ABOUT THE WORKSHOP FACILITATORS

Gabriela Noriega, Ph.D., is Assistant Director for Experiential Learning and Career Advancement (ELCA) at the Statewide California Earthquake Center (SCEC), headquartered at the University of Southern California (USC). Dr. Noriega leads SCEC’s education and career development initiatives, fostering STEM careers by providing students with valuable research opportunities and offering early-career scientists resources and mentorship to navigate key career transitions. A strong advocate for mentorship, she facilitates annual mentor-mentee workshops and integrates research mentoring modules into summer research programs for undergraduate students. Dr. Noriega earned her bachelor’s degree in Geology from CSU Los Angeles, and her Master’s and Doctorate in Social Ecology from the University of California, Irvine, with an emphasis on Environmental Analysis and Design. Her research focused on paleoseismology and social vulnerability to earthquake hazards.

Shannon Fasola, PhD. is the Geoscience Education and Inclusion Program Manager at the Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center (CRESCENT), headquartered at the University of Oregon. Passionate about education, Dr. Fasola manages CRESCENT’s five educational programs aiming to provide research and training opportunities for aspiring geoscientists. Programs range from high school to early career level. Dr. Fasola earned her Bachelor’s degree in Geology from St. Norbert College, and her Master’s and Doctorate at Miami University (Ohio) where she developed a diverse area of interest and experience in geoscience education and seismology with a focus on seismic and aseismic slip in subduction zones and human-induced (man-made) earthquakes. Dr. Fasola became CIMER certified this winter and is excited to co-facilitate CIMER’s Entering Mentoring Training!