Elizabeth Friedman, director, professional master’s programs, College of Science, was awarded the National Professional Science Master’s Association (NPSMA) Board of Directors Award at last week’s NPSMA 6th National Conference in Arlington, Va. The award honors a PSM program director, faculty member, staff person alumnus/alumna, or student for outstanding contributions to a PSM program.
Additionally, at the conference, Friedman gave a talk, “The Long Term Outlook of PSM Programs—Evolution in a Conservative Culture,” with Dagmar Beck from Rice University. Their talk focused on the evolution of long-standing professional master’s programs. They discussed the key elements in continuing to offer academically rigorous and relevant programs, and provided strategies they have used in their programs as examples.
Friedman’s portfolio includes traditional and online graduate programs in analytical chemistry, applied mathematics, data science, materials chemistry, mathematical finance, and health physics, combining rigorous academic training with the “soft skills.” She is former president of the National Professional Science Master’s Association and an expert on best practices for professional STEM master’s degree programs. Friedman attended her first national PSM meeting in 2003 and was a founding member of the NPSMA. She has been an active member of the NPSMA Board of Directors, having served in multiple officer positions and contributed to many NPSMA workshops and conferences.
