Meet Our Faculty: Dr. Emmanuel Santa-Martinez

Dr. Emmanuel Santa-Martinez.

Pronouns:
He/él

Title:
Assistant Professor

School of:
Science, Mathematics and Engineering

Department:
Biology

What he teaches:

• Introduction to Biology
• Dual Language: Introduction to Biology
• Intro to Plant Biology
• Intro to Plant Biology Lab
• College Biology II
• College Biology II Lab

Number of years teaching at SLCC:
3

Undergraduate degree:
Universidad de Puerto Rico, Humacao

Doctorate:
University of Wisconsin, Madison

Why working at SLCC matters:
I love the diversity of students at SLCC. At a community college with small classrooms, I have the opportunity to make a change and help our students succeed. Our students come with different backgrounds and experiences, which makes the classroom more enriching and place where everyone can learn from each other. As an Afro-Latino queer man, I have experienced similar challenges many underrepresented students feel, and it is now a privilege to be faculty, where I can help and support the academic success of our students in science and at SLCC, by serving as a mentor and creating an inclusive learning environment.

Greatest professional challenge:
One of my professional challenges is recognizing that in order to reach a more equitable and inclusive classroom and community, we need to educate and have conversations that may not be comfortable to some. As the most diverse college of the state, it is so important to provide a safe and welcoming environment to all members of our community.

I also want to make sure that all my students feel seen, heard, and represented. One of the first steps to ensure this is to increase the diversity of faculty and staff at SLCC.

Greatest professional accomplishments:
As the only professor in Biology that speaks Spanish and English, I offered BIOL1010 – Introduction to Biology in a bilingual format. The goal of the class was to present the material in English but also give students the opportunity to ask questions in either Spanish or English. I wanted to provide the opportunity for students to learn Biology while removing the language “barrier.” I also wanted to create a sense of belonging and a community amongst Spanish speakers.

Another accomplishment is receiving feedback from my students that say my classes have opened their eyes to the world, the biodiversity that surround us, and the current threats that some organism and ecosystem are experiencing due to climate change. Together with Dr. Melissa Hardy, we have provided our students with research opportunities and students leave our courses feeling confident with real-world research experience.

Research Papers From AY 2021-22:

American Journal of Botany
Santa-Martinez, E., Cardoso Castro, C., Flick. A., Sullivan, M., Riday, H., Clayton, MK., Brunet, J. (2021). Bee species visiting Medicago sativa differ in pollen deposition curves with consequences for gene flow. Am J Bot 108:1016-1028.
https://bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajb2.1683

Journal of Applied Entomology
Paulino, C. D. S., Souza, C. S., Santa-Martinez, E., Almeida, N. M., & Castro, C. C. (2021).Global meta-network of legume crops and floral visitors reveals abundance of exotic bees. Journal of Applied Entomology, 00, 1-10.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jen.12956

Arthropod-Plant Interactions Journal
de Araujo Campos, G.P., Barros, C.T., Carneiro, L.T., Santa-Martinez, E., de Oliveira Milfont, M., Cardoso Castro, C.C. Pollinator efficiency in openly grown eggplants: can non-vibrating bees produce high-quality fruits?. Arthropod-Plant Interactions (2022).
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11829-022-09885-1

Advice for students or others:
My advice for students is to be your fabulous-self! Don’t feel afraid to seek for help and communicate your needs. Perseverance, curiosity and eagerness to learn are more important character traits to develop than a grade and they will get you further in your career. Get involved in your studies with the community and other students. The beauty of college is to prepare you in the area of study you selected, but also to grow as a human being by learning from the diverse experiences and backgrounds that everyone brings to this community.

Future plans:
By serving as a resource to underrepresented students, I will continue working on creating a culture of equity and inclusivity, where students are heard, seen, and represented. I want to continue teaching and create more bilingual courses in Biology. Lastly, I want to make SLCC a wildlife and pollinator certified campus.

Family:
My big family is in Puerto Rico. They are amazing people, full of love and joy. I live now in Salt Lake City, with my fiancé, Cody.

Hobbies:
I love the outdoors! I enjoy hiking, camping, kayaking and the beach.  I also love gardening and cooking great Puerto Ricans meals. As a Caribbean, I love music, dancing and coffee!

How to Be Featured

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