Dr. Kathryn Nette holds a doctorate in Microbiology from Rutgers University. She has 20 years experience working in the San Diego biotechnology industry, and 22 years experience working in community college education. She is currently Professor of Biology at Cuyamaca College and served over 15 years as the department chair of Science and Engineering, and is currently chair of the Biology department. She was responsible for writing and implementing a 6-year, $6 million HSI-STEM grant from the Department of Education, and is currently the curriculum specialist for the grant which entails the development of new and revamped courses in science and biology. She is the Faculty co-chair of the college’s Guided Pathways Steering Committee, and participates in numerous governance structures including the Program Review committee and the Instructional Leadership Advisory Committee. She was an investigator as part of a NSF grant where she developed active, authentic laboratory investigation curriculum in collaboration with UCSD and two other community colleges.