In the 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024 academic years, I had the honor of serving as a voting member on Curriculum Committee, representing the Natural Sciences Department. We were tasked with weekly to bi-weekly reviews of edits and additions to course master syllabi and degree programs. Not only were these recent curriculum cycles very heavy with proposals for changes in the Catalog, it was a time when some of PGCC's major degree programs were being completely overhauled. Specifically, this was during a time when I took a heavy interest in the transition of the Associate of Arts with a Concentration in Biology & Chemistry degrees to the current programs:

• Biology A.S. (Associate of Science)

• Chemistry A.S. (Associate of Science)

To gain the skills necessary to participate in this endeavor, I completed two training cycles for curriculum management with certifications below. Additionally, the letter from the Assistant Vice President for Curriculum, Programs, and Regulation confirming my voting status is also below:

• Assistant VP of Curriculum Letter of Confirmation

• Curriculum Proposal Basics Certification

• Curriculum Proposal Advanced Certification

In my effort to contribute to the overall student experience, I used my skills gained from Curriculum Committee and Microsoft Office expertise to craft checklists for advisor and student use. This is something that is common at other colleges/universities, and they were very useful to me during my time at the University of Maryland. In the case of these interactive degree program checklists, this gives students the opportunity to create downloads of the degree program requirements and physically check off the courses they have taken. This is something that is not available through the college's website. I developed these checklists for the newly added Biology A.S. and Chemistry A.S. programs. Within these checklists are also sample 2-3 year plans. This gives students an idea of how they can structure their semesters and the expected order of courses for their respective programs.

• Biology A.S. Checklist & 2-3 Year Plan

• Chemistry A.S. Checklist & 2-3 Year Plan

PGCC's STEM Week provides students with opportunities to explore academic pathways and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Through engaging research talks, career panels, hands-on activities and demonstrations, and a field trip, participants gain valuable exposure to STEM fields and careers. They can also build essential skills through workshops, attend informational panels on scholarships and college resources, and receive key tips to support their success and overall well-being.

• The PGCC STEM Week Website

As a co-coordinator for STEM Week. I am responsible for inviting speakers, moderating presentations/panels, providing presentations (if needed), uploading/managing the video content from the event on the PGCC STEM YouTube channel, and using my connections in the world of STEM to invite former colleagues/acquaintances of mine to show students their expertise. The uploads of sessions to the YouTube channel are crucial to increasing access to the students that were too preoccupied with other obligations to attend. STEM Week is a team effort that requires multiple points of contact and collaboration to succeed. 

• Link to PGCC STEM YouTube Channel (Contains 2023 & 2024 STEM Weeks as public playlists)

• Link to 2022 PGCC STEM Week (*Had to be privately uploaded due to presenter preference)

Moderating presentations and panels requires thorough preparation and strong facilitation skills. It involves researching the topic and understanding the background of each speaker to ensure insightful introductions and relevant follow-up questions. The moderator coordinates with participants in advance to clarify the format, expectations, and key themes while establishing a clear agenda. During the event, the moderator manages time, guides the discussion, and encourages audience engagement, ensuring the conversation stays focused and dynamic. Effective moderation creates a seamless experience that highlights the speakers’ expertise and enhances the audience’s understanding. See the adjacent video for moderating the "Health Sciences Panel" during the 2024 STEM Week. 

PGCC's 2025 STEM Week allowed for the most variety of speakers from across many agencies and employers. Students were able to explore all of these with the experts. Please see the adjacent flyer for the full list of speakers/panels, and evidence of my involvement as co-coordinator. Along with my usual responsibilities listed above, I was responsible for moderating/hosting:

• "Using Fossils to Track the Evolution of the Senses"

• "Panel: Careers in Health Sciences"

PGCC's 2024 STEM Week provided us with an incredible number of sessions and very unique speakers. Please see the adjacent flyer for the full list of speakers/panels, and evidence of my involvement as co-coordinator. Along with my usual responsibilities listed above, I was responsible for moderating/hosting:

• "Panel: My Passion for STEM" (View Here)

• "Information Session: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)" (View Here)

• "Panel: Careers in Health Sciences" (View Here)

• "Studying Bull Shark Nursery Dynamics in Texas" (View Here)

PGCC's 2023 STEM Week was an immense success given that it was the first STEM week that explored all modalities of attendance post-COVID-19 protocols. We had a combination of fully face-to-face, hybrid, and Zoom-exclusive sessions. Please see the adjacent flyer for the full list of speakers/panels, and evidence of my involvement as co-coordinator. Along with my usual responsibilities listed above, I was responsible for moderating/hosting:

• "Reptile & Amphibian Conservation in the Southeastern United States" (*Recording not available, government restriction)

• "Panel: Careers in Science" (View Here)

• "Careers in Veterinary Sciences" (*Recording not available, F2F session)

PGCC's 2022 STEM Week was mostly conducted remotely due to COVID-19 protocols, with a few workshops being held in-person. Please see the adjacent flyer for the full list of speakers/panels, and evidence of my involvement as co-coordinator. Along with my usual responsibilities listed above, I was responsible for moderating/hosting:

• "Drug Discovery and Development Process with Emphasis on Novel Antivirals" (View Here)

• "Hands-On Workshop (Biology): Dissection" (*Recording not available, F2F workshop)

Lastly, in an effort to supplement missed time during the COVID-19 lockdowns, I hosted a microscope workshop as seen on the flyer. While following F2F classroom protocols, I instructed biology students and any other student that wanted to join on the basics of how to use a typical compound microscope.

• "Hands-On Workshop (Biology): Microscopes (*Presentation Here, recording not available, F2F workshop)

While I did not have my co-coordinator responsibility at the time, I still offered to help with inviting speakers and moderating a session. I invited the presenter and moderated the following session: 

• "Leveraging Next-Generation Sequencing Technology to Outsmart COVID-19 and Future Strains" (View Here)