Dr. Paz Herrera was born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. She was raised in a family of teachers and is passionate about sharing the joy of learning with the next generation. She believes we are all all born curious, driven to ask the questions scientists, such as why, how, and what if. As a teacher, her goal is to provide a classroom environment where that inner scientist can grow and thrive. In the classroom, she uses student-centered approaches designed to foster autonomy and a sense of belonging, enabling each student to recognize their own growth and potential. 

While her doctoral work was focused on using biochemical techniques to understand virus-host interactions, her fascination with biology extends well beyond the molecular level in her courses.

• In Introduction to STEM Research, students conduct a search for antibiotic-producing bacteria to gain hands-on experience with setting up and conducting experiments, analyzing data, thinking like scientists, and communicating their findings to the public.
• In Viruses: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, students take a deep dive into the infectious agents that wreak havoc in our world and those that have helped us better understand how our world works.
• In Honors Cell Biology Discussion, students explore the inner workings of cells and hone their scientific skills by learning, in a structured way, how to analyze scientific literature.

From biomolecules to cells, microorganisms, and beyond, Dr. Paz Herrera is interested in understanding how small-scale interactions impact life as a whole. She approaches her teaching in a similar way, working toward making every small interaction, in-class activity, assignment, or project a vote toward strengthening students' identity as scientists. From understanding why antibiotics are not effective treatments for viral diseases to how scientific advances address public health issues, she aims to have students apply their learning to real-life scenarios.