The University of New Mexico has announced the appointment of six faculty members to the rank of Distinguished Professor, the highest faculty rank at the university. Three of the new Distinguished Professors are women.
Melanie Moses is a professor in the department of computer science in the School of Engineering and holds a joint position in biology. She conducts research on biologically inspired computation, swarm robotics, computational immunology, and trustworthy AI. Dr. Moses has been a leader in the development of inclusive education programs, including NASA Swarmathon, which has engaged more than 1,500 students from minority-serving institutions in a national robotics competition. Professor Moses is a graduate of Stanford University in California, where she majored in symbolic systems. She holds a Ph.D. in biology from the University of New Mexico.
Michelle Ozbun is the Maralyn S. Budke Endowed Professor of Viral Oncology and professor of molecular genetics and microbiology in the School of Medicine at the university. She is an expert and leader in the fundamental research on oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPVs), which contribute to nearly 5 percent of global cancers. Dr. Ozbun received a bachelor’s degree in microbiology with a minor in chemistry from Colorado State University. She earned a Ph.D. in molecular virology from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Tassy Parker is a professor in family and community medicine and in the Colleges of Nursing and Population Health. She is an enrolled member and elder of the Seneca Nation. Dr. Parker has made transformative contributions to Indigenous health, equity, and education at local, national, and international levels. Professor Parker serves as executive director of the UNM Center for Native American Health. Her research focuses on mental health, substance use recovery, chronic disease prevention, trauma, and obesity. Dr. Parker holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sociology and a Ph.D. in medical sociology, all from the University of New Mexico.