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MARC Program Director
Email: rbchurch@neiu.edu
Phone: (773) 442-5837
Office: BBH-313D

R.B. Church is a Professor Emeritus of Psychology at ÌìÌì³Ô¹Ï in Chicago after 30 years of teaching. She received her doctorate in Educational Psychology from The University of Chicago and did post-doctoral clinical research at Michael Reese Hospital. As a developmental psychologist, she pioneered the study of gesture communication that accompanies speech for use in schools and taught classes in developmental psychology. She has supported over 100 students to attend PhD programs in STEM and Biomedically-related research with clinical and theoretical outcomes.

MARC Program Director
Email: e-stojkovic@neiu.edu
Phone: (773) 442-5692
Office: BBH-352H

Dr. Stojković is a Bernard J. Brommel Distinguished Research Professor of Biology with an expertise in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at ÌìÌì³Ô¹Ï (NEIU). She has been serving as an advisor for majors in the pre-health professions, and developed numerous research collaborations with faculty from other departments and institutions. Her track record of engaging students in research activities resulted in peer-reviewed publications and multiple student travel and presentation awards at national conferences. Her students have been admitted to highly-ranked PhD programs in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Microbiology and Pathology. Four of her former students received NSF doctoral fellowships. Dr. Stojković holds the main technical role of the project. She works on ensuring the necessary access and modernization of the laboratories and of the computer facilities. Dr. Stojković also oversees the recruitment of MARC trainees and pre-trainees. She also supervises the modification of NEIU coursework, teaching, and skills development of NEIU students. Dr. Stojković works with the faculty from the Departments of Biology and Chemistry to support and implement the proposed curriculum and program changes.

MARC Program Director
Email: j-hibdonjr@neiu.edu
Phone: (773) 442-5782
Office: BBH-212A

Joseph E. Hibdon, Jr. (Luiseño), Ph.D., is a descendent of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Mission Indians. Through the support of his family, Joseph received his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics with a minor in Chemistry from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. From there, he went on to receive his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where he studied fluid mechanics of non-premixed flames. In 2011, Joseph joined the NEIU community as the physical science advisor for the Student Center for Science Engagement; eventually joining the mathematics department as an assistant professor in 2013. In 2019 Joseph was awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor. Joseph has done research with many undergraduate and graduate students in the math department, with many of them presenting the research and then going on to careers both related and unrelated to mathematics. His current research interests are in fluid mechanics, dynamical systems, biological modeling, and math education. Joseph’s role in the grant is to oversee the curriculum of MARC scholars and to support faculty mentors in working with a diverse student population. To support institutionalization of the MARC grant, Joseph is the math minor advisor and has developed curriculum not only for MARC scholars but for all NEIU students.

MARC Program Assistant
Email: d-bizhga@neiu.edu
Phone: (773) 442-5716
Office: BBH-204D
Hours: Mon – Fri, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Dorina has been with the MARC program since April 2015 and handles the day-to-day logistics of running the program, serving as a liaison between MARC scholars, faculty members, and administrators. Dorina also holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Biology from NEIU.