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Dr. Mike Chao
Principal Investigator, CNS Department of Biology
Mike Chao is Professor of Biology at CSUSB. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and did postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. His research focuses on the neurobiology of animal behavior using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system. His current research focus is on using CRISPR genome engineering to study gene expression patterns of dopamine receptors. His teaching interests include culturally responsive pedagogy, alternative ways of student assessment, and supporting STEM majors in high DFW introductory courses. He has also participated in ISSUES-X, another NSF-supported project in the College of Natural Sciences to support evidence-based teaching in STEM programs.
Dr. Maria Domingo
Senior Lead Coordinator, First-Year Experience
Dr. Maria Domingo is the Senior Coordinator for First-Year Experience under Enrollment Management at California State University, San Bernardino. In her role, she is responsible for creating and developing programming to increase engagement and retention for first-year students. She has over fifteen years of higher education experience, serving as an academic advisor for the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration and the College of Arts and Letters. Before CSUSB, she had experience working in the K-12 setting in special education and school counseling. Her current research focuses on academic advising and organizational change in higher education and APIDA students in higher education. She received her Doctor of Education from CSUSB in Educational Leadership.
Dr. Lisa Guzman
Project Director, Academic Success & Undergraduate Advising
Dr. Lisa C. Guzman currently serves as Project Director for retention initiatives within Academic Success and Undergraduate Advising at California State University, San Bernardino. In her role, she is responsible for creating and developing partnerships with faculty to increase and improve upon curricular and cocurricular student support efforts. As a leadership team member of NSF-funded grant, Retention and Achievement for Introductory STEM English Learners (RAISE), she works in collaboration with factory and staff to target institutional transformation by focusing on strategies and infrastructure supporting English Learners in STEM disciplines. She has spent over twenty years as a higher education professional, researcher, and scholar. Her research focuses on alumni volunteerism and relationship building among university and community stakeholders that foster opportunities for student academic and professional success. Her Bachelor's degree was earned at the University of California, Berkeley in Psychology and Sociology. She has a Master's degree in Higher Education from the University of Michigan. Her PhD was earned at the University of Michigan in Higher Education with a concentration in Organizational Behavior and Management.