The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Chemistry awarded a $200,000 Planning Grant to the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) under the Partnerships for Research and Education in Chemistry (PREC) program. This grant will support a collaborative effort between UTEP and the NSF Center for Synthetic Organic Electrochemistry (CSOE) to develop innovative electrochemical methods for the detection and separation of rare earth elements. Key activities include joint educational workshops on advanced analytical techniques, with active student participation in scientific presentations, poster sessions, and hands-on research. The project aims to strengthen the recruitment, retention, and degree attainment of underrepresented groups in STEM fields across the participating institutions, fostering a more diverse and inclusive scientific community.