Dr. Lourdes Norman-McKay, Florida State College at Jacksonville

Dr. Lourdes Norman-McKay earned her baccalaureate degree in microbiology and cell science from the University of Florida and her PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology from the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. Following her doctoral training, she was awarded a National Institutes of Health fellowship in microbiology and immunology to study the role of viruses in cancer. For the past 17 years she has been teaching allied health students at undergraduate and graduate levels. Currently, Dr. Norman-McKay is a full-time professor at Florida State College Jacksonville where in 2016, her peers and students recognized her with the Outstanding Faculty Award. Her extensive STEM program development experience includes: serving as an academic dean over science and mathematics programs; developing science baccalaureate and workforce certification programs from the ground up; overseeing such programs through state, regional, and federal accreditation; and working as a curriculum designer and subject matter expert for the Florida Space Research Institute and Workforce Florida. She also serves as a US Department of State International Information Program Speaker for diplomacy outreach to promote STEM education, innovation, and advance women in STEM and business sectors. Dr. Norman-McKay is an active participant in the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society. She also serves as an editor for ASM’s Journal of Biology and Microbiology Education. Her textbook, Microbiology: Basic and Clinical Principles was released in 2018.

Dr. Erin Amerman, Florida State College at Jacksonville

Dr. Erin Amerman is an anatomy and physiology professor and author who currently teaches at Florida State College at Jacksonville. She received her first textbook publishing contract in 2003 at age 25. In 2004, her first book, Exercises for the Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory, was published with Morton Publishing Company. One year later, she signed a second textbook contract with Pearson to author a two-semester anatomy and physiology classroom text, Human Anatomy and Physiology. To date, she has authored six textbooks, all of which are in at least their second edition. Dr. Amerman’s books have sold hundreds of thousands of copies across continents. She has also authored, produced, and narrated a variety of media applications. Dr. Amerman has a baccalaureate degree in cellular and molecular biology from the University of West Florida and a doctorate in podiatric medicine from Des Moines University. She has been teaching and developing curricula for courses such as human anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and microbiology since 1999. When not teaching or writing, she is working with animals –– having founded Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary in 2016. Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary has grown to become the largest bovine sanctuary in the country.