Speakers
Gabriela Alves
Gabriela Alves is a member of the Fredrick M. Supper Honors Program and has held various leadership and academic positions on campus, including serving as a First Year Coach for the First Year Experience program and as a Chemistry Teaching Assistant. Gabriela is actively engaged in research at the Gregory School of Pharmacy, where she explores antimicrobial compounds aimed at combating antimicrobial resistant strains of bacteria. Additionally, she has volunteered as a Science Camp Counselor for the PBA Center for Integrative Science Learning Summer Science Camp. Driven by a deep passion for public health and infectious diseases, Gabriela is committed to fostering cross-cultural connections and making science more accessible for all communities.
Joseph Harold
Joseph Harold has held several on-campus positions, including Molecular Biology and Microbiology Laboratory Technician, Chemistry Teaching Assistant, Preserved Fish Collection Treasurer and Invertebrate Zoology Peer Tutor. He is an active member of Dr. Angela Witmer’s marine field research team, where he conducts studies on local waters, beaches, mangroves and other environmental aspects of Palm Beach County. Additionally, he serves as an officer for the Science Club and leads the Fish Tank Committee. Upon his graduation in December 2026, he intends to enter the workforce, utilizing his expertise in chemistry and invertebrate biology both in laboratory settings and fieldwork.
Hannah Hutchins
Hannah Hutchins graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University with a B.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience and is currently pursuing graduate studies. As an undergraduate, she worked as a Molecular Biology and Microbiology Laboratory Technician, Chemistry Laboratory Technician, Chemistry Teaching Assistant and Genetics Peer Tutor. She served as president of Psi Chi Honor Society and as a student ambassador for the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience Program. Her senior literature review on herbicide exposure and neurodegenerative disorders was published in the Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science. Hannah received the Dr. Jess Moody Award in March 2024 and graduated as the Outstanding Graduate of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. As a master’s student, she is a teaching assistant in Biology and Chemistry and is applying for a QI grant to continue her research. After graduating in May 2026, she plans to pursue clinical neuroscience research and teach as an adjunct professor of biology.
Rebecca Nacy
Rebecca Nacy is a member of the Frederick M. Supper Honors Program and has held various campus roles, including welcoming freshmen in the Admissions Office, working as a General Chemistry and Biochemistry Laboratory Technician, serving as a First Year Coach for the Honors First Year Experience and assisting in Dr. Angela Witmer’s Benthic Nearshore Ecology Lab. Additionally, she is a Presidential Ambassador. In the summer of 2024, she conducted research in the Philippines through the National Science Fund’s Ph-IRES program, studying the population genetics of blue swimming crabs under the guidance of Filipino and American mentors. As a Fulbright semifinalist, she plans to teach English in Spain as a Fulbright ETA and ultimately aspires to pursue research at the intersection of genetics and environmental sustainability.