Rama Bala, Ph.d., is the , President and CEO of Chance to Change Lives (CCL-US). Chance to Change Lives (CCL-US) is a 501-c3 organization , founded in 2020 with goal to increase the participation of undergraduates and high school students from historically marginalized groups, in high-impact research experiences at local colleges and universities. Their mission is to actively engage underrepresented students in the development of local STEM workforce by facilitating access to research, mentorship, and other learning experiences. Their vision is to empower those students to become future leaders in STEM fields.