Honoring
the Life of
Jessica Soto Pérez
UMBC Graduate Student
Friday, July 16, 2004
3:00 pm
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Administration Building – Lecture Hall III
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Tributes to Jessica
Opening Remarks
Dr. Renetta Tull, Director of PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP
Moment of Silence
Rev. Robert Waddail, Baptist Campus Minister
UMBC Religious Staff Council
On behalf of UMBC
Dr. Charles J. Fey, Vice President of Student Affairs
On behalf of the UMBC Graduate School
Dr. Scott Bass, Dean
On behalf of the UMBC Graduate Student Association
Adrienne Starks, Incoming GSA Vice President
Hilde Roksund, GSA Senator
On
behalf of the Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering
Dr.
Shlomo Carmi, Dean of Engineering
Dr. Douglas Frey, Jessica’s Advisor
Judith Kadarusman, Graduate Student and Friend
Hong Shen and Delphilia Taylor, Lab mates
On behalf of Genesis Toastmasters at UMBC
Dr. Vera daSilva
Oscar Zalamia, P.E., Toastmasters District 18
On Behalf of PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP
Dr. Renetta G. Tull, Director
Dr. Johnetta Davis, Associate Dean of the Graduate School, PROMISE at UM College Park
Jill Pegues, PROMISE Coordinator at UMB
Sonia Arteaga, Graduate Student, Psychology, PROMISE at UMBC
Letters and Citations
Regional Upward Bound Math Science Program
Read by James Lee, Fellow CBE Classmate
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Read by Dr. Jordan Warnick, Co-PI of PROMISE at UMB
American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
Read
by Dr. Theresa Good, Graduate Program Director, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Special
Announcement:
The
Jessica Soto Pérez University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez – UMBC Graduate School
Bridge Fund
Dr. Janet Rutledge, UMBC Graduate School Associate Dean
Dr.
L. Antonio Estévez, UPR
Mayagüez (by letter)
Closing
Refreshments in the lobby are
provided by the UMBC Graduate Student Association.
Program Committee
UMBC Office of Student Affairs
UMBC Graduate School
PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP
Written tributes to the family
may be posted to the PROMISE
website:
Post Messages for Jessica's
Family
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Certificate in Biochemical Regulatory Engineering from UMBC, and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus. Jessica's interests were in bioseparations and chromatography, specifically involving the separation and
purification of biopolymers. Her topic area was "Novel methods for chromatofocusing." She had a great deal of industrial
experience having worked and interned in various capacities (Research Scientist, Quality Process Analyst, Coordinator, and
Group Leader) at the following companies: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Sweetheart Cup Company, Syon Corporation in the U.S.
and Panzardi-ERM in Puerto Rico. Jessica was a member of the American Institute for Chemical Engineers (AICHE) and
the American Chemical Society (ACS). She presented at ACS National meetings and was recently on the planning committee
for the 2004 Mid-Atlantic Biochemical Engineering Consortium conference.
program, and has recruited students from the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez for UMBC's Graduate Horizons
program for underrepresented undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing graduate education. Jessica
was also a participant in PROF-it, the PROMISE Professors-in-Training Program as a guest lecturer for the
McNair Research Course.
Jessica
was a proud member and officer of the Genesis Toastmasters.
She won public speaking awards and was always eager to share what she had learned with others.
In
addition to all of her industrial work and academic training, Jessica always
had a smile, a word of encouragement, a wink, or a laugh to share with someone
else. Jessica was interested in everyone around her,
treating them with respect and sharing her passion for life. We will remember
her; we will learn from her, we miss her!
En route to her Ph.D., Jessica completed all of the requirements for the Master’s of Science Degree. The M.S. degree will be conferred posthumously on August 31, 2004.