Anita Sharma, Ph.D., stands as a luminary figure in the fields of social work and gerontology. As an assistant professor at ULM, she blends her expertise as an educator, researcher and practitioner with a passion for community welfare.

Sharma dedicates countless hours to expanding ULM’s social work and gerontology programs. One of her chief accomplishments lies in developing a standard assessment process and guidelines for a pre-social work major. By revamping the social work curriculum, Sharma seeks to prepare her students for the realities of being a social worker.

Sharma also serves as the director of the GERO Institute, established in 2022. Using her position as GERO institute director, Sharma launched new scholarships for gerontology students, partnered with local nursing homes and established paid apprenticeships. She also hosted several community-based programs, such as the Ageless Women’s Leadership Summit and the Age and Aging Annual Conference.

Assistant Psychology Professor Mary Elizabeth Bridges brings over 19 years of research experience into her classroom. Studying positive psychological resources, she employs these tactics when teaching a class full of college students.

Teaching courses such as Introduction to Psychology, Bridges often works with students who have just entered college. Since she primarily teaches introductory courses, Bridges understands the first-year experience and how to foster a student’s success. She explains that her goal as an educator is to empower students to recognize their own potential and thrive.

While she continues to chart new horizons in psychology, Bridges remains dedicated to nurturing the minds and hearts of her students. Her legacy is a testament to education’s positive role in a student’s life.

Mallory H. Benedetto, an assistant professor of biology, serves as the quality enhancement plan coordinator. She spearheads improvements to freshman biology courses, such as BIOL 1014 Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology and BIOL 1020 Principles of Biology. Benedetto teaches FOCUS courses for these subjects, analyzing different study habits and methods.

As the quality enhancement plan coordinator, Benedetto focuses on enhancing each student’s educational experience. She aims to create learning environments that inspire curiosity, critical thinking and academic excellence.

The Monroe native began her academic journey at Tulane University, earning a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and a master’s degree in pharmacology. Then, she pursued a degree in educational leadership at Louisiana Tech. Now, she combines her interest in neuroscience with her passion for education by teaching FOCUS.

Ann M. Findley holds the Kitty Degree endowed professorship at ULM, teaching cellular and molecular biology courses. She trailblazes new frontiers in bacteriophage research. Her work focuses exclusively on isolating and characterizing bacteriophages, viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria.

Findley’s research offers students invaluable insights into the importance of microbes in healthcare, specifically phage therapy.

She also advocates for pre-college outreach programs, inspiring young minds to pursue science and nursing. Findley embodies the transformative power of curiosity, dedication and visionary leadership.