Gelise Thomas is an attorney by trade who infuses her legal training and experience in interdisciplinary industries, including: economic and community development, to guide her work in helping researchers build sustainable framework for research equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in their research programs and studies. She has worked primarily in diversity, equity, and inclusion and community outreach and engagement in the research space. Gelise currently serves as the Assistant Director, Strategic DEI & Health Disparities at Case Western Reserve University in the Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative.