Rachel C. Law
Director
113A Sims Science Building
lawr@winthrop.edu
803/323-4932
Rachel Law was named the Director of the Eagle STEM Scholars Program in 2011. The
science diversity program is part of the five-year INBRE (Internal Network for Biomedical
Research Excellence) Grant, and it aims to increase the number of science scholars
from underrepresented minority, low income, and first generation college students
planning to matriculate to Ph.D.'s in biomedical sciences.
Law has been an adjunct instructor at Winthrop since fall 2009 following an extended career in industry. After graduating from West Virginia University with a degree in chemical engineering, Law pursued a career in industry which included the position of director of research for a major chemical corporation.
She has been engaged in the academic community in various capacities serving on numerous committees and boards, including the Industrial Advisory Committee for the Department of Chemical Engineering at WVU and the Board of Trustees for York Technical College. She has been active in organizations such as NOBCChE and has served as a diversity advocate. Law's awareness of other cultures has been enhanced by her travels to Europe, the far East, Africa, and North America. She was a contributing author to the Wiley-VCH publication Cellulose Acetates: Properties and Applications.
Cliff Harris
Assistant Director
302 Sims Science Building
harrisc@winthrop.edu
803/323-4929
Cliff Harris is a new faculty member at Winthrop, joining the Chemistry department in July 2011 as a visiting assistant professor, where he currently teaches Chemistry 105. He also serves as the assistant director of the Eagle STEM scholars program. Cliff Harris received his Bachelors of Science in Chemistry from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where he was a member of the prestigious Meyerhoff scholarship program. Afterwards, he attended the University of Notre Dame, where he received his PhD in Chemistry, with a research focus on electron transfer in semiconductor assemblies for solar energy assemblies.
Velbert Ervin 
Program Assistant
113A Sims Science Building
ervinv@winthrop.edu
803/323-4934
Velbert Ervin is the Program Assistant for Eagle STEM Scholars Program at Winthrop University where she serves in a supportive role to the program director, staff and scholars. With over 40 years of successful work in banking, real estate, and accounting, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from Strayer University of Charlotte, NC. She is a Rock Hill native and has been married over 42 years. Velbert and her husband have three adult children and four grandsons. She is a dedicated member of Turn Around Ministry where she is the prayer coordinator and teacher. During her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, walking and listening to music.
Jordan Winter
Graduate Assistant
113A Sims Science Building
winterj2@mailbox.winthrop.edu
803/323-4934
My name is Jordan Winter and I am the new Graduate Assistant for the Eagle Scholars STEM program. I received my undergraduate degree from UNC Chapel Hill in Biology and here at Winthrop I am pursuing a Master's in Biology, with a focus on Ecology. While at Winthrop I will be working with Dr. Jennifer Schafer studying the effects of pine straw raking in loblolly pine forests. In the past I worked with the state of North Carolina and Duke Energy assessing the impact of coal ash residuals on both groundwater and surface water. After graduating from Winthrop I hope to continue my education and pursue a PhD in Ecology.