PRISSEM was founded by Dr. Falcon Rankins in 2007 with the goal of helping HBCU STEM faculty thrive. We provide a range of research development, grant development, and faculty development services across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines and specialize in the development and submission of proposals to the National Science Foundation.
Empowering HBCU STEM Excellence
Connecting passion, purpose and skills to cultivate thriving scholars and leaders who will shape the future of science and engineerings.
PRISSEM is a small and flexible firm that only engages employees and consultants who are invested in seeing HBCU faculty succeed and believe in the HBCU institutional mission of providing a quality education to Black students. We eschew deficit mindsets and advocate for HBCUs and their faculty to serve as leaders in higher education.
Our Vision
PRISSEM Academic Services, LLC was founded on a vision of a community of thriving HBCU STEM scholars and educators who are able to actively contribute to the science and engineering enterprise in ways that fully reflect their personal interests, values, and desires
Our Mission
PRISSEM Academic Services LLC supports faculty, administrators, and staff at HBCUs who are working to rebuild STEM into an enterprise that values the contributions of all its members.
We recognize each HBCU as unique in it’s needs, interests, culture, and values.
Our Values
- PRISSEM maintains an asset-based mindset towards HBCUs and their faculty and the potential of both to serve as leaders in STEM.
- PRISSEM appreciates the varying potential – be it latent or expressed – of each institution and does not view HBCUs as a group of monolithic institutions.
- We are unapologetic and uncompromising in our push for greater involvement of Black scientists and engineers in the STEM enterprise, yet we remain critical of the capitalist, nationalist, and racist foundations of that enterprise
- We work towards eradicating misogynistic and anti-LGBTQ practices, behavior, and attitudes within the HBCU community.
- We believe HBCUs and Black scientists and engineers should stand firmly against the US military industrial complex and police state and will not support research or activities funded by or in support of the military or policing.
Dr. Falcon Rankins
The principal and founder of PRISSEM. He holds a PhD in education research and evaluation, with a dissertation topic focusing on how Black HBCU STEM faculty engage in the National Science Foundation merit review process. He has more than 16 years of experience working closely with STEM faculty at HBCUs of various sizes and research capacity to develop research plans, obtain funding, and successfully carry out funded projects.
Dr. Claudia Rankins
Senior research associate, brings 12 years of experience as a program director for the National Science Foundation HBCU-UP, HBCU Excellence in Research and CAREER programs, having managed $400 million in awards mostly to HBCUs. She also has over 20 years of experience in STEM faculty and administrative positions at an HBCU.
Dr. Koren Bedeau
Faculty Engagement Director, brings 18+ years of experience in higher education with a career focused on leadership development, graduate education, educational access programs, and grant execution for broadening participation. She leverages her extensive experience directing national leadership development programs for women faculty in STEM and STEM faculty at HBCUto provide thought leadership and deliver holistic faculty development services.