Lorena Harris PhD. CV.

Bio: Lorena Harris, CSTEP and LSAMP Director from SUNY Schenectady County Community College. She is a member of NYS Girls Collaborative, Schenectady STEM Alliance, NGCP, AAAS and ACS. She is the 2019 Margaret Ashida STEM Leadership Award recipient, educator, mom and a CSTEP mentor.

Academic experience 

·  Since Fall 2012 until present: SUNY Schenectady County Community College Faculty and Educator

·  Since 2022, SUNY Schenectady JEDI Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion Plan working group

·  Since 2021, Racial Equity Cohort Leader at SUNY Schenectady DEI PD Initiative (Learning Community)

·  Since 2020, Citizen Science Stall Catcher team leader from SUNY Schenectady project developed by the Human Computation Institute. The project enables everyone to contribute to Alzheimer’s disease research and speed up the search for a treatment.

·  Since 2019, NYSSEC Planning Committee for the STEM Institute 2021

·  Since 2019, Citizen Science and Nat Geo Educator

·  Since 2019, SUNY SCCC representative at ExPLOD sub-group 2 focusing on Instructional Design and Delivery Models for FACT2 (Faculty Advisory Council on Teaching and Technology).

·  Since 2018, SUNY SCCC OLC + OSCQR Trainer (Badge from Credly.com)

·  Since 2018, SUNY SCCC Online classroom PD Cohort 1 

·  Since 2018, National Girls Collaborative Project Leadership Team Member

·  Since 2018, Schenectady STEM Alliance Board Member

·  Since 2018, Union STEP Advisory Board Member

·  Since 2017, Rise High Inc Liaison at SUNY Schenectady

·  Since 2017, Capital Region STEP/CSTEP Representative Liaison  

·  Since 2016, SUNY SCCC LSAMP Director – Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Partners Co PI and Program Director at SUNY Schenectady.

·  Since 2016, NYS STEAM GIRLS Collaborative Team Leader, organizer and mentor.

·  Since 2016, National Girls Collaborative Project NGCP member.

·  Since 2015, SUNY SCCC CSTEP Director - Collegiate of Science Technology Entry Program.

·  Since 2014, SUNY SCCC - Adjunct Faculty (FYS, Bio 112 Human Biology, and NUT 161 Intro to Human Nutrition).

·  2013-2014 SUNY SCCC Minority Internship Faculty Fellow for Math, Science, Technology and Health Division (Human Biology and Introduction to Human Nutrition), Schenectady, NY 12305.

·  Summer 2012 SUNY SCCC Language Laboratory Coordinator, Division Liberal Arts, Schenectady, NY.

·  Summer 2012-2014, Maria College Adjunct Faculty for Microbiology; SJCC Science Specialist for ECE and After School Programs, Schenectady Jewish Community College, Niskayuna, NY 12309.

·  Summer to Fall 2011 Pine Manor College Anatomy and Physiology Adjunct Professor, at PMC Chestnut Hill, Boston, MA.     

·                                    

Academic experience 

   Since Fall 2012 until present: SUNY Schenectady County Community College Faculty and Educator

     •  2024- 2025, SUNY-IITG grant in Bioinformatic in collaboration with SUNY Stony Brook University.

•  2024-2025, Teaching with AI ITTG SUNY Schenectady Cohort Group 6 Participant (AI Literacy Faculty workgroup)

•  Since 2023, SUNY Schenectady PTK Co-Advisor

•  Since Jan 2023, SUNY Schenectady STEM Equity Learning Community Member  

•  Since Sept 2022, SUNY Schenectady CSTEP Conference Poster Subcommittee Member

•  Since May 2022, Certified Foster Parent, graduated with MAPP classes and CPR

•  Since May 2022, APACS social media and campaign Advocate

•  Since September 2021, Crisis Counselor Certificate (https://www.crisistextline.org/) 

·        Since 2021, SUNY Schenectady JEDI Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion Plan working group

     ·       Since 2020, Racial Equity Cohort Leader at SUNY Schenectady DEI PD Initiative (Learning Community)

·       Since 2020, Citizen Science Stall Catcher team leader from SUNY Schenectady project developed by the Human Computation Institute. The project enables everyone to contribute to Alzheimer’s disease research and speed up the search for a treatment.

