University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
COHEMIS-UPRM-SACNAS Chapter
Jesabel I. Rivera de Jesús
787-902-8109
jesabel.rivera@gmail.com
Dr. Carlos Ríos Velázquez, Chapter Advisor
787-832-4040 x.2874
crioslab@gmail.com
I. Chapter Member Information
A. Total student members in 2008-2009: 29
B. Current Members
Name
SACNAS ID
Prof. Carlos Rios
Angel A. Aponte
Email
crioslab@gmail.com
59039
angel.aponte1@upr.edu
Beatriz Cruz
59060
bea_jc18@hotmail.com
Bryan Salas
59029
nayrb_salas_15@yahoo.com
Charlotte Maldonado
59832
charlotte.maldonado@upr.edu
Efrain Otero
59596
efrain.otero@upr.edu
Elizabeth Gutierrez
57570
elizabeth.gutierrez@upr.edu
Giovanni Cruz
57585
giovanni.gcg091390@gmail.com
Angel Munoz *certificado*
Gladiany Ramos
chulinforever27@hotmail.com
Hendrick Pagan
59028
hendrickpt@gmail.com
Ivan X. Albino
59067
i.albino_pr@hotmail.com
Jeffry Morales
59000
morales.jeffry@gmail.com
Jesabel Rivera
54837
jesabel.rivera@gmail.com
Jorge Pantoja
59090
georgepantoja@hotmail.com
Jose Leonardo Valentín
joseleo_22890@hotmail.com
Jose Vargas
jose.vargas.muniz@mail.com
Karla Negrón
59833
karlanegron_02@hotmail.com
Letzibeth Mendez
58984
letzibeth@hotmail.com
Manuel E. Echevarria
56813
m.echevarria.vega@gmail.com
Mariamlyd Pagan
59066
mariamlyd.pagan@upr.edu
Marilene Martinez
59105
risokura90@hotmail.com
Name
SACNAS ID
Melissa Alvarado
Melissa Cruz
Email
melissa.alvarado@upr.edu
598995
Radames Irizarry
melissa.stars@gmail.com
r.irizarry@hotmail.com
Orlando Soto
59061
orlando.jsc@gmail.com
Sascha Vega
59594
saschavega@gmail.com
Sorivette Surillo
heliooileh@yahoo.com
Yira Rodriguez
59830
Zaritza Cajigas
yira_979@hotmail.com
zaritza.cajigas@upr.edu
C. Officers for 2008-2009 School Year
Officers
Name
Major
Email
Phone
President
Jesabel I. Rivera
Industrial
Microbiology
jesabel.rivera@gmail.com
787-902-8109
VicePresident
Manuel Echevarría
Industrial
Biotechnology
m.echevarria.vega@gmail.com
787-649-8996
Secretary
Elizabeth Gutierrez
Biology
elizabeth.gutierrez@upr.edu
787-692-6933
Treasurer José Vargas
Industrial
Biotechnology
jose.vargas.muniz@gmail.com
787-678-5996
National
Liasion
Microbiology
crioslab@gmail.com
787-614-3879
Carlos RiosVelazquez
D. Newly Elected Chapter Officers for 2009-2010 School Year
Officers
Name
Major
Email
Phone
President
Jesabel I. Rivera
Industrial
Microbiology
jesabel.rivera@gmail.com
787-902-8109
Vice-President
Elizabeth Gutierrez
Biology
elizabeth.gutierrez@upr.edu
787-692-6933
Secretary
Beatriz Cruz
Industrial
Microbiology
bea_jc18@hotmail.com
787-517-0350
Treasurer
José Vargas
Industrial
Biotechnology
jose.vargas.muniz@gmail.com
787-678-5996
National
Liasion
Carlos RiosVelazquez
Microbiology
crioslab@gmail.com
787-614-3879
II.
Chapter Governance
A. Advisor Status Report
B. Frequency of General Meetings
• August-December 2008 : Weekly
• January-May 2009: Bi-Monthly
C. Frequency of Officer Meetings
• Twice per semester
D. Officers Election Schedule
• Election Date: Within one month before the end of the semester
• Start Service: Fall Semester
E. Other Staff and Faculty
Name
Department
Position
Dr. Omar Colón-Reyes
Mathematics
Chapter Advisor
Yamarie Hernández
CoHemis
Coordinator
Johanna Dávila Vélez
CoHemis
Administrative Assistant
Zoraida Arroyo
CoHemis
Administrative Assistant
Fernando Gilbes
CoHemis
Mentor
IV.
