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Women in Science (WISE) College of Sciences

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Dr. Engil Pereira
Assistant Professor of Soil Ecology
Chair of the COS Women in Science (WISE)
School of Earth, Environment, and Marine Sciences
ESCNE 2.616
Email: engil.pereira@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 665-2220

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College of Science Women Faculty Network Faculty Success and Diversity 500 women scientist

WISE Officer Team

TERM: Spring 2021-Fall 2022

Dr. Engil Pereira

Chair
Phone: (956) 665-2220
Email: engil.pereira@utrgv.edu
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Dr. Engil Pereira

Dr. Engil Pereira joined UTRGV in 2018 as an assistant Professor in the School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences (SEEMS). Her efforts have increased recruitment of students in research and preparation for careers that have historically lacked diversity. She works in partnership with external collaborators and with the support of Federal grants, has initiated a program to train and place students in natural resource conservation-related careers. Together with the WISE Officers Team and Members, she hopes to develop a resourceful network supporting career development and well-being.
Chair
Email: engil.pereira@utrgv.edu

Phone: (956) 665-2220

Dr. Tina Thomas

Vice Chair
Phone: (956) 665-3744
Email: tina.thomas@utrgv.edu
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Dr. Tina Thomas

Dr. Tina Thomas, Lecturer III, joined the UTRGV/UTPA family in the Fall of 2013 in the Department of Chemistry. Even though she connected well with her students initially, after participating in COS & NSF– HSI Program, she took extra effort to better understand the culture in the valley and modify her pedagogical methods, which improved her teaching evaluations from above 90% to consistently above 95% even in large classes with over 200 students. She received “Excellence in Teaching”- College of Sciences in 2020, was selected to “Master Teacher Workshop” from VCOBE and is currently taking part in the Teaching Fellows program by NSF aiming to transform STEM learning among underserved minority students.
Vice Chair
Department of Chemistry
Email: tina.thomas@utrgv.edu

Phone: (956) 665-3744

Dr. Mirayda Torres-Avila

Secretary
Phone: (956) 665-2498
Email: mirayda.torresavila@utrgv.edu
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Dr. Mirayda Torres-Avila

Dr. Mirayda Torres-Avila is a lecturer II at the Department of Biology, teaching general biology I and II, plant morphology, and biological communication. Her different teaching strategies include community engagement, sustainability components, and bilingual science education. She was awarded the 2018 Commitment to Excellence Award UTRGV-Mathematics and Science Academy and 2019 COS Excellence in Community Engagement. She has contributed to several departmental and university committees and as an advisor of three student organizations. Her current collaboration in research projects involves transcriptome analysis, bilingual-biology education at the college level, and collaborative online international learning.
Secretary
Email: mirayda.torresavila@utrgv.edu

Phone: (956) 665-2498

Dr. Liang Zeng

Member representing Physics and Astoronomy
Phone: (956) 665-2169
Email: liang.zeng@utrgv.edu
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Dr. Liang Zeng

Dr. Liang Zeng is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. She specializes in physics education and physics teacher education.  She is currently serving as the National Physics Teacher Education Coalition Fellow for 2019-2021. She has also served as an ADVANCE Administrative Fellow with the Department of Community Engagement from 2013-2014, when she spearheaded Middle School Challenges event. Dr. Zeng has published 22 peer-reviewed articles in international and national journals. She has incorporated community-engaged scholarship into teaching, research, and service.  By using examples from regional Mexican-American lived experiences at an Hispanic-serving institution, her papers provide evidence to show how physics educators can use funds of knowledge to engage students in learning introductory college physics concepts.

Member representing Physics and Astoronomy
Email: liang.zeng@utrgv.edu

Phone: (956) 665-2169

Dr. Mayra Ortiz Galarza

Member representing SMSS
Phone: (956) 882-7831
Email: mayra.ortizgalarza@utrgv.edu
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Dr. Mayra Ortiz Galarza

Dr. Mayra Ortiz Galarza is an Assistant Professor in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences at UTRGV. Dr. Ortiz advances and supports STEM education research and reforms. She uses project-based learning to advance professional practice in STEM education. Dr. Ortiz has been an educator in multiple cultural settings. Proudly Hispanic, she serves as a role model, mentor, and innovator of ways to improve minority and underserved students’ participation in STEM. Dr. Ortiz has over 10 years’ experience in teaching engineering and mathematics at both, secondary and postsecondary levels. She has a passion for educating and inspires students to pursue and complete degrees in STEM fields. Dr. Ortiz currently serves as a CoPI in various funded research grants.
Member representing SMSS
Email: mayra.ortizgalarza@utrgv.edu

Phone: (956) 882-7831

Dr. Shizue Mito

Member representing the BCMB
Phone: (956) 665-8740
Email: shizue.mito@utrgv.edu
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Dr. Shizue Mito

 

Dr. Shizue Mito is an Assistant Professor in Chemistry. Thanks to an inspiring chemist, who also happened to be her father, she came to love chemistry since she was a girl. She earned her BS and MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences in Japan, and then worked as a pharmacist and in industry. But she seill remember the excitement in research, and went back to school, and earned Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Hokkaido University. After a postdoctoral experience at Kyoto University and Harvard University, she started her independent career at UT El Paso in 2008 and moved to UTRGV in 2015. At UTRGV, aside from her teaching and research in organic synthesis/medicinal chemistry, she is a faculty advisor for Elliott Chemical Society. Through the chemistry show, she hopes that our chemistry demonstrations will inspire the younger generation in RGV as her father did to her!

Member representing the BCMB
Email: shizue.mito@utrgv.edu

Phone: (956) 665-8740

Dr. Megan Keniry

Senior Mentor – in the absence of a Past-Chair
Phone: (956) 665-7463
Email: megan.keniry@utrgv.edu
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Dr. Megan Keniry

Dr. Megan Keniry is an Associate Professor in the UTRGV Biology Department.  Megan’s education and training include a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Oregon and postdoctoral training at Columbia University at the Institute for Cancer Genetics.  Her research focuses on gene regulation and signal transduction in glioblastoma multiforme and basal breast cancer.  Dr. Keniry is an enthusiastic and active member of the UTRGV Women’s Faculty Network.   She was the winner of the 2020 UTRGV Faculty Excellence Award in Student Mentoring. Dr. Keniry is committed to providing an encouraging, supportive environment for students and colleagues to grow as researchers and educators.
Senior Mentor – in the absence of a Past-Chair
Email: megan.keniry@utrgv.edu

Phone: (956) 665-7463

Dr. Teresa Patricia Feria

Associate Dean for Faculty Success, Diversity and Inclusion
Phone: (956) 665-7322
Email: teresa.feriaarroyo@utrgv.edu
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Dr. Teresa Patricia Feria

Associate Dean for Faculty Success, Diversity and Inclusion
Email: teresa.feriaarroyo@utrgv.edu

Phone: (956) 665-7322
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