Speakers Dr. ALEXANDER D. HERNANDEZ has more than 30 years' experience in research and education-related roles at various institutes and universities around the world, including The Southeast Environmental Research Center at Florida International University, The Primate Research Institute of Kyoto University, The Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics at Penn State University, and The James Hutton Institute in Scotland. For the last 11 years, he has been a professor of biology at Kutztown University. At KU, Hernandez teaches courses in parasitology, aquatic ecology and research methods in biology. He has supervised more than 30 undergraduate students in independent research projects, with most of them presenting their work at regional, national and international conferences. In addition, he helps supervise undergraduate internships at collaborating local health networks and non-profit organizations. Hernandez is a parasitologist whose research focuses on the ecology of parasite transmission, host-parasite interactions and the management of parasitic diseases in wildlife and livestock. His research has resulted in more than 20 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles and book chapters on the biology of parasites in a wide range of hosts and eco-systems, including trout streams in Michigan, blackwater streams in New Jersey, hyenas in Africa, monkeys in Japan, wild rabbits in Scotland and organic pigs in Pennsylvania as well as other states across the country. Hernandez earned a B.A. in biological sciences from Rutgers University–New Brunswick in 1994, followed by his M.S. degree in ecology, evolution and behavior from Michigan State University in 1997. He earned a Ph.D. in ecology and evolution from Rutgers University–New Brunswick in 2006. SUMMIA SHAH of Allentown, Pa., graduates with a Master of Science in computer science with a concentration in software development. She previously earned a Bachelor of Science in software engineering from the University of Portsmouth, U.K., in 2019. After completing her undergraduate degree, she worked as a software engineer at Blueteq Ltd., where she modernized systems and implemented object-oriented programming principles. She later completed a Master of Business Administration with a focus on business computing and analytics from DeSales University in 2023. During her time at KU, Shah served as a graduate assistant in the Office of the Vice Provost, where she worked as an information technology project manager. In this role, she analyzed and mapped reporting workflows. She also completed a Power Platform certificate to support her research into AI tools, and collaborated with the marketing team to improve visibility and usability of KU ADVANCE’s online presence. In addition, Shah completed several independent and academic projects, including a cryptocurrency analytics web application, and a systems-level project focusing on inter-process communication. Demonstrating leadership skills, she took on the responsibilities of a software project manager, planning and coordinating as though she were overseeing a team of 25 developers to deliver a full software product lifecycle.
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