Initial Publication Date: May 6, 2016

Program Team

Part of the InTeGrate University Texas El Paso Program Model

Diane Doser (University of Texas at El Paso)

Diane Doser is a geophysicist with interests in seismology, tectonics, and environmental problems. She was a recipient of a University of Texas System Regents' Outstanding Teaching Award in 2010 and the undergraduate students' choice teaching award in spring 2015. She has worked as part of a team to re-vamp the curriculum within the BS in Environmental Science program at UTEP and is the PI for a new summer REU program involving 2 year college students and participation of both UTEP and EPCC faculty. She is one of the founding facilitators of the Building Strong Geoscience Departments Program currently sponsored by InTeGrate and NAGT.

Faculty Reflection

Adriana Perez (University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso Community College)

Adriana E. Perez has been teaching introductory Earth Science lectures and labs at El Paso Community College since 2000. She also teaches with the University of Texas at El Paso through their online program and has also taught with Howard Payne University, Dona Ana Community College and Dual-Credit programs in the community. She likes to focus on data-driven, hands-on activities that enhance the student's understanding and appreciation of the natural world around them. She serves the El Paso-Juarez community; mainly Hispanic, military, commuting and working students that may not have had exposure to the Earth Sciences in previous course work, and hopes to interest them pursue an educational path in the sciences.

Brenda Barnes (University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso Community College)

In teaching introductory environmental science/geology classes at the community college and university levels, Dr. Barnes strives to convey the joy, wonders and problems of the Earth to students. She has worked in the environmental field for many years as an environmental consultant and regulator, and has made mentoring junior environmental scientists a focus of her career. Her primary areas of interest and expertise include the assessment and remediation of contaminated soil/groundwater and environmental regulatory compliance.

Lixin Jin (University of Texas at El Paso)

Lixin Jin is an environmental geochemist, studying the chemical, physical and biological processes in the Critical Zone, in both natural landscapes and human-impacted agricultural fields. She supervises student research at both undergraduate and graduate levels, especially offering hands-on experiences to raise their awareness of local and regional environmental issues and be prepared for environment-related job opportunities. She teams with colleagues at UTEP and is funded by NSF and DoEd to revise environmental science curriculum.

Lin Ma (University of Texas at El Paso)

Lin Ma is a low temperature geochemist with research interests in Earth surface processes and hydrogeology. Since 2011, Lin Ma has been working as an assistant professor at UTEP. His research projects involves using and developing novel isotope systems to quantify rates of Earth surface processes and to understand solute sources in natural waters. Lin Ma is also interested in integrating research with undergraduate education at UTEP. He has served as lead PIs or co-PIs for several NSF research and education programs involving both undergraduate and graduate students.

Joshua Villalobos (El Paso Community College)

Joshua Villalobos has taught as a full-time geology professor at El Paso Community College since 2005. His main focus has been engaging non-traditional students in local geological activities, pedagogy, or research while attending El Paso Community College. He has served as PI and Co-PI for several NSF programs , as well as other funding agencies, geared to engage community college students early in their education in the Geosciences. Joshua is also involved in several projects aimed at moving forward technological innovations for the classroom that are geared towards the two-year college setting for the Geosciences.