Experience

Canisius University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Coordinator of Medical Sciences and Associate Professor of Physician Assistant Studies

  • Sep 2019 - Present

  As Coordinator of Pharmacotherapeutics and Medical Sciences and principal faculty member in the inaugural Canisius College Physician Assistant program, I have been involved in all stages of programmatic design and implementation. As an early team member, I helped build curriculum, align course content, develop program policies, submit a successful accreditation application, and experience the joy that comes with seeing a joint creation come to fruition. As acting Coordinator of Pharmacotherapeutics and Medical Sciences, I oversee the planning, delivery, vertical and horizontal alignment, and assessment of two multi-semester course modules, while acting as primary course instructor for each. I am able to learn from clinical colleagues how best to integrate basic science concepts and applications of such to clinical education. Constant review of objective achievements along with maximum flexibility in my teaching allow myself and my colleagues the ability to build an outstanding, complementary curriculum to enhance clinical understanding, decision-making skills, competence, and confidence in our future care providers. Show less



Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo

• United States
• Higher Education
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Research Associate Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology

  • Sep 2011 - Present

  My research focus has centered on uncovering the neurological and behavioral changes that occur as a result of substance abuse. Specifically, I am interested in impulsive behavior and how it influences addiction. We know humans who abuse drugs are much more impulsive than individuals who do not use drugs. We also know that addicts have specific changes in a part of the brain involving the neurotransmitter dopamine. Both animal and human studies show that impulsiveness and dopamine correlate, such that addicts with enhanced dopamine are more impulsive. In addition, drug addiction enhances the dopamine systems of the brain. So the question remains, are individuals who use drugs more impulsive to begin with (and therefore more likely to start use drugs), or do the drugs they abuse enhance the dopamine system and make them more impulsive (and therefore more likely to continue to use drugs). My collaboration with Caroline E. Bass, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology has allowed a variety of students to expand on their work at D'Youville, acquiring bench laboratory experience at the University at Buffalo's Jacob's School of Medicine. Show less



SHE RECOVERS® Foundation

• United States
• Wellness and Fitness Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Advisor: Grants and Research

  • Mar 2020 - Present

  I am honored to work with the Founders and Board of She Recovers as a Trusted Advisor on grants and research. I am passionate about accessibility of recovery options to anyone who seeks it, and maintaining a sense of community for members, a crucial need made more apparent by disruptions to care and support precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are moving forward with identifying funding opportunities, authorizing publications, and beginning a large-scale investigation into the outcomes associated with group involvement and overall recovery capital. I am truly lucky to be working with such strong, empowering, powerful women for a cause I care very deeply about. Show less



D'Youville University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Department Chair and Associate Professor

  • Sep 2017 - Sep 2019

  Departmental Chair of the Biology and Math Department; Associate Professor of Biology. I served the department in the role as chair, supporting nearly 30 full-time faculty and multiple adjunct instructors in teaching, development, scholarship, research, and promotion, as well as multiple critical members of the staff and laboratory directors. The department comprised itself of multiple Baccalaureate degree programs, including Biology, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Physics; in addition to a dozen minor tracks and the Masters of Science in Anatomy graduate program. My daily commitments were primarily supporting the students and my fellow faculty, in addition to my own teaching and research. As is expected of those serving as chair, my larger duties encompassed faculty tenure and promotion, curriculum and new course development, course scheduling, budgeting, outreach, and institutional service. I am ever grateful for the opportunity to serve such a fantastic team of colleagues at an institution comprised of some of the best educators I have ever met. Show less

• Assistant Professor

  • Aug 2011 - Aug 2017

  Assistant Professor of Biology, tenure-track. In this role I prepared and taught 11 different courses, ranging from introductory anatomy and physiology, to graduate level pathophysiology, advanced physiology, and a variety of pharmacology courses offered primarily to nursing, physician assistant, and doctor of chiropractic students. My inter-disciplinary and integrative approach to instruction allowed courses to change in scope and shift the framework for college-level instruction. Co-teaching, especially between a clinician and basic scientist was one of my largest projects as well as the most fruitful in my own development as an educator. Show less



Wake Forest University School of Medicine

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Predoctoral Research Fellow

  • Aug 2006 - Aug 2011

  Graduate student within the Human Performance Laboratory of Dr. A Liguori. My dissertation investigated the influence of binge drinking frequency on within-session drinking behavior, subjective response to alcohol, prefrontal function, driving ability and perceived driving confidence. All of my work was supported by the T-32 Training Grant as part of the innovative, dynamic, Alcohol Center in the research corridor of Wake Forest. Graduate student within the Human Performance Laboratory of Dr. A Liguori. My dissertation investigated the influence of binge drinking frequency on within-session drinking behavior, subjective response to alcohol, prefrontal function, driving ability and perceived driving confidence. All of my work was supported by the T-32 Training Grant as part of the innovative, dynamic, Alcohol Center in the research corridor of Wake Forest.



Winston-Salem State University

• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Graduate Student Lecturer

  • Jun 2007 - Sep 2010

  As a graduate student who expressed interest in teaching, I was quickly brought in to lecture within the Physiology and Pharmacology block for the Physical Therapy graduate program. I started with one lecture my first semester, and by the end of my time with the program, I was teaching everything they would let me, and eventually serving as interim course director during my final semester with the college. I learned very quickly what good and bad teaching looked like, from myself. My teaching mentor and biggest advocate for this career path, the wise, patient, Allyn Howlett, was eager to share every opportunity for teaching, development, and formal training in college-level instruction. I loved every minute I spent with the wonderful group at WSSU. Learning how to incorporate medical simulations into basic science courses, and how best facilitate and debrief each experience to promote deep learning was invaluable, a skill I rely upon still, that has limitless potential. Show less



University at Buffalo

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Graduate Student

  • May 2005 - Jul 2006

  Master's Project Title: Developing a Method for Measuring the Effects of Chronic Methamphetamine Self-Administration on the Delayed Discounting Procedure: A Method to Study the Effects of Psychostimulant Abuse on Impulsivity in Rats. A collaboration between the laboratory of Alexis Thompson PhD and Jerry Richards PhD. Master's Project Title: Developing a Method for Measuring the Effects of Chronic Methamphetamine Self-Administration on the Delayed Discounting Procedure: A Method to Study the Effects of Psychostimulant Abuse on Impulsivity in Rats. A collaboration between the laboratory of Alexis Thompson PhD and Jerry Richards PhD.