Author Biographies
Sarah Abraham: Dr. Sarah Abraham is an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of Texas at Austin in the Department of Computer Sciences. She teaches programming classes related to graphics and video game development.
Kelli Allen: Since 2007, Kelli Allen has served as a Master Teacher with UTeach, striving to continually enhance STEM education. She mentors pre-service teachers, supports new teachers, and leads innovative training for STEM teachers statewide. With over 30 years in education, Allen’s impactful contributions have earned her prestigious awards, including the College of Natural Sciences Teaching Excellence Award and the Skoog Cup, underscoring her unwavering dedication in advancing science education throughout Texas.
Carlos Baiz: Dr. Carlos Baiz is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin. His laboratory focuses on studying biophysical phenomena in complex systems, such as crowded environments, heterogeneous lipid membranes, membrane proteins, and surfactants. His current interests include the application of artificial intelligence in teaching, particularly the use of generative technologies for tutoring.
Josh Beckham: Josh Beckham leads the Virtual Cures stream in the Freshman Research Initiative at the University of Texas at Austin focused on infectious disease drug discovery using both computational and wet lab techniques. Dr. Beckham earned his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Vanderbilt University. He is a collaborating researcher with the High School Research Initiative and the principal investigator on a National Science Foundation Research Coordination Networks in Undergraduate Biology Education (NSF RCN-UBE) grant (BioMolViz) with faculty dedicated to improving molecular visualization in undergraduate education.
Aprile Benner: Aprile Benner’s substantive research interests center on the development of low-income and race/ethnic minority youth, investigating how social contexts influence experiences of marginalization and discrimination, school transitions, and developmental outcomes during adolescence. The core of her research program is a fundamental developmental question—what are the continuities and changes in the social, emotional, and cognitive growth and maturation of young people?
Brittany Bleess: Brittany Bleess is a Teaching Specialist for the Biology Instructional Office. She received her BSA in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin where she also received Certificates in Forensic Science as well as Food and Society. She has been a TA for genetics laboratory (BIO 325L) for four semesters and was an UGCA for one semester prior. She received a BIO TA Award in 2024. Brittany is pursuing a Master of Science in Anesthesia through Case Western Reserve University starting in May 2025.
Haleigh Bond: Haleigh Bond is a Biochemistry major with a minor in Forensic Science at the University of Texas at Austin. She serves as a Lead Undergraduate Research Assistant in Dr. Greg Fonzo’s Lab at the Charmaine & Gordon McGill Center for Psychedelic Research & Therapy, where she actively collects data through fMRI, EEG, and blood draws. She was an Undergraduate Curriculum and Research Assistant for Dr. Procko in 2024, contributing to BCH 339F curriculum redesign. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience or a related field. Outside of academics, she enjoys rock climbing, music, and reading.
Katie Bruner: Katie Bruner is an Associate Professor of Instruction in Biology. She received her PhD in Cellular and Molecular Medicine from Johns Hopkins University and her research focused on viral genetics and assay development for HIV-1. She teaches genetics laboratory (BIO325L) and enjoys showing students how genetics intersects with our everyday lives. She received the College of Natural Science teaching excellence award in 2020 and the President’s Associates Teaching Excellence Award in 2023.
Layla Guyot: Layla Guyot is a data scientist, educator, and researcher, who joined the University of Texas at Austin during Fall 2020. After pursuing math and physics in undergrad, she completed a MS in statistics, just by chance. She gained experience as a statistician before pursuing her aspiration to conduct research and teach through a PhD in Mathematics Education at Texas State University. Her research focuses on developing curriculum materials to promote authentic practices and easing the transition to the workplace.
Thushani Herath: Thushani Herath is an Associate Professor of Instruction in the Department of Chemistry. She earned her PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Wayne State University, Michigan. Since joining the University of Texas in 2016, she has developed and taught multiple Analytical Chemistry lab courses. In 2020, she received the President’s Award for Global Learning. Thushani is also a recipient of a Pathway grant, supporting her collaborative work on vertically aligning lab skills across chemistry/bio-chemistry curricula.
Jen Moon: Jen Moon is a Professor of Instruction in Biology and Molecular Biosciences. She has a PhD in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology from Indiana University. Jen regularly teaches Genetics and has received several teaching awards such as the Regents Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award, the President’s Associates Teaching Excellence Award, and the College of Natural Science Teaching Excellence Award. Recently, she was inducted into the University of Texas System Academy of Distinguished Teachers.
