Lakisha Barrett
Teaching Experience
Education:
PhD
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Major: Molecular Biology/Microbiology May 2011
Bachelor of Science
West Texas A&M University Major: Biology/Biochemistry June 2006
Academic Experience:
Austin Community College
Associate Professor July 2020-Present
Biology Fundamentals, Cellular and Molecular Biology, and Microbiology for the Health Sciences. Instruction for all levels of Biology from foundational concepts to practical application. Lecture and Lab Courses. Service learning, research, and alternative assessments to drive scholarship, inquiry, retention, and persistence.
Faculty Senate President- Elect and President Aug 2025- July 2027
Served 2000 faculty members in shared governance to love our students to success.
Associate Dean of Belonging and Purpose in Teaching in Learning Dec 2023- Aug 2025
Bridge between the Office of Belonging and Purpose and Instruction to build culture, community, data informed evidence-based practices to impact instruction and
outcomes, community knowledge in humanizing education, and UDL principles to increase faculty and student success.
St. Edwards University
Visiting Assistant Professor August 2019 – Present
Microbiology; General Biology Lab 1; Human Microbiome; Human Anatomy
General Microbiology taught for majors focusing on the role of microbes in research and health. Course-based
Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) implemented yeast to better understand the effects of environmental
changes on cell viability. Lecture and Lab course.
Journal article-based course for upper-level students to learn of the human microbiome through the lens of
current research.
One semester course designed to study the gross anatomy of the human body and basic physiology.
Employed web-based anatomy applications (APR revealed and Visible Body) and animal models (cats
and rats). Lecture and Lab course.
St. Edwards University
Adjunct Faculty August 2018 – May 2019
Human Anatomy; General Biology Lab 1; General Biology Lab 2
One semester elective covering the human body and its organ systems. Gross anatomy level with some
physiological functions covered. Lecture.
Introductory biology laboratory courses, two-semester sequence, employing Course-based Undergraduate
Research Experience (CURE) to actively learn scientific principles, basic statistics, and communication
skills. Student-driven research focus: water quality.
South University-Austin
Adjunct Faculty September 2017 – April 2019
General Microbiology and Principles of Genetics
Introductory microbiology course for allied health majors (primarily nursing students). Lecture and lab
course.
Introductory genetics course for majors covering Mendelian to population genetics.
Holy Names University
Summer Enrichment Program Coordinator May 2016 – August 2016
Program and course planning for a residential summer program aimed at the successful
matriculation and eventual graduation of incoming first-year students. A pilot program, which was
successful at retaining 80% of participants.
Holy Names University
Adjunct Faculty January 2013 – May 2016
Allied Health Microbiology and Principles of Biology Lab
General introduction to microbiology with a focus on allied health, specifically tailored for
Nursing and Pre-Med students. Lecture and lab course.
Introductory biology course designed for majors. Topics included genetics, cellular respiration,
basic molecular biology techniques.
Los Medanos College
Adjunct Faculty August 2015 – December 2015
Biology of Health
Introductory biology course designed to present biology concepts using health-focused
topics. Lecture and Lab course.
Dominican University
Adjunct Faculty August 2012 – May 2013
Cellular and Developmental Biology and Immunology
Introductory biology course covering topics such as genetics, biochemistry, and molecular biology
and development. General introduction to immunology with application to current techniques and exploration
of emerging trends/topics of the field. Lab and lecture course.
Research Experience:
Buck Institute for Research on Aging July 2011 – September 2012
Research Supervisor: Dr. Pankaj Kapahi
Project Title: The Role of Nutrient Signaling in Aging.
Project: Investigation of diet-dependent regulation of the Insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) signaling
pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Results: Genetic and biochemical data suggest novel regulators of the IGF-1 pathway in response to
environmental signals that influence aging.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee August 2006 – May 2011
Major Professor: Dr. Sergei Kuchin
Dissertation Title: Regulation of the Stress-Response Protein Kinase Snf1 of Yeast.
Project: Identification and characterization of members of the Snf1 signaling pathway.
