Mrs Kreshlya De La Paz Rodríguez is a public health professional with over five years of experience managing large-scale federal health programs and infrastructure projects exceeding $200 million. She specializes in project coordination, compliance, data-driven analysis, and interagency collaboration. As a Public Health Analyst with HRSA, she administered $215 million in federal funds for 165 beneficiaries, led contractor teams, and developed SOPs that significantly improved operational efficiency. Previously, she served as a CDC Quarantine Public Health Officer and coordinated NIH research programs. She holds master’s degrees in Public Health and Forensic Criminal Studies and is certified in project management and emergency response.

Dr. Nydia L. Rivera-Rivera, PhD is a neuroscientist and educator with over a decade of experience in higher education, research, and faculty development in Puerto Rico. She earned her PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, with a research focus on neuroscience and developmental biology. From 2013 to 2024, she served as Assistant Professor at the University of Puerto Rico, Bayamón Campus, where she taught courses in neuroscience, human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, immunology, and developmental biology. Dr. Rivera-Rivera is highly experienced in curriculum design, laboratory instruction, student mentorship, and research ethics, and has served on multiple institutional committees, including IRB and biosafety. Her work reflects a strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate education, interdisciplinary research, and the professional development of future scientists. She is the COBRE Microbiome Sciences Outreach, Education and Logistics Coordinator.