Faculty Profile for Dr. Dana M Garcia

profile photo for Dr. Dana M Garcia
Dr. Dana M Garcia
Professor — Biology
SUPP 254
phone: (512) 245-3368

Selected Scholarly/Creative Work

  • Ashford-Hanserd, S. N., Daniel, K. L., Garcia, D. M., & Idema, J. L. (2020). Factors that influence persistence of biology majors at a hispanic-serving institution. Journal of Research in Technical Careers, 4(1), 47–60. https://doi.org/10.9741/2578-2118.1048
  • Feiz, K., Dobbins, B. A., Tovar, R. U., Devitt, T. J., Hillis, D. M., & Garcia, D. M. (n.d.). PAX6 in salamander inner ear: A development and comparative study.
  • Tatulescu, D. A., Tovar, R. U., Jacisin, J. J., Devitt, T. J., Garcia, D. M., & Hillis, D. M. (2025). Quantifying intra and interspecific trends in craniofacial morphology between surface and subterranean salamanders from central Texas (genus Eurycea).
  • Tovar, R. U., Dobbins, B. A., Young, R. L., Bockrath, K., Devitt, T. J., Garcia, D. M., & Hillis, D. M. (n.d.). Divergent gene expression between the eyes of surface and subterranean salamander species from central Texas (clade Paedomolge) through development.
  • Camarillo, H., Tovar, R. U., Garcia, D. M., Devitt, T. J., Hillis, D. M., & Muñoz, M. (2024). Comparative developmental morphology of the musculoskeletal system in replicated transitions to subterranean environments.

Selected Awards

  • Award / Honor Recipient: 2021 Presidential Distinction Award for Excellence in Teaching, College of Science and Engineering. 2021
  • Award / Honor Nominee: Excellence in Diversity Award. 2015
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Who’s Who, Who’s Who. 2015
  • Award / Honor Nominee: Dean Nominee for Presidential Award in Scholarly and Creative Activity. 2008
  • Award / Honor Nominee: Presidential Award in Scholarly and Creative Activity. 2007

Selected Grants

  • Ashford-Hanserd, Shetay Nicole (Principal), Daniel, Kristy Lynn (Co-Principal), Garcia, Dana M (Co-Principal). NSF INCLUDES DDLP - ACCEYSS: Association of collaborative communities equipping youth for STEM success (supplemental funding), National Science Foundation, Federal, $14999. (Submitted: May 6, 2019, Funded: December 1, 2019 - November 30, 2020). Grant.
  • Ashford-Hanserd, Shetay Nicole (Principal), Daniel, Kristy Lynn (Co-Principal), Garcia, Dana M (Co-Principal). ACCEYSS: Association of Collaborative Communities Equipping Youth for STEM Success, National Science Foundation, Federal, $299536. (Funded: December 1, 2017 - November 30, 2020). Grant.
  • Garcia, Dana M. Pan-American Congress Travel Award, American Physiological Society, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $500. (Funded: 2019). Grant.
  • Huertas Pau, Maria del Mar (Principal), Lu, Yuan (Co-Principal), Fuess, Lauren (Co-Principal), Peterson, Ryan (Co-Principal), Koh, Gar Yee (Co-Principal), Gracia, Dana (Co-Principal). MARK:Acquisition of tissue processing and embedding machines to produce fixed-paraffin-embedded blocks of biological tissues, Texas State University, $52500. (Submitted: September 2022, Funded: September 2022 - February 2023). Grant.
  • Garcia, Dana M. The impact of one alcoholic substitution on the ability of a protein to transport cargo, Texas State University, $7895. (Funded: January 11, 2022 - May 31, 2023). Grant.

Selected Service Activities

Organizer
Coordinate Bobcat Day for the Biology Department
2013-Present
Undergraduate Advisor
Degree Program Advisor for B.S. in Biology
2011-Present
Chair
Biology Curriculum Committee
2010-Present
Member
Graduate Committee
2005-Present
Member
Wildlife Ecologist Search Committee
September 2024-May 2025