Speakers
Alicia Howard
Instructor
Dr. Howard joined The University of Incarnate Word as an adjunct professor in 2018 and became a full-time Instructor for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in 2021. Prior to becoming full-time in 2021, she worked as an adjunct professor for Northwest Vista College in the Natural Science Department. Dr. Howard graduated with her Doctorate in Chemistry from Texas Tech University in 2016 with an interest in drug design for ergosterol-dependent infectious diseases. She is currently working on implementing a CUREs, Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience, based on the Malate Dehydrogenase Enzyme for the Biochemistry I Lab. A certified FLIGHT Mentor with over ten years of teaching experience in chemistry, she has a strong passion to inspire, encourage and connect to the younger generation.
Marieke Burleson
Associate Professor of Biology
Dr. Marieke Burleson has served as a faculty member at the University of the Incarnate Word since Fall 2016 and currently holds the position of Chair of the Department of Biology. She regularly teaches a range of courses, including introductory biology, anatomy and physiology, genetics, reproductive biology, and cancer biology. Dr. Burleson is actively engaged in undergraduate research, with a focus on identifying novel therapeutics for breast cancer. She resides in New Braunfels with her husband and two children. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, and participating in outdoor activities.