SW New Mexico News

Adriana Romero Olivares, an assistant professor in the Department of Biology at the College of Arts and Sciences, has been with the institution since August 2020. Her work spans teaching, research, and service, focusing on soil microbiology with a particular interest in fungi. She aims to understand how fungi adapt to environmental stress and seeks to anticipate ecosystem-scale effects of global climate change.

Romero Olivares expressed her desire to serve Hispanic students as a significant factor in joining the institution. "I was interested in being in an institution where I could serve Hispanic students," she stated. Her connection to the desert environment also played a role: "I was also excited to be in the desert, as the desert is the ecosystem I call home."

Raised in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, Romero Olivares pursued her academic journey at the University of California at Irvine for her Ph.D., followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of New Hampshire.

Her contributions have earned her several accolades such as the 2021 Excellence in Ecology from the Ecological Society of America and other notable awards from various scientific societies. Recently, she was featured among women worldwide in "Determined to be Extraordinary: Spectacular Stories of Modern Women in STEM."

Reflecting on her career, Romero Olivares shared: “I feel very privileged that I get to do research and discover new things while mentoring students.” She takes pride particularly in her graduate students' achievements: “Some days, I feel like I’m the luckiest person on the planet because of the work that I get to do and the students that I get to work with.”