The University of Southern California, in partnership with Los Angeles Community Colleges, is presenting a half-day (8:30 a.m. – 12 noon) educational and workforce development event to encourage the residents of East Los Angeles (Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Lincoln Heights and neighboring communities in the San Gabriel Valley) to prepare for opportunities related to STEM disciplines. Featuring a plenary panel—
“Science and Engineering as Pathways to Individual Success
and Building A Culture of Exploration”
with speakers:
Lieutenant Colonel, USMC, Ret., former NASA astronaut
Carlos I. Noriega was born in Lima, Peru and grew up in Santa Clara, California, earning an undergraduate degree in computer science from the University of Southern California, and two master’s of science degrees (in computer science and space systems operations) from the Naval Postgraduate School. After a distinguished active service military career as a pilot, instructor, and Space Surveillance Center Commander for the United States Space Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Noriega was selected by NASA in December 1994, and he reported to the Johnson Space Center in March 1995. He completed a year of training and evaluation and was qualified for assignment as a mission specialist in May 1996.
Noriega flew on STS-84 in 1997 and STS-97 Endeavour in 2000. He has logged more than 481 hours in space, including over 19 EVA hours in three spacewalks. Following STS 97, Noriega trained as the backup commander for the Sixth Expedition to the International Space Station and later as a member of the crew of STS-121. In January 2005, Noriega retired from the Astronaut Corps. He left NASA in August 2011. Noriega’s final assignment was as the Director of Safety, Reliability and Quality Assurance for the Constellation Program at Johnson Space Center.
Dr. Diana RamosDiana Ramos, MD, MPH
Medical Director for Reproductive Medicine, LA County Department of Public Health
Dr. Ramos is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is the Chair of the American Medical Association’s Minority Affairs Consortium; serves on the steering committees for the National Hispanic Leadership Fellowship and National Commission on Healthcare Disparities, and is a March of Dimes board member. She is also a spokesperson for cervical cancer awareness and emergency contraception for the Los Angeles County office of Women’s Health and was appointed to the California Women’s Health Council Commission in 2006. She joined the CMA Foundation Board of Directors in 2008.
She earned the American Medical Association Young Physician Leadership Award in 2006; the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Recognition for Outstanding Service—Los Angeles Public Health Commission, 2005; the American Medical Association Community Service Award, 2004; and Pfizer National Award for Community Outreach, 2003.
Dr. Ramos received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California; a Masters in Public Health, emphasis in management from University of California Los Angeles; and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. She completed her internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the Los Angeles County-USC Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
“A Primera Hora” (“At First Hour”) Host
Univision Communications Inc.
Gabriela Teissier serves as host of Univision Los Angeles’ morning show A Primera Hora (At First Hour) that airs Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.
She received “Best News Anchor” recognition by the prestigious LA Press Club as well as Emmy’s and Telly awards for her reporting, producing, anchoring and writing skills. In 2015, she won an Emmy for Regularly Scheduled Daily Morning Newscast of which she hosts. Most recently, in 2016 she won an Emmy for Light News Story Multi-Part Report for Junipero, a timely story that put in perspective the human and social impact of the missions in California.
She has interviewed important personalities including President Barack Obama, the President and Nobel laureate Shimon Peres, President of Mexico Vicente Fox, journalist and former first lady of California Maria Shriver, just to name a few.
She was honored her with the Excellence in Broadcast Journalism Impact Award by the National Hispanic Media Coalition and has been recognized numerous times by the California Senate and the City of Los Angeles for her contributions to the betterment of the community and people she serves.
She is passionate about environmental, social and education topics. Teissier serves on the board of American Heart Association as well as the board of directors of Act-Today, a not for profit organization that provides therapy and services for families with people with Autism.
She has been recognized as “Ambassador” by the City of Hope and has helped host Mexico’s “Teleton” year-after-year.
Born and raised in Mexico City, Gabriela grew up speaking Spanish, German and English, becoming fully trilingual before she moved to the United States.