Latika Young
Director
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Latika Young
Latika Young is the Director of Florida State University's Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement. She received a BA in Dance and Environmental Studies from Swarthmore College, an MA in American Dance Studies from FSU, and an EdM in International Educational Development from Columbia University’s Teachers College. After completing a Fulbright in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2008-2009, she received a Foreign Language Acquisition Scholarship to study Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian at Columbia University and a Critical Language Scholarship to study Turkish in Bursa, Turkey in 2011. Her research is primarily focused on Southeast Europe and Turkey, peace/post-conflict education, and artistic practices for social change, and her master’s thesis examined how museums function in the reconciliation process within Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Alicia Batailles
Senior Associate Director
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Alicia Batailles
Alicia Batailles is the Senior Associate Director of Florida State University’s Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement. She earned a BS in Biological Science from Florida State University and an MS in Marine and Atmospheric Sciences from Stony Brook University. Her research has taken her around the country investigating marine disease in Apalachicola Bay and the Atlantic Ocean as well as Reef Fish Ecology off the coast of Florida. Currently, she is working on her Ph.D. in Science Education at Florida State University. Alicia is passionate about helping other students experience the excitement of participating in undergraduate research.
David Montez
Associate Director
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David Montez
David Montez is an Associate Director of Florida State University’s Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement. He oversees the CRE's Tech Fellows (entrepreneurship fellowship), IDEA Grants and iGEM programs and works to advocate on behalf of student entrepreneurs and innovators. David earned a BA in International Affairs from Florida State University and an MA in International Affairs from American University in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining the CRE, David was a project manager overseeing the development of social-emotional learning products for the Lastinger Center for Learning at the University of Florida. He is passionate about connecting students with the information and resources needed to fulfill their potential at FSU and beyond.
Kris Ryan
Undergraduate Research Support Specialist
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Kris Ryan
Kris Ryan is an Undergraduate Research Support Specialist with the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP). Kris earned a BS in Communications, an MS in English Education, and an MS in History from Florida State University. Before joining the CRE, Kris was an English Language Arts (ELA) Content Specialist with the Learning Systems Institute at FSU, providing professional development for Florida educators and creating educational resources for teachers and students. She also taught ELA to over a thousand secondary students at Florida State University Schools. She is passionate about helping students expand their minds and achieve their academic goals.
Cary Wall
Tyler Fellows Coordinator
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Cary Wall
Cary Wall is the Program Manager for the Tyler Center for Global Studies. She possesses two degrees from Florida State--a BS in Interdisciplinary Social Science and an MS in International & Multicultural Education. Cary has enjoyed serving in many different educational settings, from working in the Foundation's Office at Tallahassee Community College to advising Exploratory students here at FSU. Her passions are shaped by a desire to advance educational access and quality, starting with helping students take agency in their educational journeys.
Wendy Pioquinto
Wendy Pioquinto is the Outreach and Events Coordinator at the CRE. She received her BA in Linguistics from the University of Florida and her Master of Science in Information from Florida State University. Wendy worked as a public librarian in the Tampa Bay area before moving to Tallahassee and working as Outreach Specialist for the Office of Financial Aid at FSU. Wendy is passionate about providing students, especially those from traditionally underrepresented groups in higher education, with the resources they need to succeed at FSU and beyond.
ASLI KAYA
Asli Kaya serves as the support specialist for the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP). She earned her BS and MS in Science Education from Middle East Technical University in Turkey and her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction, majoring in Science Education from Florida State University. With over 10 years of science teaching experience at different grade levels, Asli is passionate about creating inclusive and responsive learning and teaching environments to foster students' meaningful STEM engagements and promote responsive science teaching at all levels of education.
Cheryl Martin
Accounting Representative for HSF
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Cheryl Martin
Cheryl Martin has her B.A. from Florida State University and currently works for FSU’s University Business Administrators office. She provides financial and travel assistance to the Office of National Fellowships, the Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement, and the Honors Department and is located at the third floor reception area of the Honors, Scholars, and Fellows House. She enjoys travel, the beach, socializing with friends, cooking, architecture, photography, movies, tv, music, books, open wheel racing series, and all animals.