Raquel Ybañez Salinas, PhD, has been promoted to assistant dean, career and alumni engagement, effective January 1, 2025. In her new role, Salinas envisions leveraging the intersection of career development and alumni engagement to cultivate more meaningful connections between students, alumni, and the Graduate School.

As director of student affairs and career development for the past five years, Salinas worked to build these connections through initiatives such as the biennial Alumni Career Symposium, which facilitates career exploration and networking between alumni and students. Now she aims to expand her efforts by strengthening alumni-to-alumni connections, communicating and celebrating achievements across the Graduate School community, and creating pathways for alumni to engage through mentoring and volunteering opportunities.

“Raquel's dedication to the success of our students is inspiring and I’m excited to work with her in this new role," said Karen Weinberg, Associate Dean for Management. “Her leadership will enhance engagement with our alumni, benefiting current students and strengthening the connections that make the Graduate School so special.”

Salinas believes the Graduate School is a unique place for training the next generation of biomedical scientists and that our alumni can continue to feel connected to our mission of advancing research and scientific training, no matter where they live or how long it has been since they graduated. She also recognizes that creating a lasting, positive community requires sustainable practices and collaborative efforts. To ensure these connections thrive for years to come, Salinas will prioritize building systems and initiatives that involve many members of the Graduate School community. As one of her first initiatives, she will reestablish an alumni steering committee to further align alumni engagement efforts and better foster an interconnected network that supports both personal and professional growth.

Salinas has been expanding her mentoring and networking footprint since her graduate work at Duke University, where she studied pharmacology, cell and molecular biology. At Duke she volunteered as a teacher and mentor in programs supporting biomedical graduate education. Most recently, Salinas authored a Career Advice article in Inside Higher Ed, that encourages transparent, empathetic, and forward-thinking discussions between students and research mentors. Through her work, she strives to create a vibrant community where students and alumni feel empowered to pursue their goals, support one another, and contribute to the enduring legacy of the Graduate School.