Branch Officers : mission, history and etc

Texas Branch ASM History

The Texas Branch was established in 1941.  This year the Texas Branch celebrates 82 years of rich history.  Early Texas microbiology pioneers are numerous and their legacy is strong.  The first President of the Texas Branch was I.M. Lewis, Professor of Botany (Bacteriology) at the University of Texas.  He was followed by S.W. Bohls who was followed by O.B. Williams.  Since those early days, numerous influential microbiologists have held the reins of the Branch and guided her well.

As it was written in a 1992 Texas Branch newsletter and still remains true today, “The Texas Branch is healthy, well adjusted, and capable of going into the next century with the spirit and strength to face the problems of that future time.  Its members are intelligent, strong, and capable of solving the problems that arise on unknown and unseen horizons.  It is confident in the future, since it has been tested by the passage of years.”

Updated for 2023-2025 Officers.

About Texas Branch ASM

“Because the conference is on such a smaller scale than the National ASM meeting, you have the time to see research that is outside of your own, which allows you to think about what techniques are being used in different ways and have real discussions with the scientists. This really helps get away from the just-do-what-the-previous-group-did mentality and open the door to thinking about your projects in new ways.”
Leslie Perry
“The branch meetings are great because they give early career scientists, post-docs, and graduate students the opportunities to share their research and hone their presentation skills in a friendly and collegial atmosphere.”
Michael Allen, Assoc. Professor / UNT Health Science Center
“I attended my first Texas Branch ASM conference as a Freshman Biology major. I enjoyed spending time with students that enjoy science as much as I do.  ASM conferences inspire me to keep pursuing my dream!”
Sara Nunez, Biology Major / University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
“If you are an international student studying Biology, you MUST attend at least once during your college life. Attendance not only helps you gain knowledge, it is also the best way to meet faculty and students from other universities and colleges which is important for your future goals. When you attend you will learn new things, discover new research opportunities, be able to investigate graduate school options, meet others working in the field, and SO much more.”
Malintha Abeysiri, Intl. Undergraduate Student / University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

Gregory Frederick

President

Department of Basic Medical Sciences
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
#1 University Drive at Jordan Road
Cupecoy, Dutch Lowlands, Sint Maarten
Phone: +1721 545-2298 ext. 404-1304
Email: gfrederick@aucmed.edu

Natasha Kirienko

President-Elect

Department of BioSciences
Rice University
CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research
W200P George R. Brown Hall
Houston, TX 77251
Phone: 713-348-2581
Email: kirienko@rice.edu

Trish Baynham

Treasurer

Department of Biological Sciences
St. Edward’s University
3001 S. Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-233-1675
Email: patricib@stedwards.edu

Heidi Kaplan

Councilor

Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
McGovern Medical School, UTHealth
6431 Fannin, MSB 1.206
Houston, Texas 77030
Phone: 713-500-5448
Email: heidi.b.kaplan@uth.tmc.edu

William Cody

Secretary

Department of Biology
University of Dallas
1845 E Northgate Drive
Irving, Texas 75062
Phone: 972-721-5192
Email:  wcody@udallas.edu

Past Texas Branch ASM Presidents:

  • Kelli Palmer (University of Texas at Dallas) 2021-2023
  • Madhusudan Choudhary (Sam Houston State University) 2019-2021
  • Lee Hughes (University of North Texas) 2017-2019
  • Ali Azghani (University of Texas at Tyler) 2015-21017
  • Kendra Rumbaugh (Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center) 2013-2015
  • Todd Primm (Sam Houston State Univ) 2011-2013
  • Marvin Whiteley (UT Austin) 2009-2011
  • Poonam Gulati (UH Downtown) 2007-2009
  • Heidi Kaplan (UT Medical School at Houston) 2005-2007
  • Robert McLean (Texas State University at San Marcos) 2003-2005
  • Karl Klose (UT Health Science Center at San Antonio) 2001-2003
  • James Stewart 1999-2001

 

Advisory Board and Previous Branch Officers:

  • Gabriela Bowden, Department of Natural Sciences, University of Houston-Downtown
  • Millicent Goldschmidt, School of Dentistry, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
  • Lee Hughes, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas
  • Madhusudan Choudhary, Department of Biological Sciences, Sam Houston State University
  • Michael Allen, Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Univ. of North Texas Health Science Center
  • Gary Aron, Biology Department, Texas State University
  • Tonyia Eaves-Pyles, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch
  • Poonam Gulati, Natural Sciences, University of Houston-Downtown
  • Robert McLean, Biology Department, Texas State University
  • Marvin Whiteley, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Texas
Texas ASM




Copyright 2012 Texas Branch ASM - Design by Bryan Frederick