Dr. Garry Brown, Jr. is an intellectual property (IP) attorney in the Well Construction division at Schlumberger in Houston, TX. His practice focuses on preparing and prosecuting patent applications for Schlumberger’s global patent portfolio; drafting and negotiating development, confidential, collaboration, and consulting agreements; partnering with engineering to secure new invention disclosures; and providing advice to support new product development and manufacturing.  During law school (Lewis & Clark Law), Dr. Brown, interned at the United States Patent and Trademark Office as a patent examiner in the Electrochemistry division. Dr. Brown earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry and Biochemistry (University of Mississippi) in 2013 and completed his postdoctoral work for the Research Foundation of the City University of New York where he focused on the global study of environmental pollutants and their biogeochemical cycling in water, sediment, and fish tissue. Dr. Brown is committed to exposing more underrepresented students to careers in STEM, and IP law via outreach and mentoring. Dr. Brown is a proud graduate of the HBCU Xavier University in Louisiana. 

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Dr. Mary Stoddard is an attorney, author, adjunct professor, and the Founder, CEO, and Owner of Stoddard and Associates PLLC, Law Office. Prior to forming Stoddard Parks & Associates, Attorney Stoddard served the Commonwealth of Kentucky Personnel Cabinet as the Executive Director of the Office of Human Resource Planning and Diversity Initiatives. Dr. Stoddard is an adjunct professor at Northwood University and Indiana Wesleyn University, where she teaches courses in Business Law, Human Resources, Legal Ethics, & Healthcare Administration. Dr. Stoddard is married to Dr. Marcus Stoddard (cardiologist) who she has five children (Shana, Damian, Carmella, Erica, Serena), one daugther-in-law (Okoia) and two grandsons (Levi and Gabriel). Dr. Stoddard attended Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University, and Spalding University of her Doctorate in Education. Having helped many mothers complete their education after having children, Dr. Stoddard has a strong interest in helping women and the non-traditional student pursue advanced education. Dr. Stoddard is a proud graduate of the HBCU, Southern University.

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Dr. Stoddard is the President, founder, and CEO of Learning Concepts Institute LLC. She earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry and Biochemistry (University of Mississippi) in 2013 and her Master's in Education in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Special Education (Freed-Hardeman University) in 2017. Dr. Stoddard started LCI in 2015, to expand her opportunities to draw out peoples' potential. Currently Dr. Stoddard is also an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Rhodes College where she teaches courses in chemistry, biochemistry, advanced biochemistry, and computational protein design and engineering. Dr. Stoddard, who earned early tenure at Rhodes, has also maintained an active research program mentoring a total of 108 students (includes 5 graduate students, 100 undergraduate and 3 high school students) in research between 2015-2023. Prior to joining Rhodes College, Dr. Stoddard worked at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital developing imagining tools to detect patients cancers. Dr. Stoddard is passionate about mentoring, STEM, and drawing out each person's potential. Dr. Stoddard is also a proud graduate of the HBCU, Prairie View A&M University.