·  Since 2019, NYSSEC Planning Committee for the STEM Institute 2021

·  Since 2019, Citizen Science and Nat Geo Educator

·  Since 2019, SUNY SCCC representative at ExPLOD sub-group 2 focusing on Instructional Design and Delivery Models for FACT2 (Faculty Advisory Council on Teaching and Technology).

·  Since 2018, SUNY SCCC OLC + OSCQR Trainer (Badge from Credly.com)

·  Since 2018, SUNY SCCC Online classroom PD Cohort 1 

·  Since 2018, National Girls Collaborative Project Leadership Team Member

·  Since 2018, Schenectady STEM Alliance Board Member

·  Since 2018, Union STEP Advisory Board Member

·  Since 2017, Rise High Inc Liaison at SUNY Schenectady

·  Since 2017, Capital Region STEP/CSTEP Representative Liaison  

·  Since 2016, SUNY SCCC LSAMP Director – Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Partners Co PI and Program Director at SUNY Schenectady.

·  Since 2016, NYS STEAM GIRLS Collaborative Team Leader, organizer and mentor.

·  Since 2016, National Girls Collaborative Project NGCP member.

·  Since 2015, SUNY SCCC CSTEP Director - Collegiate of Science Technology Entry Program.

·  Since 2014, SUNY SCCC - Adjunct Faculty (FYS, Bio 112 Human Biology, and NUT 161 Intro to Human Nutrition).

·  2013-2014 SUNY SCCC Minority Internship Faculty Fellow for Math, Science, Technology and Health Division (Human Biology and Introduction to Human Nutrition), Schenectady, NY 12305.

·  Summer 2012 SUNY SCCC Language Laboratory Coordinator, Division Liberal Arts, Schenectady, NY.

·  Summer 2012-2014, Maria College Adjunct Faculty for Microbiology; SJCC Science Specialist for ECE and After School Programs, Schenectady Jewish Community College, Niskayuna, NY 12309.

·  Summer to Fall 2011 Pine Manor College Anatomy and Physiology Adjunct Professor, at PMC Chestnut Hill, Boston, MA.                                        

Education

NIH Postdoctoral Fellow (from 01/2009 to 01/2011)

Genome Instability and Cancer Laboratory Research Associate at Schmidt Lab. USF Tampa, Florida.

PhD. Biological Science (from 08/2004 to 12/2008)

Dissertation title: Characterization of an unusual ribozyme with self-splicing activity, Advisor: Dr. Rogers SO. Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio. BGSU Teaching Assistant for General Biology, Non Science Majors (90 students, BGSU, Bowling Green, OH; evaluation: excellent); for Concepts of Biology, Science Majors (60 students, BGSU, Bowling Green, OH; evaluation: excellent)                                                       

Bachelor of Science (from 08/1996 to 12/2003)

Thesis titled: Succession studies of microorganism involved in wood decay in the Forest National Park Henry Pittier, Venezuela, and Advisor: Dr. T. Iturriaga. Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela.

Contribution to STEM, Media, Classroom and Public Engagement             

·  SUNY Schenectady STEM Day May 11th, 2022. Student Conference Team Organizer Coordinator ( at least 55 student’s presenting research projects) and 10 Cohort Ambassadors Students supporting the Student Poster Presentation Day.

·  May 6th 2022. SUNY Schenectady SGA Award Ceremony presenting CSTEP EPIC2 Award to students graduating and continuing their education.

·  November 9th, 2021.DOS part 2: Webb (JWST) Telescope pre-launch community celebration hosting our Schenectady county community at large.

·  October 28th, 2021. Day Of Service (DOS) part1: AstrOlympics and STEAM Ahead with NASA special activities event serving middle school, high school and community college families to explore the physics behind Astrolympics and every day example curriculum.

·  February 26th, 2021. Panelist at the Empowering Educators to Inspire Youth in STEM. Exceeding the Vision. Virtual Recharge.

·  January 10th, 2020. No LIMIT in STEM breaking up Stereotypes program in collaboration with CHS, LPP and Schenectady School District (program presented to 60 students, made by 30 student from middle school to college).

