Arik was born in a small agricultural community in Israel called Moshav Maslul, never thinking about a career in Higher Education. Arik moved to The United States in 2009 to be with his girlfriend (who later became his wife) and began taking classes at Bellevue College in Washington State, mostly to learn English. A year later, Arik moved to California and completed two more years at Woodland Community College before transferring to UC Davis and earning a B.S. in Exercise Biology. He later continued to earn his Ph.D. in the Molecular Cellular and Integrated Physiology graduate program at UC Davis, researching testosterone activity in Skeletal muscle. Serving as a teaching assistant every single term as a graduate student, Arik fell in love with teaching and held a side project focused on biology education. After earning his Ph.D., Arik moved to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation for a postdoc focused on skeletal muscle aging, a great experience that affirmed his decision to search for a position that will allow him to teach and engage in biology education research. In August 2022, Arik joined the Department of Biological Sciences at Sacramento State University. In his spare time, Arik enjoys spending time with his family and friends, running, hiking, backpacking, climbing, and cooking.

Shelby is a born and raised Sacramentan and a 1st generation American Fijian Indian. She initially began as a nursing major, but her love for anatomy and physiology prompted her to switch gears to Kinesiology. In the Fall of 2023, Shelby graduated with a B.S. in Kinesiology (Athletic Care) and a minor in Biology at California State University, Sacramento. While completing her undergraduate curricula, Shelby was a tutor and a Science Education researcher. Through these experiences and opportunities, Shelby found a passion in teaching. Some previous projects Shelby has worked on explored inclusive language in STEM syllabi and accessibility in course-based authentic learning experiences. She also had the wonderful opportunity to participate in a summer undergraduate research experience at Washington State University, where she explored faculty use of classroom interventions after receiving summer training. Shelby's currently working on her Master's project which explores empathy in science communication. In her free time, Shelby loves to explore, go to the beach, get out in nature, run, and travel. Essentially, Shelby LOVES an adventure. Fun fact: she hitchhiked in Scotland!

Hello everyone! My name is Tolulope Owolabi, and I am a senior at California State University - Sacramento, majoring in Biological Science with a concentration in Biomedical Sciences. Currently, I am working on research that examines the effects of student backgrounds and demographics on their science identity and science communication efficacy. This research is particularly important to me because it allows me to explore how students perceive themselves and their roles in the world of STEM, which resonates deeply with my own experiences as a STEM major. In the near future, I aspire to become a Physician Assistant to help people continue their life stories. Beyond my academic pursuits, I am also an artist. In my free time, I love to paint, crochet, and engage in various artistic activities. My dream is to blend my passion for art and science to create something truly amazing. Welcome to the SciComm Community!!

Hi, I'm Adrian Moua, a spring 2024 graduate in Biology from Sacramento State. As a biology major, I've had the opportunity to explore the fascinating world of life sciences and develop a passion for understanding the intricate relationships between living organisms and their environments. My research focused on validating the use of Garmin watches to measure stress levels in real time, providing a more accurate and convenient alternative to traditional survey methods. I enjoy playing musical instruments and giving back to the community in my free time through various service projects. I'm proud of my academic accomplishments and excited for the next chapter of my journey. I'm grateful for the experiences I had during my time at Sacramento State and look forward to applying my skills and knowledge in new and challenging ways.

Dr. Cathy Ishikawa began her STEM Education Research career in 1998 as an NSF-PFSMETE (Postdoctoral Fellowship for Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology Education) scholar, studying how physics graduate teaching assistants learned to lead labs for a reformed, student-active physics course for non-majors at UC Davis. She currently is a Co-PI on two grants that help faculty implement course-based Authentic Learning Experiences (cALEs, authentic research, design, or client-based projects) in their STEM courses, and she is studying how students with disabilities experience cALEs with Dr. Joya Mukerji. Her interests also include alternative grading structures, finding ways to help students develop their independent thinking skills, and exploring AI's role in higher education.