LEAD Reverse Mentoring Pair

Keisha Smith Wade and Saroja Voruganti

Keisha Smith Wade, PhD, Reverse Mentor
Keisha Smith Wade is currently a program manager and scientist for a non-profit that is responsible for managing scientific peer-review projects for state and non-profit organizations. Smith Wade previously completed three years as a NIDA T32 postdoctoral fellow at Yale University in the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging and Psychiatry in Addiction Neuroimaging where she utilized neuroimaging techniques, specifically fMRI, to investigate how sex differences influence the stress response in participants with substance use disorder and investigated the pharmacokinetics of oral THC/CBD medical marijuana in response to pain.

Smith Wade graduated from Meharry Medical College with a doctorate in biomedical sciences/neuroscience and completed her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Memphis. She has more than 10 years of experience with basic, translational, and clinical research and expertise in neuroscience, mood disorders, and substance use disorders. Her mission is to continue to mentor, encourage, and engage historically excluded communities in the sciences.

What new skills do you seek to gain as a reverse mentor?
Mentoring is an important and multifaceted skill that contributes to your growth and development as a scientist and person. My main goal in applying for FASEB LEAD is to share the experiences and knowledge that I have learned, hoping that it will foster a more diverse and inclusive understanding in the scientific community. Lastly, I hope to gain insight into the challenges and barriers faced at the institutional level in retaining scientists from historically excluded groups.

How is mentoring important to your career development?
Mentoring has been the cornerstone of my academic career as an African American woman scientist. Identifying mentors who can help guide your career and provide advice is important. Navigating undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate school can be challenging and disheartening; having someone who looks like you and has gone through the journey was and still is critical to my success. I have always looked for opportunities to mentor students from historically excluded groups. 

How does diversity and inclusivity impact your leadership style?
Diversity and inclusivity impact my leadership style because of my personal experiences. Balancing personal and professional goals can be challenging as an African American woman, scientist, wife, and mother. My goal is to give tangible advice and guidance to future scientists, especially women. I emphasize the importance of a strong support system and prioritizing mental health.