Matthew Kreitzer, Ph.D., serves as a professor of biology and the dean of Science, Engineering, and Education at Indiana Wesleyan University.  He completed his PhD in biological sciences, focusing on neurobiology, in 2003 at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Kreitzer has a passion for mentoring undergraduate STEM majors in research. Over his 21 years as a faculty member, he has mentored nearly 70 undergraduates in research, which has been funded through multiple institutional research awards, a research fellowship from the Marine Biological Laboratory, and two NSF research grants. Collectively, these undergraduate-led research efforts have resulted in numerous peer-reviewed research manuscripts and presentations.  Since 2014, Dr. Kreitzer, with the support of funded by two NSF SSTEM awards, has helped develop pathways to increase STEM major success at a rural PUI through experiences that aim to increase student identity and belonging in STEM programs at Indiana Wesleyan University.