Latanya Hammonds-Odie

Dr. Latanya Hammonds-Odie vividly remembers the moment that she realized that college-level teaching was the career for her. She felt that her undergraduate professors were fair, not always popular and willing to work as hard as she was.

As a teacher and researcher, she wants undergraduate students to discover the joys and challenges of basic science research. She expects students to "own" what they have learned. A class session should be a discussion, rather than a lecture, so that she can be a facilitator of learning and not a transmitter of facts.

Students must feel that the faculty member is genuinely concerned about their well being, not only academically for the years that they spend in college, but also in their development as a leader in their corner of the world. She believes that providing the best preparation for life is the goal of teaching. Not only must students be challenged to strive for excellence in the lecture hall and in the laboratory, they must have the ability to work collaboratively and to network effectively.

Student learning should include improving basic social and communication skills. She has taken great pride in listening to students present their own research in a competent and professional manner. Sometimes, she marvels at the transformation of the student from one who would like to avoid talking about their research to one who is eager and radiates excitement about her own scientific investigations.

• Doctorate – cell biology – University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Master's – educational research – Georgia State University
• Master's – pharmacology – University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Bachelor's – biochemistry – Spelman College

• Activities that encourage undergraduate students, particularly persons excluded based on ethnicity and race from science (PEERS), to pursue careers in biomedical research
• Implementation of professional development activities for senior postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty members designed to help facilitate their career progression

Publications

“Speaking up for the invisible minority: First-generation students in higher education,” Vijayvardhan Kamalumpundi, Sophielle Silvers, Latisha Franklin, Kit Neikirk, Elsie Spencer, Heather K. Beasley, Celestine N. Wanajalla, Zer Vue, Amber Crabtree, Annet Kirabo, Jennifer A. Gaddy, Steven M. Damo, Melanie R. McReynolds, Latanya H. Odie, Sandra A. Murray, Maria E. Zavala, Arnaldo D. Vazquez, Antentor Hinton Jr., Journal of Cellular Physiology, 1-8, 2024.

"Juneteenth in STEMM and the barriers to equitable science," Alfred Mays, Angela Byars-Winston, Antentor Hinton, Andrea G. Marshall, Annet Kirabo, Avery August, Bianca J. Marlin, Blake Riggs, Blanton Tolbert, Celestine Wanjalla, Chad Womack, Chantell S. Evans, Christopher Barnes, Chrystal Starbird, Clintoria Williams, Corey Reynolds, Cornelius Taabazuing, Craig E. Cameron, Debra D. Murray, Derek Applewhite, Derrick J. Morton, Dexter Lee, Dionna W. Williams, Donald Lynch, Donita Brady, Erin Lynch, Florentine U.N. Rutaganira, Gustavo M. Silva, Haysetta Shuler, Ishmail Abdus Saboor, Jamaine Davis, Kafui Dzirasa, Latanya Hammonds-Odie, Loretta Reyes, Mariya T. Sweetwyne, Melanie R. McReynolds, Michael D.L. Johnson, Nathan A. Smith, Nikea Pittman, Olujimi A. Ajijola, Quinton Smith, Rena A.S. Robinson, Samantha C. Lewis, Sandra A. Murray, Sherilynn Black, Sonya E. Neal, Stanley Andrisse, Steven Townsend, Steven M. Damo, Theanne N. Griffith, W. Marcus Lambert, and William M. Clemons Jr, Cell, 186 (12): 2510-2517, 2023.

“Grant Writing Mentors and Mentees Gather in California,” Latanya Hammonds-Odie, ASCB Post, September 2, 2022.

"Beyond Ticking Boxes: Holistic Assessment of Travel Award Programs is Essential for Inclusivity," Candice Etson, Kirsten Block, Michael Burton, Ashanti Edwards, Sonia Flores, Catherine Fry, Ashley Guillory, Susan Ingram, Richard McGee, Deborah Neely-Fisher, Stephanie Paxson, Laura Phelan, Clara Primus, Kirsta Suggs, Leticia Vega, Elizabeth Vuong, Latanya Hammonds-Odie, Michael Leibowitz, MariaElena Zavala, J. Luis Lujan, Marina Ramirez-Alvarado, and Veronica Segarra, The Biophysicist, 3(1): 64-70, 2022.

"Using immunocytochemistry and fluorescence microscopy imaging to explore the mechanism of action of anti-cancer drugs on the cell cycle," Allison D'Costa, David Barnes, Alessandra Barrera, Jennifer Hurst-Kennedy, and Latanya Hammonds-Odie, CourseSource, 7: 1-10, 2020.

"Scientific Societies Fostering Inclusive Scientific Environments through Travel Awards: Current Practices and Recommendations," Verónica A. Segarra, Leticia R. Vega, Clara Primus, Candice Etson, Ashley N. Guillory, Ashanti Edwards, Sonia C. Flores, Catherine Fry, Susan L. Ingram, Mark Lawson, Richard McGee, Stephanie Paxson, Laura Phelan, Kirsta Suggs, Elizabeth Vuong, Latanya Hammonds-Odie, Michael J. Leibowitz, MariaElena Zavala, J. Luis Lujan, and Marina Ramirez-Alvarado, CBE-Life Sciences Education, 19:es3, 1–10, 2020.

