Heather Belmont

HEATHER BELMONT is dean of the School of Science at Miami Dade College (MDC). During her career at MDC, she has served as faculty, chairperson of the Biology, Health/Wellness and Funeral Services Departments, and director of the Biotechnology Program. She has also been instrumental in securing and administering millions in external grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education, National Science Foundation, and U.S. Department of Agriculture. Under her leadership, the School of Science has established an intrusive, in-house science advisement system, an extensive peer-led, team-learning network, and an undergraduate research program on five of MDC's eight campuses. Prior to joining MDC in 2005, Dr. Belmont worked for Sunol Molecular Corporation and Altor Bioscience Corporation, where she conducted research on therapeutic anti-viral and anti-cancer biologics. She has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed journal articles, two patent applications, serves on multiple boards, and is a Partnership for Undergraduate Life Science Education (PULSE) Leadership fellow. She earned a B.A. from Ithaca College and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Miami.