Historic First: Diné College Hosts 65th Annual Microbiology Meeting in Tuba City.
TUBA CITY, Ariz. April 11, 2026. The American Society for Microbiology Arizona and Southern Nevada Branch held its 65th Annual Meeting on April 11 in Tuba City. Diné College proudly hosted the event. For the first time in the 65-year history of the branch, a Tribal College or University hosted this major science gathering. The sold-out event brought together more than 150 people to share their interest in microbiology.
Guests included researchers, teachers, and students from many schools across Arizona and Nevada. They traveled from places like Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, Grand Canyon University, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Navajo medicine man and Diné College teacher Lorenzo Max opened the meeting with a special blessing. Next, Charles Gerba from the University of Arizona delivered the keynote address. He explained how experts test water for harmful microbes to keep our communities healthy and safe.
The science program covered four main areas. These included environmental microbiology, medical microbiology, virology, and microbial genetics. Researchers and students presented 30 oral talks about their exciting work. They talked about things like bacteria on bats and how different viruses interact with each other. A large poster session also took place. Graduate and undergraduate students displayed 60 research posters. This event helped people share ideas and build strong friendships across the Southwest science community.
The most exciting highlights of the meeting were the awards ceremony recognizing outstanding student research. In the undergraduate poster category, five awards, along with signed copies of Microbiology: A Systems Approach, were presented to Landon Gray (GCU), Connor Morgan (NAU), Jessica Neamtu (GCU), Evan Russell (Maricopa CC), and Heidi Stevens (NAU).
In the graduate poster category, four awards were presented to Nicole Dorn (ASU), Joyceline Greymountain (Diné College), Katelyn Hopkins (University of Arizona), and Aishwarya Patel (ASU).
While in the graduate oral presentation category, six awards were presented to Austin Dmitrieff-Finneran (UNLV), Anna Kang (NAU), Jenna Diefenderfer (ASU), Monika Karney (UNLV), Nasibeh Arabameri (UNLV), and Brooke Schmidt (NAU).
Special thanks to the Conference Organizer & Host: Professor Dr. Shazia Tabassum Hakim (Branch New President for the year 2026-2027); ASM’s AZ-SNV Branch office Bearers ( Dr. Dawn Jung Sun Nice Gardiner (NAU), Dr. Holly A. Martin (NSU), and Dr. Helen Wing (UNLV)); ASM’s AZ-SNV Branch meeting Organizing Committee (Joyceline Greymountain, Maya Begay, Phyllis Begay, Priscilla Cooley, Alison Edison, Lorinette A Nuvayestewa, Lisa Scott, Walker Thornton & Cody Raphael); Volunteers from Hakim’s Lab (Karlene Piestewa, Vanessa Chicharello, Paige Tsosie, Molly Talker, Pattie Tuttle, Tori Fulton, Diizhonia Stanley, Romeo Yellowhair, Tyrel Jones, and Ian Nez); School of STEM (DC) especially Dr. Babatunde Ojo, Dr. Partha Saha, and Ms. Marsha Bitsui; Office of the Provost, Diné College (DC); Marketing Department; Mr. Wilson from IT support, O & M, all Moderators and Judges, Dr. Boo Shan Tseng, BOSC, Regional Planning Coordinator, Region 7, Dr. Stephen Young, Chair- BOSC, American Society for Microbiology (ASM); McGraw-Hill & Dr. Kelly Cowan for providing signed copies of the books for undergrad award winners, Tuba City High School Navajo Language teacher and their cultural dance team & all the participants, presenters, researchers and Microbiologists of Arizona and Southern Nevada.
Attendees also enjoyed opportunities for networking and participated in guided tours of laboratory facilities at Diné College’s Tuba City campus. The event concluded with a vibrant cultural dance performance by the Tuba City High School Navajo dance group, offering guests a meaningful expression of Navajo hospitality and culture.