"Scientific societies advancing STEM workforce diversity: Lessons and Outcomes from the Minorities Affairs Committee of the American Society for Cell Biology," Verónica A. Segarra, Sydella Blatch, Michael Boyce, Franklin Carrero-Martinez, Renato J. Aguilera, Michael J. Leibowitz, MariaElena Zavala, Latanya Hammonds-Odie, Ashanti Edwards, Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education, 21 (1): 1-7, 2020.

“Formation of the inclusive Environments and Metrics in Biology Education and Research (iEMBER) Network: Building a Culture of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” Rachel Tennial, Erin Solomon, Latanya Hammonds-Odie, Gary McDowell, Michael Edward Moore, Alberto Roca, and Jana Marcette, CBE-Life Sciences Education, 18 (1): 1-8, 2019.

Invited Presentations

“What I Wish I Knew Then that I Now Know,” HSI STEM Hub Jump Start Workshop Awardee Panel, virtual, March 24, 2023.

“Get in Alignment: Finding your Place,” Clayton State University Biology Senior Seminar (virtual), Morrow, GA, April 2022.

Other Presentations

“What can we do with the largest diverse dataset? Two approaches using the All of Us Workbench,” April Adams, Julie Coleman, Jasmine Baker, Shamika Ketkar, LaTerrica Williams, Latanya Hammonds-Odie, Steven Sherer, Kim Worley, Ashley Butler, Vi Le, Laura Rosales, Stacy Lloyd, Susan Fernbach, Debra Murray, and Brendan Lee, All of Us Research Program Spring 2023 Face to Face, Bethesda, MD, May 2023.

“Towards Defining Inclusive Education: Connecting Across Disciplines,” Ashley Heim, Robin Costello, Holly Basta, Latanya Hammonds-Odie, and Jana Marcette, Southern Sociological Society, Myrtle Beach, SC, March 2023.

“Nontraditional Students’ Work and School Domains Study: A Cross-Institutional Collaboration,” Latanya Hammonds-Odie, Dulce Vega, Benjamin England, and Kelly Barry, 2022 iEMBER Conference, Billings, MT, June 2022.

“Perceived Stress During COVID-19,” Dulce M. Vega, Kelly Barry, Latanya Hammonds-Odie, and Benjamin J. England, 2022 iEMBER Conference, Billings, MT, June 2022.

“A CURE in an introductory biology course improves students experimental design skills," Allison D'Costa, Cindy Achat-Mendes, Judy Awong-Taylor, Joshua Edwards, Latanya Hammonds-Odie, Patricia Ulmen Huey, Elisabeth Javazon, Candace Timpte, C, Association of Southeastern Biologists Annual Meeting, Little Rock, AR, March-April, 2022.

“The CRISPR in the Classroom Network: A Support System for Instructors to Bring Gene Editing Technology to the Undergraduate Classroom,” Michael J. Wolyniak, Donna L. Pattison, Tiffany Hoage, Dawn Carter, Latanya Hammonds-Odie, Sara K. Olson, Jay N. Pieczynski, Maria S. Santisteban, Nicholas J. Ruppel, and Anil K. Challa, Cell Bio Virtual 2021, December 2021.

“Use of a CURE to improve Experimental Design Skills in an Introductory Biology Course,” Allison D’Costa, Cindy Achat-Mendes, Judy Awong-Taylor, Joshua Edwards, Latanya Hammonds-Odie, Pat Uelmen Huey, Elizabeth Javazon, and Candace Timpte, National Association of Biology Teachers Professional Development Conference, Atlanta, GA, November 2021.

“Moving beyond Access with a Data Collection Ecosystem to optimize Underrepresented Minority Student Persistence in STEM,” Michelle Rosemond, Latanya Hammonds-Odie, and Juan Ren, The Accelerating Systemic Change Network (ASCN) and the Network of STEM Education Centers (NSEC) Transforming Institutions Conference, virtual meeting, June 2021.

“Top reasons that science majors cite for withdrawing from STEM gateway courses,” Charmita Burch, Latanya Hammonds-Odie, Allison D’Costa, Clay Runck, David Pursell, Tirza Leader, and Judy Awong-Taylor, 12th Annual Understanding Interventions that Broaden Participation in Science Careers, San Antonio, TX, March 2020, abstract peer-reviewed and accepted; meeting postponed; virtual meeting, December 2020.

“ASCB MAC FRED Program promoted grant funding success of junior faculty members,” Latanya Hammonds-Odie, Prayton Hughes (undergraduate student), Renato Aguilera, Michael J. Leibowitz, Joy Quill, Ashanti Edwards, Fabiola Chacon, 12th Annual Understanding Interventions that Broaden Participation in Science Careers, San Antonio, TX, March 2020, abstract peer-reviewed and accepted; meeting postponed; virtual meeting, December 2020.

• American Society for Cell Biology Fellow
• Spelman College Presidential Award for Junior Faculty in Teaching

• Member, American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB)
• Member, Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research (SABER)
• Member, Association of College and University Biology Educators (ACUBE)
• Member, inclusive Environments and Metrics in Biology Education and Research (iEMBER)
• Member, CRISPR in the Classroom Network
• Board Member, Good Samaritan Health Center of Gwinnett