2022-2023 Executive Board
CO-PRESIDENTS
Lauren Dueñas, she/her
I was born and raised from a Mexican-American family in East Los Angeles, California. I am a chemistry graduate student with a research emphasis on laser direct writing inorganic materials for additive manufacturing and energy storage devices. Penn State has helped me meet people to learn about their cultural background, which I deeply enjoy. Since I am very far away from my home, I want to cultivate an environment where everyone feels welcome, where we can learn new ideas and information to promote engagement in the community – creating a home away from home.
Mayra Solis, she/her
Hola, hola mi gente. My Mayra Solis, and my pronouns are she and her. I was born in Colorado and raised in the El Paso/Juarez border towns of the U.S and Mexico. Both of my parents were born and raised in Mexico. In August of 2021, I moved to State College to begin my education as a Ph.D. student in the Health and Human Development department. My research interests include studying the effects of maltreatment and incarceration on adolescents. My goal for SACNAS is to build a community for Chicanxs and Native Americans where they feel welcome and included. I would like for SACNAS to be a community for anyone in support of Chicanxs and Native Americans. Bienvenidos a todos!
TREASURER
Campbell Viersen
Hi! I’m Campbell Viersen, and I serve as the treasurer of SACNAS. I’m also a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry, where my research focuses on computational investigations of quantum materials. I grew up in Atlanta, GA attending very diverse K-12 schools, and the world of academia is a stark contrast to the world I grew up in. Because of this, it is important to me to help build spaces where people of all backgrounds can feel at home, especially in academia, and I hope I can be a part of those efforts while serving this organization!
SECRETARY
Eva Barr
Hola a todos! My name is Eva (pronounced Eh-vah) and I’m the SACNAS secretary. I grew up in Appalachian Ohio and went to Ohio State for my undergraduate degree in forestry and wildlife management. I’m pursuing my MSc in Ecology here at Penn State and am studying the inter-relationships between PA herbaceous plants and white-tailed deer. As a Latina, I’m excited to contribute to supporting a diverse array of students and providing a valuable social and professional space through this organization.
MEDIA COORDINATOR
Kara Whitaker, she/her
kbw5490@psu.edu
FACULTY ADVISORS
Daniel H. Cortes
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering
dhc13@psu.edu
Dr. Cortes research lab focuses on developing medical imaging techniques for quantifying mechanical properties of musculoskeletal tissues. These techniques are then applied to the diagnosis and evaluation of injuries and diseases. Currently, applications include evaluating abnormal changes in tissue properties in relation to back pain, improving rehabilitation strategies for Achilles tendon injuries, and development of non-invasive methods for the diagnosis of compartment syndrome.
Kimberly Lau
Assistant Professor
Department of Geosciences
kvlau@psu.edu