Results: Using biochemical and genetics-based approaches, several novel members of the Snf1 glucose
signaling pathway were identified, and specific regulatory mechanisms of both Snf1 and its pathway
members were defined.
Publications:
Khanna, A., Kumar, J., Vargas, M., L. Barrett, Katewa, S., Li, P., McCloskey, T., Sharma, A., Naude, N., Nelson, C., Brem, R., Killilea, D., Mooney, S., Gill, M., P. Kapahi, A genome-wide screen of bacterial mutants that enhance dauer formation in C. elegans. Nature. Scientific Reports, 2016. (6) Article 38764.
Maziarz, M., A. Shevade, L. Barrett, and S. Kuchin, Springing into action: Reg2 negatively regulates Snf1 protein kinase and facilitates recovery from prolonged glucose starvation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2016. 82(13): p. 3875-85
Barrett, L., M. Orlova, and S. Kuchin, PKA contributes to the negative control of Snf1 protein kinase in yeast. Eukaryotic Cell, 2012. 11(2): p. 119-28.
Orlova, M., H. Ozcetin, L. Barrett, and S. Kuchin, Roles of the Snf1-activating kinases during nitrogen limitation and pseudohyphal differentiation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Eukaryotic Cell, 2010. 9(1): p. 208-14.
Orlova, M., L. Barrett, and S. Kuchin, Detection of endogenous Snf1 and its activation state: application to Saccharomyces and Candida species. Yeast, 2008. 25(10): p. 745-54.
Professional Affiliations:
American Society for Microbiology
Genetics Society of America
Honors and Awards:
Postdoctoral
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Training Fellow (T32 Program, NIH/NIA)
Graduate
Advanced Opportunity Program Fellow
Chancellor Award Recipient
Professional Publications
LaKisha Barrett. McGraw Hill Higher Education. (2024, Feb). Embracing learning technologies to foster belonging, engagement, and success. McGraw Hill Higher Education Blog. https://www.mheducation.com/highered/blog/2024/06/embracing-learning-technologies-belonging-engagement-success.html
LaKisha Barrett. (interviewed for an Article written by Michael Jortner). Inside Higher Ed. (2024). McGraw Hill's Sharpen Study App: Empowering Students to Succeed. Inside Higher Ed Narratives. https://narratives.insidehighered.com/mcgraw-hill-sharpen-study-app/
LaKisha Barrett. McGraw Hill Higher Education. (2024, July). Grow awareness, embrace partnership, demystify the college experience. McGraw Hill Higher Education Blog. https://www.mheducation.com/highered/blog/2024/07/grow-awareness-embrace-partnership-demystify-college-experience.html
LaKisha Barrett. McGraw Hill Higher Education. (2023, March). Shifting from earning to learning: Rethinking assessment to empower students to self-agency. McGraw Hill Higher Education Blog. https://www.mheducation.com/highered/blog/2024/06/x-2.html
Khanna, A., Kumar, J., Vargas, M., L. Barrett, Katewa, S., Li, P., McCloskey, T., Sharma, A., Naude, N., Nelson, C., Brem, R., Killilea, D., Mooney, S., Gill, M., P. Kapahi, A genome-wide screen of bacterial mutants that enhance dauer formation in C. elegans. Nature. Scientific Reports, 2016. (6) Article 38764.
Maziarz, M., A. Shevade, L. Barrett, and S. Kuchin, Springing into action: Reg2 negatively regulates Snf1 protein kinase and facilitates recovery from prolonged glucose starvation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2016. 82(13): p. 3875-85
Barrett, L., M. Orlova, and S. Kuchin, PKA contributes to the negative control of Snf1 protein kinase in yeast. Eukaryotic Cell, 2012. 11(2): p. 119-28.
Orlova, M., H. Ozcetin, L. Barrett, and S. Kuchin, Roles of the Snf1-activating kinases during nitrogen limitation and pseudohyphal differentiation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Eukaryotic Cell, 2010. 9(1): p. 208-14.
Orlova, M., L. Barrett, and S. Kuchin, Detection of endogenous Snf1 and its activation state: application to Saccharomyces and Candida species. Yeast, 2008. 25(10): p. 745-54.
Published: August 22, 2025