Julia DePillo earned her biochemistry degree at San Diego State University in 2022.  Throughout her time at SDSU she worked in undergraduate research labs studying both biology and biochemistry. She has been working with the Women in Science Society for over 6 years at both Chapter and National levels. Julia currently works as an analyst for a major tech company alongside her role as President & CEO of Women in Science Society. Julia is honored to be able to continue to promote, educate and motivate women through her work with the Women in Science Society.

​Veronica Casas received her B.S. (1996, UCSD) and M.S. (2003, SDSU) degrees in Microbiology. Veronica received her Ph.D. in Biology (with an emphasis in microbial molecular biology) from the UCSD/SDSU Joint Doctoral Program in 2011. Veronica has more than 20 years of experience as a scientist in the biotechnology industry and academia, with extensive expertise in teaching, mentoring, and training undergraduate students. Veronica’s major contributions to the SDSU STEM community have been in mentoring students and developing programs to increase retention, graduation rates, and support for students in STEM majors. Veronica continues to exercise her passion for mentoring underrepresented students by serving as the faculty sponsor for WSS.

​Maria de Lourdes Sturchler is a first-generation college graduate who received her M.D. (2017, VUSoM) after a circuitous path to her dream of becoming an ER physician. She earned her B.S. in Elementary Education (2005, FAU) after changing majors in college, and began working in her former high school as a permanent substitute for the mathematics department. In early 2006, she earned her math teaching certification and continued teaching at the middle- and high-school level for several years while earning her M.S. in Mathematics Education and Ed.D. in Educational Leadership (2008, 2011 NSU) as part of her plan to keep opportunity’s door open in case she ever wanted to pursue a school district administration career. Her doctoral dissertation focused on the gender gap in STEM fields, and re-ignited her desire to pursue a medical career. In 2010, Maria restarted her medical school prerequisite coursework and simultaneously completed her doctorate with the unflagging encouragement of her mentors and family. In 2013, she gained acceptance to Vanderbilt School of Medicine, and she is currently completing her Emergency Medicine residency here in San Diego at Kaiser Permanente. Maria also rotates through Scripps Mercy, Rady’s Children’s, Palomar, and Children’s Hospital of Orange County medical centers. She is more passionate than ever to support women in STEM, and has enthusiastically joined WSS in hopes of paying forward what her mentors have done for her.

​Craig Norman is currently Senior Vice President of Pharmacy at H-E-B.  Craig joined H-E-B in January of 2007 and has been a licensed pharmacist for 35 years. Prior to joining H-E-B Craig was with Costco Wholesale for 17 years; his most recent position being Vice President U.S. Pharmacy Operations. Craig began his pharmacy career as a staff pharmacist in Kansas City, MO and has also held the positions of Pharmacy Manager, Regional Pharmacy Supervisor and Assistant Vice President Pharmacy Operations. Craig’s contributions to the community include positions on the following boards and committees:  The University of Missouri-Kansas City Dean’s Advisory Council, University of Texas College of Pharmacy Advisory Council and the Texas Medical Association Foundation Board of Trustees.  Craig is also a member of the American Pharmacists Association, the Texas Pharmacy Association and the American Cancer Society. Craig received a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy in 1983 from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and has attended many executive development programs over the years including the seven-month Executive Leadership Program at Seattle University Albers Graduate School of Business in 2005. Craig and his wife Dana of 33 years reside in San Antonio and have two children, Zack and Holly, both of whom are in college.

​Rebecca Lewison, a Professor in Biology, completed her B.A. at Vassar College (1993, Biopsychology) and her Ph.D. at UC, Davis (2002, Ecology). She joined the SDSU Biology Department in 2006 and also serves as Director for the Institute for Ecological Management and Monitoring, a multi-disciplinary research institute at SDSU. Using innovative field, quantitative and lab-based approaches, Dr. Lewison studies vulnerable wildlife populations that live in both terrestrial and marine environments. Her research explores pressing conservation and sustainability issues, e.g. habitat fragmentation, connectivity, sustainable resource use, ecotoxicology, and coupled human-natural systems. Over the past decade, Dr. Lewison has been spearheading integrative research in conservation ecology, policy and resource use, with expertise and experience across a wide taxonomic range of organisms and ecosystems, and is a recognized leader in applied conservation science. Dr. Lewison has also been instrumental in developing initiatives and  activities in support of diversity and inclusion in STEM, serving as chair of the Diversity and Inclusion in STEM Advisory Committee, and as a PI on NSF ADVANCE projects at SDSU.

Dr. Behrens is George B. and Joy Rathmann Professor in Bioprocessing and Director of the Amgen Bioprocessing Center at Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) in Claremont, CA. She is also Program Director for the Masters of Engineering in Biopharmaceutical Processing, which focuses on training the next generation of leaders. As President, SB Executive Consulting, LLC, she provides support for development and manufacturing of biologic and vaccine products. She is interested in projects with clients working to ensure global access to advanced healthcare. She also serves as a member of the Governing Committee for NIIMBL and on the Technical Advisory Board for National Resilience, Inc. Prior to KGI, Dr. Behrens was Senior Director for Process Engineering at Integrated Project Solutions (IPS), providing support for process and critical utility equipment design and specification. At Merck for over 20 years, she was responsible for global technical support and clinical product manufacture for sterile product, biologic, vaccine and chemical API production.