Ms. de SouzA

Gabriella de Souza is a highly educated and experienced scientist with a strong background in biology and environmental science. She received her undergraduate degrees in both Biology and Environmental Sciences from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW), and went on to earn her Master of Science in Biology from the same institution. Gabriella gained valuable industry experience by working in the microbiology department at Alcami, a pharmaceutical manufacturing and development corporation located in Wilmington, North Carolina. For her Master of Science in Biology, Gabriella focused on cacao agroforestry and the factors that influence the health of cacao plants in Southern Belize. Her thesis is titled "Analysis of Chocolate Tree (Theobroma cacao Var. Criollo) Ecophysiology in Southern Belizean Agroforests".

Gabriella is a dedicated and passionate educator who is committed to sharing her love of science with her students. She currently teaches high school Biology and Technology courses full-time at Cape Fear Academy and also works as a part-time adjunct faculty instructor in the UNC Wilmington Department of Biology. Gabriella's goal as an educator is to take the complexities of science and technology and present them in a way that is easy for students to understand and engage with. Her teaching philosophy is centered on critical thinking and metacognition, or the ability to understand and analyze one's own thought processes.

Gabriella de Souza is a dedicated volunteer and community leader in the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County. She founded the nonprofit organization Friends of Wilmington Skateparks, which works to support and expand the local skateboarding community through park maintenance, events, and more. Gabriella also serves as the secretary for the NHC Cooperative Extension Advisory Council, and has previously held leadership roles on the City of Wilmington Parks and Recreation Advisory Council and the NHC Parks Conservancy Board of Directors. Through her various volunteer efforts, Gabriella is deeply committed to improving and enhancing the amenities and opportunities available to the residents of Wilmington and the surrounding area.