LSMSA Welcomes New Faculty During 2023-2024 School Year

“We could not be more thrilled to welcome these new faces to LSMSA,” said Executive Director Dr. Steve Horton. “It's wonderful to bring fresh perspectives and energy to what is already an esteemed and enthusiastic faculty and staff.”

 

Spanish Instructor Dr. Telba Espinoza-Contreras was born in Mexico City but was grew up in northern and southern Mexico. She has lived permanently in the United States since 2007.

 

Telba came to the United States initially as an exchange student at Appalachian State University in the year 2000, while she was studying Social Anthropology at Universidad de Quintana Roo. After completing her bachelors degree, Telba embarked on a Masters program in Cultural Anthropology at CIESAS (Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores en Antropologia Social) in Guadalajara, Mexico.

 

In 2007 Telba returned to the United States to pursue a Master of Arts in Hispanic Studies at Louisiana State University, where she also completed her doctoral degree in Comparative Literature.

 

While completing her studies at LSU, Telba worked as a Graduate Assistant teaching different levels of Spanish. She also worked as a Spanish teacher at Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet School, and at Northwestern State University.

 

From 2016 until 2023, Telba served as the Director of the newly founded International Student Resource Center & Study Abroad at Northwestern State University. During her tenure as Director, she also served in various leadership positions, at the local and regional levels, at NAFSA (Association of International Educators).

 

Biology Instructor Dr. Temitope Ojuolape Fadipe hails from Ogun State in South-western Nigeria. She began her Postsecondary education at the prestigious University of Lagos in 2002 and bagged her Bachelor of Science in Cell Biology and Genetics (Second Class Upper Division) in 2006. She had developed a keen interest in academics and research during her undergraduate studies which prompted her to immediately pursue her Master’s degree in Cell Biology and Genetics at her alma-mater in 2008 and graduated with a Distinction in 2009. Her burning passion for research spurred her on to complete her Ph.D. in Cell Biology and Genetics with specialization in Molecular Genetics, in a record time of 4 years, from the University of Lagos in February 2015.

 

Dr Fadipe has extensive research experience in the life sciences beginning from her predoctoral research visits at the Department of Crop Functional Genomics, University of Bonn, Germany and the Department of Analytical Biochemistry, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. She joined the services of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) in October 2014 as a Research Officer I in the Molecular Biology and Genetics Division of the Biotechnology Department and rose through the ranks to the position of a Chief Research Officer in January 2021. At FIIRO, her major research focused on the use of bacteria for the production of bioplastics. She also doubled as the head of the Molecular Biology laboratory at FIIRO.

 

Dr Fadipe was a visiting Professor in the Systems Biotechnology group at the Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Madrid, Spain under the Science by Women fellowship program of the Fundación Mujeres Por África from November 2021 – April 2022. She is also a recipient of several prestigious fellowships and grants including the Arturo Falaschi ICGEB-SMART Postdoctoral fellowship (2016/2017), Applied Microbiology International Event Meeting grant (2020) and President’s fund (2019). She has participated in several training courses and academic conferences. She has several conferences papers and publications in reputable journals to her credit. While in Nigeria, she convened and facilitated three hands-on training in molecular biology techniques series and one bioinformatics workshop. She has mentored, supervised, and trained researchers, visiting academics, graduate students, interns and at least 30 undergrads. She is currently an Africademics Scholarship Ambassador and an ASM Future Leaders Mentor.

 

Dr. Fadipe heard about LSMSA from her husband, Dr. Olaseni Fadipe, Associate Lecturer of Mathematics.

 

“I applied for the position because it presents an opportunity to utilize my background, skills, knowledge, and education to instruct and prepare students for careers in the life sciences,” she shared. “I believes my teaching skills and research experience in the biological sciences would meet the needs of students and fit perfectly with LSMSA’s goals of raising eagles who will take up relevant positions and careers in the industry and academia.”

 

Director of the Chorale and Instructor of Voice, Gregory Wascoe moved to Natchitoches from Milledgeville, Georgia where he was part of the voice faculty and a teacher in the John E. Sallstrom Honors College at Georgia College & State University. He held prior teaching positions at Jones College and Mississippi State University.

 

In addition to teaching, Mr. Wascoe has maintained a steady career as a professional baritone performing leading and supporting roles on operatic and musical theater stages throughout the U.S. as well as in concert halls and recital stages both domestically and internationally. He is the proud father of three amazing young adults and enjoys spending his free time outside exploring trails.

 

Gregory received his Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Texas at Arlington, his Master of Music Degree from the University of North Texas and completed coursework for a Doctorate of Musical Arts Degree at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign.

Dr. Espinoza-Contreras and Mr. Wascoe joined the LSMSA faculty at the start of the Fall 2023 semester and Dr. Fadipe joins the faculty beginning this Spring 2024 semester.