maryland (College Park, Maryland): Bachelor Degree in General Studies (1983), Master of Education (1985), and a Doctor of Philosophy in Education Policy, Planning and Administration (1999). His hometown is San Juan, Puerto Rico.

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Dr. Adrienne Coleman, a nationally recognized speaker/researcher, serves as director of equity and inclusion at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA). In this role, she assesses potential barriers and develops strategies focused on recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce as well as underrepresented student population and designs training initiatives to increase awareness and support of equity and inclusion values, and maintaining compliance with applicable laws. She previously worked at Rutgers University as a Program Development Specialist, Research Assistant and Adjunct Faculty with the Bloustein School of Public Health as well as at Illinois State University as a Health Educator. She has served as an AmeriCorps member and has been part of the United States delegation team that assisted Moldova (Eastern Europe) in addressing issues of human trafficking and inadequate health education. Dr. Coleman is the recipient of the 2018 IMSA Presidential Leadership Award, the 2018 Top Ladies of Distinction Hidden Figures Award, the 2016 NAACP Trailblazer in Education Award, the Leon Lederman Scholar’s Award for year’s 2013 - 2017 and the IMSA 2012 E = MC2 award. Her areas of interest include public health, social justice/diversity education and higher/gifted education. She is a qualitative researcher who has examined the motivation of Black and Latino students to engage in the STEM education and careers. Her research has informed STEM programs throughout the nation including the NAACP, James R. Jordan Foundation and the American Statistical Association. She hopes to contribute to the education and economic development of Black and Latinx communities by continuing her research on the motivation of culturally and linguistically diverse students engaged in STEM, ultimately strengthening and diversifying the STEM education to career pipeline. Dr. Adrienne Coleman possesses a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Argosy University and a Master of Science in Health Education as well as a Master of Science in Higher Education, both from Illinois State University.

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