SNHS Board Biographies
SNHS Board of Directors
SNHS Chairman of the Board Dr. Nelson Totah, PhD is an Assistant Professor in Neurophysiology and Pharmacology at the University of Helsinki. He leads the Neuronal Networks for Learning and Cognitive Control Lab (http://www.totahlab.org/). Dr. Totah’s laboratory studies the neural code that organisms use to learn, adapt, and improve their behavior. Previously, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow (2012-2017) and then a Research Group Leader (2017-2019) at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen, Germany. He has served as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Brain Research Society of Finland since 2022. He is active in science diplomacy and serves, at the request of the US Ambassador to Finland, as the Vice-Chairman of the Fulbright Commission in Finland. Dr. Totah founded the Science National Honor Society in his hometown of Houston, Texas in 2000. Frank Hughes Biography coming soon
Dr. Chuck Hoopingarner Dr. Hoopingarner attended the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Dental Branch, graduating with a DDS in 1973. He has maintained a private practice in Houston, Texas, and was an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Anatomical Sciences for 11 years. He is currently in his 23rd year as an Associate Professor in the Department of General Practice. He was a Clinical Instructor at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies from 1997 to 2007, teaching Advanced Anterior Aesthetics, Comprehensive Anterior Reconstruction, and Advanced Occlusion courses in a live patient educational format. Dr. Hoopingarner has authored numerous articles and lectured internationally on subjects relating to the use of lasers in providing dental care SNHS Board Members
SNHS Board Member Prof. Arepalli is a founding Board Member of Science National Honor Society. He is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Materials and Science and NanoEngineering at Rice University, Houston, Texas. He was the former Chief Scientist of Applied Nanotechnology program at NASA Johnson Space Center. His current interests include synthesis and processing of Nanomaterials (including CNT, BNNT and graphene) for energy applications such as fuel cells, solar cells, batteries and supercapacitors. He also focuses on experimental and computational research for material development for subsonic to hypersonic aerothermodynamic flows in addition to aerospace structures, environmental sensors and bioimplants. He enjoys interacting with students and giving Nanotechnology focused talks. .png) Dr. Wendy Bruffy Dr. Wendy Raso Bruffy is an accomplished science teacher and higher education instructor with more than 30 years of experience in science, healthcare, and medical education. She is a Biomedical Science Teacher at Kinnelon High School where she developed innovative STEM and dual-enrollment programs that prepares students for careers in medicine, healthcare, and scientific research. She also serves as a part-time professor in the School of Natural Sciences at Caldwell University, teaching Anatomy and Physiology. Dr. Bruffy earned her Doctor of Education in Higher Education, Organizational Leadership, and Communication from Northeastern University, where her published research focused onauthentic learning and inclusive science education. She also holds a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Scranton and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Caldwell University. Throughout her career, Dr. Bruffy has designed and implemented numerous college-level science curricula, including Anatomy and Physiology, Medical Terminology, Scientific Principles of Nutrition, Sports Medicine, Clinical Research, and Forensic Science. Her commitment to experiential learning has led to the creation of clinical partnerships, health fairs, and research opportunities that bridge classroom instruction with real-world healthcare experiences. An active leader within the educational community, Dr. Bruffy currently serves as advisor and coordinator of the Science National Honor Society at Kinnelon High School, where she promotes scientific excellence, scholarship, leadership, service, and character among students. She also advises the Health Professions Club (HOSA), Technology Students of America (TSA), Mock Trial, Senior Service, and the Cancer Awareness Club. Her dedication to student achievement has earned numerous honors, including the HAPS Scholarship, Sustainable Jersey Grant Recipient, Governor's Teacher of the Year Nominee, and multiple academic andprofessional recognitions. As a member of the Science National Honor Society Board of Directors, Dr. Bruffy is committed to advancing scientific literacy, fostering student leadership, supporting excellence in STEM education, and inspiring the next generation of scientists, healthcare professionals, and innovators.
MJ Marggraff MJ Marggraff works in space health. Her dissertation studied the risk of space isolation on well-being and performance and how to mitigate the effects by connecting astronauts on deep space missions with their family and close friends on earth. She is a co-founder of Kinoo, a startup that provides a breakthrough solution to increase connectedness between individuals on earth who live at a distance from each other as well as inspire learning and reading in children. MJ is the founder and creator of GravityGames® for Made-in-Space, Inc., which inspires and engages STEM high school and college students to innovate 0G-3D games that can only be played in 0G and printed on the International Space Station, then are played by the astronauts. MJ is a commercial pilot and was a certified flight instructor with a focus on teaching women to fly. “Hummer,” was her call sign, bestowed when her airplane’s mic (without her awareness) failed in flight (which allowed her singing to be heard across the skies.) In her role as a mission support representative to space agents for Virgin Galactic, MJ completed suborbital flight training that included high G-force experiences at the National AeroSpace Training and Research Center in the PHOENIX Centrifuge. MJ held a position as CapCom for the Mars Desert Research Station analog. She is currently an adjunct professor of Human Factors in Aviation and Space for the College of Business at Athens State (on-line). |
.jpeg)
