Santiago Narvaez Selected for American Society for Microbiology Spotlight Series

The American Society for Microbiology has selected biology professor Brendaliz Santiago Narvaez to be featured in its spotlight series highlighting the work and experiences of microbiologists from diverse backgrounds and identities in science.

Furthering the College’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) initiatives, Santiago Narvaez is involved with the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Inclusive Excellence 3 (IE3) grant, which Rollins was awarded in 2022. The HHMI IE3 initiative fosters a learning community of college and university faculty and administrators who are engaged in the process of increasing their institution’s capacity for inclusion of all students, especially those who belong to groups underrepresented in the sciences. To that end, Santiago Narvaez is currently leading the launch of the new STEM Hub in the Bush Science Center. Set to open fall 2023, the hub is a collaborative space for STEM and prospective STEM students to receive tutoring and assistance.

Santiago Narvaez’s recognition by the American Society for Microbiology and her work with the HHMI IE3 grant serve to promote DEIB in STEM and bring attention to the ways in which the scientific community can become more inclusive and encouraging to the next generation of microbiologists.