ARIS Announces Three 2026 Broader Impacts Champions
Posted On: 03-10-2026
Posted In: Awardee Spotlight, Summit,
Recipients Bernice T. Anderson; Elizabeth (Lisa) Rom; and Dina Myers Stroud will be recognized at the virtual ARIS Summit 2026 for their significant contribution to Broader Impacts.
The Center for Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS) today announced the 2026 Broader Impacts (BI) Champions are Bernice T. Anderson; Elizabeth (Lisa) Rom; and Dina Myers Stroud. These three individuals made significant contributions to establishing and advancing the NSF Broader Impacts criterion, or have contributed to the realization of the vision of Broader Impacts through scientific research. Each BI Champion will deliver brief remarks during the virtual ARIS Summit 2026 Awards Ceremony on April 1, where they will be formally recognized for their achievements.
Bernice served as a program officer for the NSF Office of Integrative Activities where she actively supported the Broader Impacts criterion and organizations that proved their research benefited society. She made a vital contribution to the transition from the National Alliance for Broader Impacts (NABI) to ARIS. Thanks to her early support, ARIS and the BI community were able to advance research for societal benefits through numerous programs that not only expanded the awareness, but also created a new generation of leaders who would teach and share why Broader Impacts are vital.
Elizabeth (Lisa) was selected for her visionary leadership advancing Broader Impacts in the geosciences where she transformed community engagement, funding priorities, and program design. Through initiatives, reviews, and mentorship, she expanded meaningful, measurable impact, strengthened collaborations between researchers and BI professionals, and inspired scientists and educators to integrate communication and public benefit into their research.
When Dina was the program officer for the NSF Growing Research Access for Nationally Transformative Economic Development program (GRANTED), she supported ARIS and helped expand the number of researchers, communities, and institutions who understood and valued Broader Impacts across the country. Thanks to Dina, ARIS has embarked on its next phase of certification, scholarship, and professional development across the BI-RI-SI spectrum1.
“The 2026 BI Champions exemplify the spirit of Broader Impacts through their vision, leadership, and dedication to connecting research with real-world benefit,” said Susan D. Renoe, PhD, ARIS Executive Director. “On behalf of the ARIS community, we are grateful to Bernice, Lisa, and Dina for shaping how we think about impact and build the bridges between research and society that will endure for years to come.”
ARIS BI Champions will be recognized at the ARIS Summit 2026 Awards Ceremony on April 1 at 10:30 a.m. CDT. The ARIS Summit 2026 is a three-day virtual gathering where global leaders, researchers, and practitioners explore how intentional design drives measurable research impact, fosters collaboration, and strengthens connections between research and society. Registration is open and one-day passes are available.
1 Broader Impacts (BI): Why research matters; Research Impact (RI): How research makes change; Societal Impact (SI): What continues to improve.