ANNUAL GRADUATE SCHOOL HOOD PRESENTATION ...

PROFILES OF THE
DOCTORAL CANDIDATES 2012-2013
Jorge Velez-Juarbe, Ph.D., Anatomy. B.S., University of Puerto Rico, 2008. Honors and Awards: Predoctoral Fellowship,
National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution; Second Place Student Poster Award, Paleontological Society,
2009; Honorable Mention, Diversity Fellowship Predoctoral Program, Ford Foundation, 2009; Louis Stokes Alliance for
Minority Participation Bridge to the Doctorate Fellowship, 2007. Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Daryl Domning. Dissertation
Title: “Middle and Late Tertiary Dugonginae and Halitheriinae (Sirenia, Dugongidae) From the Western Atlantic, Caribbean
and Eastern Pacific Regions”. Research Specialization: Vertebrate Paleontology; Morphology and Systematics of Sirenia.
Present Position: Postdoctoral Associate, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida;
Portdoctoral Fellow, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama.
María A. Vélez-Quiñones, Ph.D., Biology. B.S., Metropolitan University, Puerto Rico, 2004. Honors and Awards: NOAA
Center for Atmospheric Sciences Fellowship, 2012- 2013, 2005-2006;Greater Research Opportunities Fellowship,
Environmental Protection Agency, 2008-2012; HRD (RISE) Fellowship, National Science Foundation, 2007; Professional
Developmental Program, Minorities Striving and Pursuing Higher Degrees of Success in Earth System Science Program
(MSPHDS), 2004; Model Institution for Excellence (MIE) Scholarship, National Science Foundation, 2000-2004.
Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Broderick Eribo. Dissertation Title: “Study of Airborne Bacterial Populations in Urban Areas
Using Phenotypic and Phylogenetic Characterization”. Research Specialization: Environmental Microbiology.
Candice Marie Wallace, Ph.D., Psychology. B.A., University of Michigan, Dearborn, 2002; M.S., Howard University,
2009. Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Lloyd Sloan. Dissertation Title: “Experienced Ostracism Versus Threatened Ostracism
in the Context of Race”. Research Specialization: Social Psychology. Present Position: Assistant Professor of Psychology,
Department of Psychology, Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia.
Clarissa Janél Williams, Ph.D., Communication and Culture. B.A., Winston Salem State University, 2003; M.A., Howard
University, 2007. Honors and Awards: Brazil Higher Education Consortia Exchange Program, 2011; Graduate Teaching
Assistantship, 2009-2011, 2004-2007; Participant, National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Seminar, 2008;
Semi-Finalist, U.S. Fulbright Program, 2008, 2007. Dissertation Advisor: Dr. William Starosta. Dissertation Title: ““I’m
Not Black…I’m Latino!”: Afro-Latino Cultural Identity (Re)Negotiation in the United States”. Research Specialization:
Intercultural Communication and Latino Studies. Present Position: Budget Analyst, Defense Media Activity, Fort Meade,
Maryland.
Joseph Williams, Jr., Ph.D., Chemistry. B.S., Miles College, 2006. Honors andAwards: GK-12 Fellowship, National Science
Foundation, 2008-2010; Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Bridge to Doctorate Fellowship, 2006-2008.
Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Joseph Fortunak. Dissertation Title: “Novel Synthesis of Protease Inhibitors Atazanavir and
Darunavir”. Research Specialization: Organic Chemistry. Present Position: Adjunct Professor, College of Arts and Sciences,
Trinity Washington University, Washington, D.C.; Adjunct Professor, College of Arts and Sciences, Bowie State University,
Bowie, Maryland.
Annual Hood Presentation Ceremony - Howard University Graduate School 31