In my role as Assistant Professor of Biology at Bowie State University, I am focused on multiple areas of excellence including:+ Creating dynamic and active learning academic environments for Introductory Biology Courses+ Addressing issues regarding retention of STEM students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds+Providing tangible and effective tools necessary for enhancing the first-year experiences of minority students+Broadening the participation of underrepresented students by creating research experiences in the field of immunology and microbiology

As Director of the Duke Biosciences Collaborative for Research Engagement (BioCoRE) Program, I lead all institutional programmatic efforts related to the Duke BioCoRE Program (grant program by the National Institutes of Health; Initiative for Maximizing Student Development award, total costs approximately $2 million) and independently provide leadership, oversight and infrastructure to all academic and social programs and events, grant-related items, and faculty/student participants affiliated with Duke BioCoRE.

Within the School of Medicine• Independently organize and lead office related orientations and year-long programming events for OBGD- and BioCoRE- affiliated students (approximately 100 students)• Work closely with the OBGD Director to implement diversity programming and strategies for 16 departments and programs in the School of Medicine.Recruitment Efforts for Enhancing Diversity within the Biomedical Sciences• Lead SoM-wide graduate student recruitment events for OBGD and BioCoRE• Work closely with the Graduate School, the School of Nursing, the Nicholas School for the Environment and other relevant campus offices, departments and programs to coordinate recruitment programming and events. • Lead a student-selection application process for local and away recruitment opportunities (conference, site visits to partner institutions and targeted meetings and symposia). • Annually prepare and organize recruitment materials for 16 School of Medicine Departments and Programs. • Independently coordinate and implement recruitment paradigm on site at each conference (specifically ABRCMS/SACNAS), site visits, targeted meeting and symposium.Institutional Grant Material Preparation and Organization• Assist with all OBGD and BioCoRE grant renewal and submission administrative procedures as outlined by the Office of Research AdministrationOrganizational Leader for Various Large-Scale Graduate Events• Independently plan, coordinate, and execute the Beaufort Annual Retreat for all incoming SoM Basic Science Graduate Students and lead efforts necessary for organizing OBGD/BioCoRE annual student retreat• Negotiate and consult with directors of various retreat centers and organizations to ensure productivity and needs are meet during weekend retreat• Work with the faculty retreat leader to select content for the retreat and coordinate the schedule • Oversee teaching assistants for the weekend, including coordinating their responsibilities and duties

•Investigating the effects of polymicrobial sepsis on a specific NLR knockout mice•Determining the role of ER stress and calcium uptake in the context of sepsis

• Planned, conducted, and analyzed independent research focused on two major projects: • “The analysis of a pro-inflammatory cytokine response following infection of Burkholderia cenocepacia in human bronchial epithelial cells” • “ The ability of virulent Francisella tularensis to actively suppress the pro-inflammatory cytokine production in human monocytes”• Established the phosphorylation of signaling molecules activated upon Burkholderia cenocepacia infection of epithelial cells and primary monocytes• Utilized qRT-PCR to evaluate changes in mRNA regulation of a variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines post-infection • Constructed a cytokine profile of epithelial cells after Burkholderia cenocepacia • Performed transfection of pLenti-YFP-caspase-1 plasmid into bronchial epithelial cells• Completed rigorous training to gain access to highly restricted Biosafety Level-3 facilities • Fixed, permeabilized and stained infected monocytes with antibodies for immunofluorescence detection of pathogens• Received intense training in manuscript and grant writing • Trained undergraduate students in commonly used laboratory techniques• Maintained an organized, updated laboratory notebook complete with data and protocols

Effects of dynamic mechanical stress and oxygen tension on articular cartilage and its relevance to osteoarthritis• Identified novel biomarkers from stressed porcine cartilage extracts and executed nitric oxide and proteoglycan colorimetric assays• Performed electrophoresis and Western blots to determine which proteins were up-regulated following mechanical stress