Sophia Garcia

Instructor II & CSE Community Advocate

sophia.garcia@tcu.edu817-257-4278WIN 360

Program Affiliations

College of Science & Engineering Biology

Education

Ph.D., Texas Woman’s University, Health Studies, 2015
M.A.I.S., University of Texas at Arlington, Science Education, 2005
B.A., Texas A&M University, Biology, 2003
A.A., Tarrant County College, 2012

Areas of Focus

Human Anatomy & Physiology
Science Education

Courses

Human Anatomy & Physiology I (BIOL 20204)
Human Anatomy & Physiology II (BIOL 20214)
Introduction to University Life (UNLF 10211)
Teaching of Advanced Biology (Biol 40330)

Many of my creative activities focus on work in the community through Science Education programming and mentorship. I founded the Latina STEM Fellowship, a program with the mission of supporting young women in STEM through skill building, career exploration, education planning, and mentorship. It is supported through a grant from Lockheed Martin. Additionally, I have developed programming which teaches students with disabilities about STEM topics and programming which exposes students to career opportunities in high demand technical fields. These programs are supported by grants from the Texas Workforce Commission. As a first-generation college graduate myself, I believe that mentorship can be a powerful and life altering experience. Therefore, I mentor students, teachers, and community members formally and informally. Formally, I participate in mentorship through MANA de Fort Worth, TCU STEM Scholars, and the Latina STEM Fellowship. As a scholar, I share my experience and research through presentations at local, state, and national conferences. As a community member, I share my experience and research through local activities such as presentations with the Botanical Research Institute of Texas and the Hispanic Woman’s Network of Texas, commencement speeches at Daggett Montessori School and Charles E. Nash Elementary, and I am part of site based decision-making team for Fort Worth ISD’s Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences.

Aside from helping students gain the knowledge and skills they need for their program and career aspirations, I hope to instill in my students a sense of wonder and respect for the human body so that their motivation for learning becomes intrinsic. My role as an Instructor is to facilitate students through the learning process as they attempt to assimilate new knowledge into existing knowledge by means of active learning techniques whereby students must modify their intellectual framework to accommodate the new information. These techniques include discussion, problem solving, case studies, and critical thinking. Students are reminded that the classroom is a safe environment to ask questions and make mistakes. Students are expected to communicate with respect so that everyone feels comfortable participating in class activities through which they can gain confidence in the material. What is covered in lecture is determined in part by the students- they have a say in which objectives should be thoroughly covered to best help them succeed. Through professional development, I am committed to keeping up with the most effective teaching strategies. My job as an instructor goes beyond the classroom. It is an extension of who I am. I spend time outside of the classroom mentoring students, especially those who are the first in their families to attend college. It is important to help students build the cultural capital necessary to thrive at the collegiate level. Each student is a member of the community in which I teach and live, therefore, they are my neighbor. For me, to serve one’s neighbor is a duty and privilege.

Honors

Bold Woman Honoree, Girls Inc. (2019)

Awards

Excellence Award, National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (2017)
Chancellor’s Award for Exemplary Teaching, Tarrant County College (2016)
Distinguished Faculty Award, Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education (2015)

Member, Human Anatomy & Physiology Society
Member, Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas
Member, MANA de North Texas
Member, Texas Association of Chicano’s in Higher Education
Member, Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences, Site Based Decision-Making Team

Last Updated: March 07, 2025

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