HSI STEM Hub Webinar Series: Feb 2024 Promoting Success In Student Transitions from Lower-Upper Div.

The NSF HSI STEM Resource Hub fall 2023 and spring 2024 webinar series focuses on celebrating and learning from successful NSF HSI awardees. We host panels of successful PIs on specific topics that will engage our audience and support grant writing efforts for those planning a grant submission. This webinar series focuses on a broad array of topics that promote student success, wellness and diversity and inclusion. Dr. Martha Desmond and Dr. Delia Valles are the hosts for this series. The HSI STEM Hub recommends participation in these webinars to learn from successful awardees, particularly if you are currently writing a proposal or are interested in grant writing.

This series is supported by the National Science Foundation under Awards 1832338 and 1832345.

SARAH COREY-RIVAS, NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS UNIVERSITY, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, BIOLOGY

Dr. Sarah Corey-Rivas is an Associate Professor in the Biology Department at NMHU. She earned her BS in Zoology and PhD in Evolution & Ecology at the Ohio State University. She is a longtime instructor of introductory biology courses and enjoys teaching lower and upper level undergraduate and master’s level biology courses. She is a molecular ecologist who studies conservation genomics of threatened amphibian and reptile species. Her current research investigates the synergistic effects of climate change, pathogens, and hybridization on New Mexico species of concern. She is the lead PI on the SomosSTEM NSF HSI grant at NMHU that has created new curriculum and faculty professional development opportunities to provide place-based and culturally responsive early STEM student experiences. She collaborates with SomosSTEM Co-PIs on a longitudinal 5 year mixed methods research study to determine how the program supports psychosocial development (science identity, sense of belonging, self-efficacy) and success in STEM students.

JUAN OCAMPO, ST MARYS UNIVERSITY, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, ENGINEERING
Dr. Juan Ocampo, Ph.D., is a distinguished researcher, educator, and mentor, with an unwavering commitment to promoting diversity in STEM and advancing aerospace structural reliability research. A key contributor to three Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants totaling $3.5M, Ocampo focuses on enhancing aircraft component safety. He played a pivotal role in the development of the digital twin project in partnership with Northrop Grumman Corporation and USAF.

As a member of the CONsortium on Nuclear sECurity Technologies (CONNECT), funded by NNSA MSIPP, Ocampo bridges connections between energy sites, labs, and minority-serving institutions in STEM. He recently secured an NSF grant to improve STEM education at Hispanic-Serving Institutions, aiming to boost Latinx students’ baccalaureate degree attainment. His efforts garnered $1.7M in funding at St. Mary’s University, facilitating research and opportunities for minority students.

Ocampo is well-recognized throughout the aircraft reliability community, Ocampo coauthored and presented nine training sessions on “Probabilistic Methods with Applications to Probabilistic Damage Tolerance Analysis” at global events. He authored 39 conference and journal papers, three FAA reports, and showcased his research at prestigious conferences like the International Conference on Aeronautical Fatigue and the invitation-only HOLSIP conference.

Recipient of multiple awards, including a national recognition from the FAA, Ocampo conducted research at renowned international institutions such as the National Research Council of Canada and Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. His influence extends to the White House, where he discussed strategies for nurturing the next generation of Hispanic leaders in STEM in 2023.