Dr. Patricia Silveyra was born and raised in Argentina, where she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, and her PhD in Biochemistry, from the University of Buenos Aires. She came to the United States in 2008 after being selected for an Ambassadorial Scholarship by The Rotary Foundation to pursue postdoctoral studies at Penn State University, and in 2011 she joined their faculty. Dr. Silveyra‘s research group studies molecular mechanisms of lung inflammation, with special emphasis on the impact of air pollution and sex hormones in asthma exacerbations. She has received multiple research grants including K01 and BIRCWH awards from NIH, Graduate Women in Science, and foundation grants. She has also received awards for her promotion of women in science and community service, including the Achieving Women Award, the YWCA Tribute to Women of Excellence, the Paul Harris Fellowship award from Rotary International, and the Leadership Harrisburg Area “Extra Mile” award. Dr. Silveyra has also served as President of a non-profit organization “Estamos Unidos de Pennsylvania” with whom she supports the central Pennsylvania Latino community in the areas of education, cultural competence, leadership and social skills development. She is also the faculty advisor for the Penn State Hershey Latino Hispanic Medical Student Association (LMSA), and she has served in multiple leadership roles at Penn State. In 2015, she served as interim Director for Diversity and Inclusion in Education for the Penn State College of Medicine, and she founded a summer internship program for local undergraduate students interested in careers in science and medicine. Dr. Silveyra has published over 35 peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters and she has presented her work extensively.