PATHS-UP’s DIB is the governing body of PATHS-UP’s culture of inclusion initiatives. To ensure buy in from all PATHS-UP sites, it has a Vice Chair position that rotates amongst the campuses each year. The Vice Chair is responsible for conducting the DIB meetings and managing diversity and inclusion matters in the chair’s absence.
Diversity Mentors Program
All PATHS-UP members are encouraged to reach out to a diversity mentor at any site, for any diversity and inclusion-related concerns.
The following DIB members serve as diversity and inclusion mentors for the PATHS-UP community:
DIB Members/Diversity and Inclusion Mentors

Theresa Chatman, MS
Director and Chair, Diversity and Inclusion
Rice University

Omai Garner, PhD
Vice Chair Year 2
Workforce Development & Thrust 1
UCLA Path and Lab Med
University of California, Los Angeles

Additional DIB Members

Karan Watson, PhD
- Workforce Development Director
- Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering
- Regents Professor
- Texas A&M University