Chapter Activities
A. Description of General Activities
1. Chapter Promotion
a) Freshman Orientation Week
Date: July 28, 2008 - August 1, 2008
Description: During this week, SACNAS members oriented freshmen students
about the chapter and chapter goals. They handed out brochures and information
about future workshops, activities, and the SACNAS National Conference.
b) UPRM Open House
Date: November 21, 2009
Description: At the open house, SACNAS members were able to give
information about our chapter. Our members oriented future freshmen and their
parents about our goals and how we encourage our members to go to graduate
school.
c) SACNAS Advertising Week
Date: January 27 - February 2, 2009
Description: Our members went to all science building, recruiting new members
for our chapter. We also gave information and brochures with information about
our workshops and benefits.
2. Workshops
a) History, Vision and Mission
Date: August 19, 2008
Speaker: Jesabel Rivera, Chapter President
Description: We gave a brief overview on the history, vision, and mission of the
SACNAS organization. We detailed the objectives of the chapter and what was
needed to be done in order to fulfill the objectives.
b) Adaptation to Change
Date: August 26,2008
Speaker: Karen Diaz, Chapter President 2007-2008
Description: The objective in this workshop was the understanding of how
changes are part of our life, until the point we have to be trained to learn how to
deal with it.
c) Study Habits
Date: September 9, 2008
Speaker: Ivonne Rosado, Counselor
Description: The objective was to show students ideas for organizing their
time in order to have better study habits. The speaker emphasized the importance
of having a balanced schedule where you could have time to study, eat, sleep, and
still have moments to relax and have fun. Students were given a “Study Habit
Test” where they could identify their efficiency in study habits. They were also
given a Study Plan so that they could organize their time better.
d) Being Your Own Leader
Date: September 16, 2008
Speaker: Mr. Hector Rivera
Description: In this workshop, members were encouraged to step up and be the
leaders in their own lives.
e) The Graduate School Experience
Date: September 30, 2008
Speaker: Dr. Matías Cafaro, Biology Faculty
Description: A biology professor talked to members about his personal graduate
school experience and all of its joys and obstacles. He also talked about his own
research in symbiosis between fungi and arthropods.
f) Writing Your Personal Statement
Date: October 21, 2008
Speaker: Dr. Jocelyn Géliga, English Professor
Description: An English professor showed members the most efficient ways to
build their personal statement, depending on its purpose and its reader.
g) The Graduate School Experience II
Date: October 28, 2008
Speaker: Dr. Omar Colón, Chapter Advisor
Description: One of our chapter advisors shared with us his experiences in
graduate school and his current interest and work as a mathematician in the field
of genomics.
h) Resume, Your First Step into the Professional World
Date: November 18, 2008
Speaker: Yamarie Hernández, CoHemis Coordinator
Description: Members were shown the correct way to write different types of
resumes, the important parts on the document, and when and what to include in a
cover letter. Also, the speaker briefly explained the differences between a resume
and curriculum vitae.
i) Summer Research Day
Date: November 25, 2008
Speaker: Jesabel Rivera, Chapter President
Description: In this workshop students were informed about the benefits of
having a summer research experience. We presented information on numerous
summer research experiences for the 2009 summer on fields such as Biology,
Chemistry, Geology, and Engineering.
j) Public Speaking
Date: February 3, 2009
Speaker: Jesabel Rivera, Chapter President
Description: Our chapter president talked to members about the art of speaking in
public. She gave out tips and tricks on the correct way to prepare and present an
oral presentation.
k) Team Work
Date: February 24, 2009
Speaker: Dr. Carlos Ríos-Velazquez, Chapter Advisor
Description: This workshop was focused on bringing members together by
asking them to participate in a series of activities and team building problems
where they had to work together to produce a satisfactory result.
l) Taking Control of Your Curriculum
Date: March 10, 2009
Speaker: Madeline Rodriguez, Professional Counselor
Description: An academic counselor showed members the best techniques to
make sure they’re choosing the right major, focusing on the future plans, and how
to pick courses that help them to prepare and become better candidates for
graduate school.
m) Networking
Date: March 31, 2009
Speaker: Dr. Franklin Carrero-Martínez, Biology Professor
Description: The objective in this workshop was to teach members about what
networking is and how to create a network of mentors, faculty advisors, and peers.
Also, the speaker talked about the benefits of creating a network and the common
mistakes students make when starting to create a network.
n) Microscopy Workshop
Date: March 14, 2009
Speaker: José Almodovar, Microscopy technician
Description: This workshop focused on teaching members the different kinds of
microscopy and their individual benefits and uses. Students were able to see and
experience the use of a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and also were able
to see 3D images taken with confocal microscopes.
m) SACNAS National Conference Orientation
Date: April 28, 2009
Speaker: Jesabel Rivera - Chapter President
Description: Orient members and non-members who are interested in
participating at the SACNAS National Conference. At this workshop, student
learned how to register to the conference and how to apply to the travel
scholarship.