Kristen Procko: Kristen “KP” Procko is the Biochemistry Education Fellow for the Department of Molecular Biosciences, coordinating curriculum redesign and assessment efforts. An advocate for active learning, especially through molecular visualization, Procko directs BioMolViz, an international community of National Science Foundation-funded educators working to improve visual literacy instruction. She supports educational initiatives for the Year of AI, including the design of AI literacy courses for non-computer scientists.
Sally Ragsdale: Sally Ragsdale joined the Department of Statistics and Data Sciences in 2012 and is the course coordinator for SDS 320E Elements of Statistics as well as the undergraduate minor and certificate faculty advisor. Her teaching awards include the President’s Associates Teaching Excellence Award (2021), the College of Natural Sciences Foundation Advisory Council Teaching Endowment Award (2018), and the Natural Sciences Council Faculty Service Award (2015).
Isabella Sibrian: Isabella Sibrian, BSA, is a proud University of Texas at Austin alumnus (Neuroscience, 2022), who performed research to identify genes and protein pathways mediating alcohol-induced behaviors in Drosophila melanogaster. She returned to the University in fall of 2023 to serve as an instructional support specialist for Dr. Procko, where she taught biochemistry and expanded a project-based learning assignment to hundreds of students. For the next year, she worked with several biochemistry professors on curriculum redesign for the biochemistry degree, earning a 2023–2024 Biology Instructional Office Teaching Assistant Award.
Sarah Slaten: Sarah Slaten is a Course Specialist in the Biology Instructional Office at the University of Texas at Austin. She received her BS in Genetics and Genomics in 2024 from UT Austin, and has taught various biology laboratory courses over the past 3 years. She teaches genetics laboratory (BIO325L) and enjoys guiding students through hands-on experiments and encouraging students to think critically about concepts they’ve only ever seen in textbooks.
Peter Stone: I am the founder and director of the Learning Agents Research Group (LARG) within the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in the Department of Computer Science at The University of Texas at Austin, as well as associate department chair and Director of Texas Robotics. I was a co-founder of Cogitai, Inc. and am now Chief Scientist of Sony AI.
My main research interest in AI is understanding how we can best create complete intelligent agents. I consider adaptation, interaction, and embodiment to be essential capabilities of such agents. Thus, my research focuses mainly on machine learning, multiagent systems, and robotics. To me, the most exciting research topics are those inspired by challenging real-world problems. I believe that complete successful research includes both precise, novel algorithms and fully implemented and rigorously evaluated applications. My application domains have included robot soccer, autonomous bidding agents, autonomous vehicles, and human-interactive agents.
Deborah Sztejnberg: Deborah Sztejnberg is an Assistant Professor of Practice in the School of Human Ecology. With over 15 years of experience in the fashion industry, she combines industry expertise with a deep passion for student development. She holds an MA in College Student Development and an EdD in Leadership in higher education. Her initiatives, like the Textile and Apparel (TXA) Internship Program and the School of Human Ecology (SoHE) Professional Development Series, support students’ professional growth and career readiness.
Ann Thijs: Ann is an interdisciplinary scientist who earned her dual master’s degree in biology and engineering in Belgium, after which she worked in biogeochemistry research. Ann was awarded a NASA Earth System Science Fellowship for her PhD research on the coupled carbon-climate system. Nowadays, Ann delights in teaching her students the interconnectedness of the natural world, in evolutionary and ecological time, and to help students in becoming critical and quantitative thinkers.
Paul Toprac: Dr. Paul Toprac is a Professor of Instruction and the head of the Game Development and Design Program, as well as the Principal Investigator of the Simulation and Game Applications (SAGA) Lab in the Department of Computer Science. As professor, Toprac has produced hundreds student games and interactive media. As Principal Investigator, Toprac has developed more than a dozen games, half a dozen mobile apps, and many other kinds of interactive software tools. Toprac’s research interests are in game design and development focused on cognition, emotion, and behavior.
Sarah Villanueva: Dr. Sara Villanueva is a native Austinite and proud University of Texas Alumna. She received her BA degree in Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and both her Masters and PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of Florida. Her areas of interest include Adolescent Development, Parent-Child Relationships, and Parenting across different cultures. Dr. Villanueva was a Professor of Psychology at St. Edward’s University for over fourteen years and is excited to be back on the forty acres.
Amanda Vines Garrett: Amanda Vines Garrett is an assistant professor of instruction in Molecular Biosciences and Biology. She teaches a biochemistry lab (BCH 219L) and a biotech lab skills course (BCH 315T). Amanda has a BS in cell biology from Dallas Baptist University and a PhD in cell biology from Yale. At the University of Texas at Austin, she has taught and developed curricula for multiple lab courses, co-developed a biotech microcredential program with Austin Community College, and has a Pathways grant for vertical alignment of chemistry lab content.
