InnovateBIO, is an NSF funded ATE center–also known as the National Biotechnology Education Center. One major goal of InnovATEBIO is to support education efforts that lead to careers for students in the biotechnology workforce. My work on the team focuses on identifying successful strategies to get more underrepresented students in the field from High School to Community College pathways.

Instructor for introductory Biotechnology laboratory course for High School students earning Community College credit. The course is part of a pathway that encourages students to pursue Biotechnology as a possible career choice.

Partner with district College and Career Pathways or CTE team to support schools that may not have active Biotechnology classes at their high school. We provide teachers curriculum resources and training on how to bring hands on biotechnology lab experiences to their classrooms. We aim to reach as many students as possible so much of our work supports Biology or Living Earth teachers as all students typically take these courses in high school.

As Principal (and formerly Assistant Principal) was responsible for advancing Gateway’s mission and vision for equitable student growth and achievement, motivating others to follow that vision, and strategically implementing the school’s program through effective coaching and management. During tenure as Principal, significantly expanded STEM offerings at Gateway: Environmental Science, AP Environmental Science, Conceptual Physics, AP Physics, Computer Science, Statistics, FIRST Robotics team, and cultivated partnerships with outside organizations such as Mission Bit to provide free after school coding classes for Gateway and other high school students in San Francisco.

Instructor for Biology, AP Biology, and introduced Biotechnology course to Gateway, adding multiple sections due to student interest. Authored multiple biotechnology grants awarded to Gateway from Genentech and outside organizations. Head of Science Department (beginning 2004) and member of the Leadership team with aim to increase equitable participation in the sciences at Gateway.

Co-created and implemented the tenth grade Biology and integrated science courses in collaboration with team teachers. Developed an elective course in Biotechnology with emphasis on equitable access and participation across the student body.

As part of the Virology team identified and characterized novel mutations in an in vitro selected human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) resistant to current therapy at that time. Much of our work was focused on our HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitor candidate that eventually came to market and continues to be used to treat persons that are HIV positive.