3. CoHemis Activities
A. SciTECC - Astrobiology, Searching for Signatures of Life: Moons, Planets, Mats and
Microbial Models.
Date: October 23, 2008
Description: SACNAS members were part of the activity by helping the activity
coordinators in the conference advertising, registration, and snack break.
The goal of the conferences was to inform students and teachers about the
disciplines and research related to astrobiology.
B. Second Symposium on Studies of the Past: Molecular Archeology, Archeological
Chemistry, and Archeological Engineering.
Date: February 13, 2009
Description: SACNAS members had the responsibility to advertise the activity
and help out as exhibit guides to symposium guests. The main goal of the
symposium was to bring together scientists and engineers from different
disciplines that were interested in the field of archeology. They wanted to open
the possibilities of collaborations between disciplines in order to study and
document the Caribbean archeological past.
B. Description of Community Activities
a. 1st Softball Carnival
Date: November 22, 2008
Description: Our members participated as a softball team at the Sigma Alpha 1st
Softball Carnival. At this activity we interacted with all the student societies from
UPRM in which we put into practice our team work capacities. Even though we
didn’t win, we had a great time as a team.
b. “I graduated from High School! Now what?”
Date: February 17, 2009
Description: Our chapter president spent some time with students from
University Gardens High School and talked to them about the world after
graduation. She oriented them on what to expect when coming to college and how
to get involved in different activities. One of the main goals of the workshop was
to encourage students to enter the different fields in sciences and to keep updated
in these fields.
c. Scuba Dogs Activity
Date: March 14, 2009
Description: Our members participated on the Scuba Dogs Beach Cleaning at
several beaches at Mayaguez.
V. Achieved Goals
• Recruited more interdisciplinary students by our online advertising and workshops in our
campus
• Provided support and mentorship to high school students and freshman.
• Created a successful network between students from different science fields.
• Gave necessary tools to our member to become leaders, change agents and professional in
their fields.
VI. Current Goals
• Improve our fundraising activities to invite speakers from other colleges and provide to
our members more incentives and benefits.
• Create more activities of networking to encourage partnership between other students’
societies.
• Create more community activities as another way to promote UPRM SACNAS Chapter
and to encourage our members their personal development.
VII. The SACNAS Experience
Some of our most distinguished members shared their experiences and their
expectations with us. This is what they said!
“Thanks to SACNAS I have been able to learn many things
that will help me to grow as a professional. Some of these
things were the workshops on Networking, Team Work,
and Writing Your Personal Statement. I hope that this
organization will continue with the enrichment of it
members and keep bringing them the necessary tools for
becoming a professional.”
-José Vargas
e)
“ The workshops have been very
practical and effective forf)me. It has
integrated different fields and helped me
to meet new people.”
g)
-Beatriz Cruz
h)
i)
“SACNAS has given me great academic and professional
experiences because it has taught j)
me many things
through the many workshops. SACNAS is a new student
association that has given a lot to talk about because of
its dynamism and innovativeness. It is focused in
promoting that undergraduates reap fruitful things for the
greater good. It also focuses on research, companionship,
and teaching values.”
-Hendrick Pagán
“From SACNAS, I’ve acquired different knowledge
about updates in science and workshops that help to
teach new skills for professional development. Also,
through SACNAS I socialized with other students that
are interested in the same things as I am.”
-Mariamlyd Pagán
“From SACNAS, I’ve gained a connection point to
other universities and professors in the United States.
It also helped me focus on my studies and leadership
with myself and others. I have already learned how to
work together, how to communicate, and other basic
fundaments that will help me in the future. “
-José Leonardo Valentín
VIII. Chapter Flyers and Promotion
Description: As part of our green campaign,
UPRM SACNAS Chapter decided not to use papers
and flyer to promote our workshops and activities.
Instead, we used facebook, gmail, e-cards invitations,
and ourselves spreading the word. We made colorful
T-shirts with the SACNAS Logo and our names on the
back, so curious people ask.
y)
z)
aa)
bb)
VIII. Pictures
Here are some of our members doing their
“spreading the word” job at Math Department.
Here is our softball team at
the Sigma Alpha 1st Softball Carnival.
Our members participating in one of our dynamic
Team Work workshops.
And this is one of our
favorite photos, showing
not our team, not our
society, but showing
friends.