Principal Investigators
Dr. Zaira Mateo
PI Message
Welcome to RACE for Success in STEM, including Spanish and English, at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico web page. This project was created to benefit students in the science program in their long-term academic goals. To do so, the project helps students in three academic areas: Mathematics, English, and Spanish, during their freshman level through interactive tutorials. In addition, the project looks forward to providing students with the first research experience as part of their career development. Furthermore, the project sees the PCUPR student not only in their academic performance but as complete individuals. Therefore, understanding the effect of the environment on our daily performance, we developed psycho-educational activities that help the student to improve soft skills relevant to science careers and their sense of belonging to our Institution. And lastly, we have a social family context study in which we are interested to understand family-student support of science careers, how they overcome natural events, and the link to STEM education.
This web page is designed to keep the community posted with our most recent accomplishments and provide an easy way to keep students posted on the activities held in our project and other career activities developed at the College of Science.
PI Career
Dr. Zaira Mateo is a former Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico alumnus. She obtained an M.S. in Biomedical Sciences in the Cardiovascular area at the University of North Texas Health Science Center and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences- Neuroscience at Ponce Health Sciences University, formerly known as PSM.
She is the PI of RACE for Success in STEM, including Spanish and English; Director of the Scientific Research Center Father Tosello Giangiacomo; Liaison for PRLSAMP and Coordinator of the Integrated and Applied Neuroscience Graduate Program at PUCPR.
She has 27-year teaching experience and is faculty at the Biomedical Sciences and Biology Department of the College of Science at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ponce Campus.
Contact information:
- Office phone number: 787-841-2000 ext. 2566
- Email: race.project@pucpr.edu
Waleska Sanabria León
Waleska Sanabria León
Waleska Sanabria León did her undergraduate and graduate studies in Anthropology at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, and National Autonomous University of Mexico (Master’s and doctoral Anthropology degree), respectively. She holds a Professional Certification in Bioethics from the Eugenio Maria de Hostos Institute of Bioethics, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras. She has specialized in topics on bioculture, biomedicine, bioethics, ethnicity, migration, gender, globalization, health, cascading-compound disasters, and the environment. She is currently an Assistant
Professor and Chair of the Social Science and History department at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ponce.
Dr. Ana Elba Pérez Matos
Dr. Ana Elba Pérez Matos
Greetings! My name is Dr. Ana Elba Pérez Matos. In addition to being co-PI of the RACE for Success in STEM project, I also coordinate the First Experience Summer Research Internship (FESRI). I believe in the importance of research experiences, therefore I greatly value mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in molecular biology research topics at the Biotechnology and Agrobiotechnology
Research and Learning Center (CEIBA for its Spanish acronym).
You can contact us at (787) 841-2000 ext. 2672.
You can also contact us via email: race.project@pucpr.edu
Component Coordinators
Wanda Vázquez
Wanda Vázquez
Many students are afraid of math. One of my goals as a professional in this area is to reduce these fears in students so they can achieve their goals and be successful in their university careers. This is why I immediately accepted when they talked to me about being part of the RACE Project. As part of the project, an Intensive Camp (Bootcamp) was developed for the summer. Students are expected to obtain skills that give them better opportunities when working with Pre-calculus courses. Several modules were also designed to accompany the Pre-calculus courses (MATH 141-142) to reinforce the skills discussed during classes and offer practice exercises. We will investigate whether, with these resources, we can improve the percentage of approval of these courses and thus improve the retention rate in STEM careers.
Academic Preparation: M.S. in mathematics
Position: Associate Dean of the College of Sciences
Department: Natural Sciences
Phone: (787) 841-2000, ext. 1561
Email: race.project@pucpr.edu
Marisol Camacho Santiago
Marisol Camacho Santiago
Greetings! My name is Marisol Camacho Santiago. I am from San German. Raised in a traditional family. First in the family to attend a university and earn a degree and the only one with a doctoral degree. I have a professional doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D). I am married, and we have three daughters. I am an "animal lover"; I like to sing, dance, and be in contact with nature. The purpose of the self-management skills component is to accompany students in the transition process to university life and promote the development or strengthening of self-management skills applied to the academic environment.
The development of these capacities turns them into life skills that they can use in professional and personal scenarios.
Email: race.project@pucpr.edu
Dr. Marta Fontánez Long
Dr. Marta Fontánez Long
Welcome to our Project Race for Success in STEM. My name is Dr. Marta Fontánez Long. I have a master in the Teaching of English as a Second Language and a doctorate in Curriculum and Teaching. I am the director of the Department of English and Foreign Languages, and the coordinator of the English Component for this project. We know you will enjoy the activities, at the same time that you are learning.
