Meet the Team

Dr. Kalisa Villafana holds a Ph.D. in Experimental Nuclear Physics from Florida State University (FSU). Upon graduating, in August 2019, she became the first black woman to obtain a Ph.D. in Physics from FSU.

Her personal philosophy is that you can achieve and excel at anything you set your mind to, if you are consistent.

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Dr. Villafana is an advocate for diversity and inclusion in STEM. She was keynote speaker at the McNair National Conference 2022, a program aimed at preparing minorities for academic excellence.

She has been featured in several national and international newspapers, podcasts and has served as a panelist for several academic and professional forums.

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In her free time she enjoys working out, traveling, reading and spending time with family and friends. Her goal is to help young people be encouraged and motivated to pursue STEM careers, by providing mentorship and resources.