·  SUNY SCHENECTADY STEM DAY April 30th, 2019.  Student Conference Team Organizer Coordinator (Registered: 102 students from the High School and at least 85 student’s participants).

·  December 12th, 2018. Science Fair Film Screening. A screening to connect with our community. Special Invite to our College in the High School (CHS) and Liberty Partner Program (MS Scholars).

·  December 5th, 2018. The Hour of Code Seminar College wide event, open to all, everybody can code, school wide event.

·  November, 2018 presenter in the National Girls Collaborative Project National Webinar, “Exemplary Practices using ‘Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA’ Free Resources”.

·   October 2018. M2M: Mindset Multiplies Math Series of Seminar created by Nkeiru Ubadike 10.24.18 with Prof. Alexandrova.

·   October 2018. You are only 1% Human. By Dr. Magdia De Jesus. 10.25.18.

· Summer 2018 Seminars/ event: July 26th,2018, Keynote Speaker: Dr. Marshall Jones Laser 101, Laser Pioneer for General Electric, 2017 National Inventor Hall of Fame, holds nearly 60 U.S. Patents. Presented by: STEM Programs at SUNY SCCC and the Universe of Learning, Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA Resources Center (from NGCP), participants 36 MS students.

·  Summer 2018 Seminar/ event: August 9th, 2018. Summer P-Tech Session, three sessions Pencil Code, the micro observatory and Recoloring the Universe. Presented by: STEM Programs at SUNY SCCC and the Universe of Learning, Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA Resources Center (from NGCP), participants: 19 MS students.

·  SUNY SCCC STEM Day April 24th, 2018. Student Conference Team Organizer Coordinator (75 student’s presenting research projects).

·       The Zika Virus Outbreak: New York State Epidemiology Response by Susan Wong, Ph.D.

·       Experience as STEM Conference Planner and SUNY SCCC STEM Wide Collaborator. NY STEAM GC June 2017 STEAM Educators Conference.

Publications

   •                Hernandez, C. and Harris, LB. (2025). Perspectives of Educational Developers of Color (1st ed., p. 211). Routledge. https://doi.org/1032581662

•                Cox, T., Stafford, E., Early, E., Caldwell, A., Chick, P., Harris, LB., James, S., & Pickar, H. (2024). Collaborative decision-making tool for equitably scaling informal STEM programs. National Girls Collaborative Project.

•                Hafsah, Z. Rivera, E. Simons, R., and Harris, LB. (2025 in prep) Insight into the Strategies and Teaching Initiatives that Inspired Lifelong Learners in Microbiology and STEM. Frontiers Journal.  

•                Rivera, EM., Zorqane, H., Simons, RR., Harris, LB (2021) Applied learning through the scope of SUNY Schenectady CSTEP/LSAMP community that hopes to use research geared scientific projects to better our environment and community through education. The Umbrella SUNY Applied Learning Newsletter.

•                Harris, LB., Ryvarden, L., and Iturriaga, TM (2020). Studies in Neotropical polypores 47, Diversity of Wood Decay Fungi from H. Pittier Nat. Park, Aragua-Venezuela. Fungorum 42 V3.

•                Harris, LB. (2018) Nutrition Science Principles. SUNY-OER, Creative Common, Attribution-Share Alike CC BY-SA. In press Online Open Access.

•                Harris, LB., and Rogers, SO. (2014).  Finding and characterizing small group I introns.  In: Genomics III: Methods, Techniques, and Applications.  iConcept Press, Hong Kong, China, pp. 327-341.

•                Doefler L, Harris LB, Viebranz EB and KH Schmidt. (2011) Differential genetics interactions between Sgs1, DNA- damaged checkpoint components and DNA repair factors in the maintenance of chromosomes stability. Genome Integrity, 2:8. 

•                Harris LB, and Rogers SO. (2011) Evolution of small putative group I introns in fungi. BMC Research Notes, 4:258.

•                Harris LB. (2010) Postdoct Spotlight Lorena Harris. The Global Scholar, USF Postdoctoral Newsletter. 1 (3): 2.

