Scholar Staff

Amy E. Lebo holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Oregon and is an undergraduate alum of Emory University. Prior to her return to Emory to direct the Scholars Program, Amy was a philosophy professor and associate dean at a liberal arts college in Ohio for 15 years. She has supported high achieving students through leading an honors program, undergraduate research programs, and advising for national fellowships. She is active in national organizations related to honors programs and colleges and scholars programs and serves as a program reviewer for the National Collegiate Honors Council.

In the Emory College Scholars Program, Amy is particularly focused on programming related to student learning and assessment as well as the selection of new scholars. She also oversees the distribution of many Emory College endowed scholarships outside of the scope of the Scholars Program, and supports the faculty leadership of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest and most prestigious honor society in the country.

Janet Gonzales has an M.A. in occupational studies and a B.S. in management and marketing from California State University, Long Beach. Prior to working at Emory, Janet was a Senior Associate for the Milken Scholars, an initiative of the Milken Institute and Milken Family Foundation in Santa Monica, CA. After working for eight years in alumni relations at Cal State Long Beach, she pursued her passion of working with students with the Milken Scholars offering support to high achieving first generation college students and subsequently at Emory. She is active both on and off campus serving as a board member of the Undergraduate Scholars Program Administrators Association.

In the Emory Scholars Program, Janet oversees the operational needs of the program related to the recruitment events of new scholars, major programmatic events, and the scholars’ annual retreat. She manages the program budget and is the financial aid liaison for scholars. She also supports the operational needs of Phi Eta Sigma, Emory’s first-year honor society. 

Steven serves as the assistant director of the Emory Scholars Program. Before joining Emory in the summer of 2022, he spent several years at The Ohio State University as a program coordinator for the Mershon Center for International Security Studies and then as a program manager for the International Affairs Scholars Program, a two-year, co-curricular program for students interested in global politics. Before transitioning to higher education, he worked as a legislative aide and legislative fellow to a former state senator in Ohio. As an international studies major in college, he has a special interest in promoting cross-cultural and international experiences to students.

In the Scholars Program, he is primarily responsible for the following:

• Scholar advising and support, specifically regarding Emory policies, processes, and procedures; general education requirements; and Scholar-specific opportunities
• Co-curricular development and Scholar-wide programming
• Assists in the administration of Scholar funding opportunities
• Serves as the staff liaison to the George W. Jenkins Scholars
• Supports the recruitment and mentorship of Scholar Fellows

Lauren Cowan holds a M.Ed. in College Student Affairs and Administration from the University of Georgia and is an undergraduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. Prior to her role as the Program Coordinator for the Bobby Jones Scholarship in the Emory Scholars Program, Lauren worked in the School of Medicine at Emory and in Residence Life at the University of Georgia.

Alumni Engagement