The MPS Scholars team is made up of both academic and administrative staff that work in partnership with faculty, staff, and students from the Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MPS) community. The office welcomes all from the campus and broader community to partner with us and support the work we do!
CONTACT MPS SCHOLARS
Email: mps_scholars@berkeley.edu
Phone: 510-664-502
Office: Campbell Hall - Room 501C
Office Hours: Tues, Wed, Thurs for Spring 2023
Frances Hellman, Ph.D.
Faculty, Physics Department & Principal Investigator for MPS Scholars
Former Dean of Mathematical and Physical Sciences Division
Frances Hellman received her BA in Physics from Dartmouth College in 1978, graduating summa cum laude and phi beta kappa with high honors in physics. She received her PhD in Applied Physics from Stanford University in 1985, studying what were then considered the high Tc superconductors (the A15's). After a 2 year post-doc in thin film magnetism at AT&T Bell Labs, she went to UCSD as an assistant professor in 1987, where she received tenure in 1994 and became a full professor in 2000. She joined the Physics Dept at UC Berkeley in Jan 2005, and became Chair of the Department in 2007. Dr. Hellman served as the Dean of the Division of Mathematical and Physical Sciences for seven years from 2015-2021 . Click here to read more about Dr. Hellman (link is external)
Colette Patt, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean, Mathematical & Physical Sciences DivisionDirector, Mathematical & Physical Sciences Scholars
Colette Patt is the Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access in the Mathematical & Physical Sciences Division (MPS), at the University of California, Berkeley. As the MPS Division's chief diversity officer, she generates, facilitates, and leads efforts across the division to increase diversity and achieve equitable outcomes at the undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral, and faculty levels. Her scholarly work focuses on academic life, identity, race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, disability in higher education, and institutional change. Dr. Patt received her BA in English and Women's Studies in 1985, and her Ph.D. in Social and Cultural Studies in Education at UC Berkeley in 1995.
Claire-Marie Kooi
Associate Director, Mathematical & Physical Sciences Scholars
Claire-Marie Kooi is the Associate Director of MPS Scholars in the Mathematical & Physical Sciences Division (MPS), at UC Berkeley. In this role, she develops, implements, and directs programming that promotes equity and provides pathways to success for underrepresented students. Previously, Claire-Marie worked in the UC Berkeley College of Engineering and oversaw programs such as Engineering Scholars as Engaged Scholars ((ES)2), which engages students at the intersection of environmental justice, social justice, and engineering. In addition to (ES)2, she was also the founding director of the First Generation Mentor Program, Transfer Mentor Program, and Berkeley Mentorship Cohort, which aim to increase the success and retention of underrepresented students in engineering. Claire-Marie has a passion for STEM and has dedicated her professional career to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in higher education. Claire-Marie received her BA in Environmental Earth Science with a minor in Dance and Performance Studies from UC Berkeley in 2014.
Alison Schopmeyer
Project & Policy Analyst/Program Coordinator, Mathematical & Physical Sciences DEIA Office
Alison Schopmeyer is a Project & Policy Analyst and Program Coordinator for the Math & Physical Sciences Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access Office. In this role she works with students, faculty, and staff to support the development and operational management of the office and its affiliated programs. For nearly 20 years she has worked in administration and operations within the fields of education, medicine, and manufacturing. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in Sociology and Chelsea College of Art and Design with a Graduate Diploma in Interior Design.