You can contact us at (787)841-2000 ext. 1690.
You can also contact us via email: race.project@pucpr.edu
Deadline-18 de marzo de 2022
Dr. Ivelisse Collazo
Dr. Ivelisse Collazo
Greetings! I am Dr. Ivelisse Collazo. In 2010, I joined the Department of Hispanic Studies at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. I studied a baccalaureate and a first master's degree in Hispanic Studies at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus. I did a second master's degree in library science at Florida State University. At that university, I did my doctorate in Hispano-American and Caribbean Literature. I researched for the dissertation the themes of politics and education in the Caribbean essays of six female writers of the 19th and early 20th centuries. In my research, I used feminist theory.
I am currently the director of the Department of Hispanic Studies and coordinate the Spanish component for the RACE for Sucess in STEM project. I collaborated in the preparation of the modules with Profa. Marla Méndez Silvagnoli. To guarantee to learn, I have Ms. Amanda Camacho Meléndez as a mentee. I hope that the students can learn more and enjoy the activities that we have prepared for them.
Phone: You can reach at 787-841-2000, ext.
You can also communicate by email: race.project@pucpr.edu
Student Mentors/Tutors
Jerikalys M. Ortiz Colón
Jerikalys M. Ortiz Colón
Hello! My name is Jerikalys M. Ortiz Colón. I am 29 years old. I am currently in the Doctor of Philosophy research internship with a specialty in Clinical Psychology, Ph.D. In this Project, I am a research mentor. I have had the opportunity to get involved in the research area and develop skills in scientific writing emphasizing clinical and social observations, among other great experiences. In the professional area, I am a Clinical Social Worker, and I have been able to delve into the socio-family context of the participants that make up the Project.
You can contact us at (787) 841-2000 ext. 2672.
You can also contact us via email: race.project@pucpr.edu
Sharelys Fontánez Martínez
Sharelys Fontánez Martínez
Hello! My name is Sharelys Fontánez Martínez, I am currently studying for a BA in English, French, and Foreign Languages. In addition to being the English tutor of the RACE for Success in STEM project, I am a student of the Department of English and Foreign Languages at the Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico. I love learning and sharing my knowledge, and I believe that as long as you do things for God, one can never fail.
Email: race.project@pucpr.edu
sfontanezmartinez@pucpr.edu
Alexandra del R. Aguirre Cintrón
Alexandra del R. Aguirre Cintrón
Greetings! My name is Alexandra del R. Aguirre Cintrón. I have a B.A. in Psychology and Mental Health from the University of Puerto Rico in Ponce, and I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico in Ponce. My role within the RACE project is in the area of Self-Management Skills along with Dr. Camacho. I believe that the RACE project is a great initiative that will bring many benefits to the academic performance of our students. And I am very grateful to be part of this project which has been a wonderful and enriching experience.
Amanda Camacho
Amanda Camacho
Greetings! My name is Amanda Camacho. In addition to being the Tutor/Mentor of the Spanish Component of the Race for Success in Stem project, I’m a senior undergraduate student for the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Hispanic Studies in PCUPR. Also, pursuing a minor in both Psychology and English.
Phone: (787) 841-2000 ext. 2672
Email: race.project@pucpr.edu
Carla Marie Santiago Pérez
Carla Marie Santiago Pérez
Hello! My name is Carla Marie Santiago Perez. I am a graduate student in the Master of Science (MS) program specializing in Integrated and Applied Neurosciences in Neurobiology. Although my area of study focuses on molecular sciences, I greatly enjoy mathematics and its teaching, which is why I offer the mathematics component. I hope my knowledge contributes to the participants' development and learning of mathematics. As a student, I understand the importance of mentoring, which is both teaching and supportive, and I look forward to meeting both goals.
Grace M. Vélez Colón
Grace M. Vélez Colón
My name is Grace M. Vélez Colón. I am a mentor of the RACE for Success in STEM Project, working under Dr. Ana Elba Pérez in the First Experience Summer Research Internship (FESRI). I am a graduate student, currently in my second year doing a master’s in cognitive neuroscience. I believe that all science students should have the opportunity to do research for their futures, and I am happy and looking forward to being part of that experience.
Email: race.project@pucpr.edu
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Contact
Contact:
Questions?
Contact the RACE team at:
race.project@pucpr.edu
