You may know Dr. Kristina Visscher as your friendly Human Neuroimaging instructor, but the rest of UAB now knows her as the Diversity Champion that she is! Dr. Visscher was recently awarded the 2022 President's Diversity Champion Award. 

Visscher’s research focuses on the plasticity of brain networks in adulthood. Her lab uses functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine how brain activity and connections change with experience, specifically after experience with vision loss, and in older adults.

Visscher works to improve outreach for neuroscience to the local community, bringing diverse speakers and volunteers to the community to help broaden public perception of who can be a scientist. As a member of UAB’s Research Civitan Club, she spearheaded the SCI café seminar series with the McWane Science Center, which holds monthly seminars to educate the lay public about ongoing research in all domains of science.

For more than 10 years, she has been the faculty organizer of UAB’s Brain Awareness Week, in which graduate and undergraduate students do hands-on activities with community members to teach about the brain and brain health. She also is active with UAB’s Roadmap Scholars program to enhance engagement and retention of underrepresented graduate trainees in neuroscience and won their outstanding research mentor award in 2021.

Join us in congratulating Dr. Visscher on this prestigious award!