•                Schmidt KH, Viebranz EB, Harris LB, Mirzaei-Souderjani H, Syed S, Medicus R. (2010) Defects in DNA lesion bypass lead to spontaneous chromosomal rearrangements and increased cell death. Eukaryot Cell. 9(2): 315-24.

•                Harris LB, and Rogers SO. (2008) Splicing and evolution of an unusually small group I intron. Curr Genet. 54: 213-220.

Professional Development, Awards & Leadership Honors

•                2024-2025 Teen Science Café and Technovation Network Leader Ambassador.

•                2024 Dr. John Staley Award for Outstanding Service Award. Awarded by The Executive Board and Members of APACS, Inc.

•                2023-2024 TSC Moonshot Leader (part of the STEM Next Million Girls Moonshot Project).

•                2023 Summer, Introduction to Machine Learning Intensive Bootcamp Certificate & CEUs from Stanford University, the Coding School and AWS.

•                2023-2024 BRITE Summer STEAM Academy Grant

•                2022-2023 Science of Kindness Project Mini Grant

•                2021 NASA JWST James Webb Space Telescope Community Event Mini grant recipient.

•                2021 STEAM Ahead with NASA mini grant recipient. 

•                2020 & 2021 recipient of the NGCP Brite Project Mini-Grant Awarded to CSTEP Program Director at SUNY Schenectady as a collaboration between SUNY Schenectady CSTEP, Hello Studios, World Science U and NGCP. 

•                2019 recipient of the No Limits Mini-Grant Award a collaboration between Mercedes Benz, Mattel and NGCP.

•                2019 recipient of the Margaret Ashida STEM Leadership Award for Higher Education NYSED. 

•                2018 Girls STEAM Ahead mini-grant award from the NGCP and the NY Girls STEAM Collaborative Project.

•                2018 NYS STEAM Girls Collaborative NGCP Award Hubsite Leader for Cryptography and CryptoClub Hubsite award supported by NGCP (NSF funded program).

•                2017 to present Grant reviewer and editor for various subject matter proposals.

•                Fall 2017 SUNY – SCCC liaison for STEM community projects, such as: Rise High Inc.

•                Fall 2017 to present Schenectady Foundation STEM Alliance board member.

•                Summer 2017 SUNY- SCCC Summer STEAM Academy curriculum developer and Instructor for the MSTH Division (serving 12 mentors and approx. 19 scholars from middle school and high school).

•                Since Fall 2016 NYS STEAM Girls Collaborative Team Leader and NGCP (National Girls Collaborative partner).

•                2014-2016 Publons and Frontiers online editor / reviewer in Biological and Molecular Biological sciences.

•                Fall 2014 –Spring 2015 SUNY Dietetics Pathway committee member from SCCC Math, Science, Technology and Health Division. Goal: to develop a Dietetics Transfer Pathway course.

•                Fall 2007 – Fall 2008 Biological Science Dissertation Fellowship Award, BGSU Graduate College Competition, Bowling Green, OH.

•                Spring 2007 CBMS Grant Research Award, to support the Project titled: Characterization of a Small Ribozyme with Self- Splicing Activity

•                Spring 2007 Katzner Travel and Bookstore Award, BGSU, Bowling Green, OH.

•                Fall 2006 – Fall 2007 Center of Bio-molecular Sciences (CBMS) Pre-Doctoral Fellowship Award, BGSU, BG, OH.

•                07/2007 - 07/ 2008 Biological Science Dept Development Leader for Grad STEP, BGSU, BG, OH.

•                Fall 2006 - 2008 Senator Representative from Biology to the Graduate Student Senate, BGSU, BG, OH. 

•                Fall 2005 to 2008 Member of the Life Science Graduate Student Learning Community (LS GSLC), BGSU, BG, OH.

 Affiliations and Extracurricular Activities    

·    American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), since 2019

·         Credly member since 2018

·         VITA volunteers (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program), BGSU, since 2005

·         Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society member, BGSU chapter, since 2005.

·         American Microbiology Society Member (AMS), since 2006

·         American Chemical Society Member  (ACS), since 2006

Music: Viola player, since 1984 (Interlochen Arts Camp Member and participant, since 1991. Full Summer Scholarships Awards in 1991 and 1993).             

References per request to harrislb(at)sunysccc.edu

·