I received my B.S. in Biology at St. Mary's University in 1991, my Ph.D. in Immunology at the University of Virginia in 1998, and conducted my postdoctoral studies at the Ontario Cancer Institute in Toronto. In 2000, I returned to my hometown of El Paso to join the UTEP faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences. My research focused on the manipulation of dendritic cells and macrophages in the induction and maintenance of adaptive immunity. I now fully dedicate my time to undergraduate student success.

• Executive Council, Academy of Distinguished Teachers - UTEP (08/01/2019-08/31/2019)
• UTEP Academy of Distinguished Teachers - UTEP (05/01/2019-05/31/2019)
• Minorities Affairs Committee Linkage Fellows Award - American Society for Cell Biology (01/01/2016-12/31/2016)
• Mentor for the American Associate of Colleges and Universities "Teaching to Increase Diversity in STEM" Institute - American Associate of Colleges and Universities (06/01/2016-06/30/2016)
• Undergraduate Student Choice Award for Outstanding Teaching - College of Science, UTEP (12/01/2015-12/31/2015)
• Teaching Fellow - UTEP's Center for Effective Teaching and Learning (09/01/2015-09/30/2015)
• Minority Microbiology Mentor - American Associate for Microbiologists (06/01/2015-06/30/2015)
• Advisory Board - American Association of Colleges and Univesities (04/01/2015-04/30/2015)
• Elected SACNAS President-Elect - Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (12/01/2011-12/31/2011)
• Best Poster Presentation in Immunology - ABRCMS/NIH (11/13/2011)
• Summer Internship - Novartis (04/01/2011-04/30/2011)
• Summer Internship - UT Southwestern Medical Center (04/01/2011-04/30/2011)
• Elected to the SACNAS Board of Directors Executive Committee (Treasurer) - Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (02/01/2011-02/28/2011)
• Conference Travel Award - Keystone Symposia (02/12/2011)
• Elected to SACNAS Board of Directors - Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (01/01/2011-01/31/2011)
• Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching in the College of Science - UTEP College of Science (01/01/2010-12/31/2010)
• Regents Outstanding Teaching Award for tenured faculty - Texas Board of Regents (01/01/2010-12/31/2010)
• UTEP's Center for Hispanic Entrepreneurship Fellow (CfHE Fellow) (01/01/2010-12/31/2010)
• Distinguished Achievement Award in service to the College of Science (01/01/2009-12/31/2009)
• UTEP's Center for Hispanic Entrepreneurship Fellow (CfHE Fellow) (01/01/2009-12/31/2009)
• Jack Bristol distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching (01/01/2008-12/31/2008)
• National Academies Education Mentor in the Life Sciences (01/01/2008-12/31/2008)
• UTEP's Center for Hispanic Entrepreneurship Fellow (CfHE Fellow) (01/01/2008-12/31/2008)
• National Academies Education Fellow in the Life Sciences (01/01/2007-12/31/2007)
• AAI Minority Scientist Travel Award (01/01/2006-12/31/2006)
• Appointed to the Minority Affairs Committee for the American Association of Immubology (01/01/2005-12/31/2005)
• Fellow for the Center for Effective Teaching and Learning (CETaL) at UTEP (01/01/2005-12/31/2005)
• American Society for Cell Biology Minority Scientist Travel Award (01/01/2004-12/31/2004)
• FASEB/MARC Mentor/Minority Trainee Travel Award (01/01/2004-12/31/2004)
• fellow oof the IMPACT and Leadership summer Institute (01/01/2004-12/31/2004)
• Nominated for the Jack R. Bristol for Teaching Excellence Award (01/01/2004-12/31/2004)
• Sigma Xi-UTEP Chapter President (01/01/2004-12/31/2004)
• Sigma Xi-UTEP Chapter President (01/01/2003-12/31/2003)
• AAI Minority Scientist Travel Award (01/01/2002-12/31/2002)
• Inducted into the UTEP Chapter of Sigma-Xi, the Scientific Research Society (01/01/2001-12/31/2001)
• SACNAS Junior Faculty Travel Award (01/01/2001-12/31/2001)
• Michael J. Peach Outstanding Graduate Student Award (01/01/1997-12/31/1997)
• Graduated Summa Cumme Laude (01/01/1991-12/31/1991)
• Minority access to Research Careers Fellow (01/01/1991-12/31/1991)
• National chicano Council for Higher Education Fellow (01/01/1991-12/31/1991)
• National chicano Council for Higher Education Fellow (01/01/1990-12/31/1990)
• Minority access to Research Careers Fellow (01/01/1989-12/31/1989)
• National chicano Council for Higher Education Fellow (01/01/1989-12/31/1989)
• National Science Foundation Recognition Award (01/01/1989-12/31/1989)
• National chicano Council for Higher Education Fellow (01/01/1988-12/31/1988)

• Ph D in Microbiology, University of Virginia (1998)
• BS in Biology, St. Mary's University (1991)

• Continuous Exposure to Low Doses of Ultrafine Black Carbon Reduces the Vitality of Immortalized Lung-Derived Cells and Activates Senescence Journal of Toxicology - Hindawi Volume 2020 Article ID 5702024 (2020), M. Esther Salinas, Denisse A. Gutierrez, Armando Varela, Kristin M. Garza.
• Continuous exposure to low doses of ultrafine black carbon (UBC) reduces the vitality of immortalized lung-derived cells and activates sensecence Journal of Toxicology 2020 Dec 7 (2020), M. E. Salinas, Denise A. Gutierrez, Armando Varela-Ramirez, Kristine M. Garza.

• Belonging (2022), Volume UTEP, Kristine M. Garza.
• Lessons Learned: Guide for New Faculty (2022), Volume Las Cruces, NM, Kristine M. Garza.
• Curricular review for enhancing time to graduation (2022), Volume UTEP, Kristine M. Garza.
• College of Science: overview and research highlights (2022), Volume UTEP, Kristine M. Garza.
• Cross Training: Advising Entering College of Science Students (2022), Volume El Paso, TX, Kristine M. Garza.

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