2021 New Faculty

Paul Baures, PhD

Teaching Faculty Chemistry
pbaures@fsu.edu

Paul Baures earned his Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry at the University of Minnesota before his NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship at Texas A&M University. He additionally has a Master of Science in organic chemistry from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Winona State University.

Prior to his appointment in chemistry at Florida State University, Dr. Baures was a Professor at Keene State College. He also previously held Assistant Professor positions at the University of Tulsa and Kansas State University, and a Visiting Assistant Professor position at Bowdoin College. He also was the Senior Scientist at Signature BioScience and Scientist at SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Baures’ focus is to help his students succeed in their study of General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Biochemistry. His research team is developing a fatty acid synthase inhibitor to target cancer as well as investigating the structure-function of antifreeze proteins and small molecules.


Maurico Chagas, PhD

Visiting Teaching Faculty Mechanical Engineering
m.chagas@fsu.edu

Dr. Mauricio B. Chagas is a visiting teacher at the Mechanical Engineering department at Florida State University Panama City. He has obtained his undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering at the Federal University of Santa Maria – Brazil and his master’s and doctorate at Florida State University.
Dr. Chagas research is focused on computational simulation of thermal systems. In particular, the thermal management and optimization of systems that contain multiple thermal sources and cooling media. His main research was applied to systems that are present in the next generation of navy ships, all-electric ships. Sustainable energy topis are also the interest of Dr. Chagas, such as renewable energy and power conversion.


Suzanne Clark, MSW

Visiting Teaching Faculty Social Work
saclark2@fsu.edu

Suzanne Clark is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2012 after earning degrees in social work from Gulf Coast State College and Florida State University’s Panama City and main campuses. She was a non-traditional student, returning to school as a wife and mother of two small children, motivated in part by someone dear to her developing schizophrenia.

Since 2012, Suzanne has been teaching Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and since 2016 providing train-the-trainer services for the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, training and certifying new MHFA instructors across the country.

Most of Suzanne’s clinical experience is in medical settings including hospice, kidney dialysis, and primary medical care. In addition, she has worked with families to provide private adoption home studies, is a Florida certified professional guardian, and is trained to facilitate the private collaborative divorce process. Suzanne’s community outreach and program development experience is with the Gulf Region Health Outreach Program, a University of West Florida BP Oil spill grant, which initiated mental health services at Pancare’s Community Health Clinic and FSU’s Panama City Campus. This grand funding was charged with enhancing/expanding mental health services in a 5-county area and also reducing the stigma of mental health issues with the goal of building community resiliency.


Aimee Frier, PhD, NBCT

Visiting Teaching Faculty Elementary Education
afrier@usf.edu

Aimee Frier earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with dual specializations in Literacy Studies and Special Education from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Frier also holds graduate certificates in Qualitative Research and Program Evaluation. Her current research focuses on the ways in which technology, children’s literature, and arts-based methods support or constrain children’s literacy development with a specific focus on text analysis and composing. Dr. Frier also brings expertise in literacy and language development, assessment and remediation procedures of reading difficulties, and literacy instruction for diverse learners. 

Dr. Frier spent the last three years as a visiting faculty member in Literacy Studies at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. Prior to her university teaching, she taught elementary school in both the United States and Mexico.  Aimee Frier earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with dual specializations in Literacy Studies and Special Education from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Frier also holds graduate certificates in Qualitative Research and Program Evaluation. Her current research focuses on the ways in which technology, children’s literature, and arts-based methods support or constrain children’s literacy development with a specific focus on text analysis and composing. Dr. Frier also brings expertise in literacy and language development, assessment and remediation procedures of reading difficulties, and literacy instruction for diverse learners. 


Jessica Graham, PhD

Director, St. Andrew & St. Joseph Estuary Program
jgraham6@fsu.edu

Dr. Graham is the new director for the St. Andrew and St. Joseph Bay Estuary Program at FSU Panama City.

She earned her B.S. in Marine Biology from Florida Institute of Technology where she continued to earn her Ph.D in Biological Sciences with a focus on coral reef community assemblages. She coordinated components of an international coral reef monitoring program focused on cooperation among diverse stakeholders toward addressing global conservation issues. Following graduation, she worked as the Northwest Legacy Biologist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and played a leading role in the habitat restoration efforts in the Chipola River watershed. 

Since 2015, Graham has been the Program Director of the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership (SARP), a regional nonprofit organization that covers 14 southeast states focused on aquatic habitat restoration and protection. During this time, she has developed effective partnerships, provided technical guidance, planning and financial assistance as well as the coordination of four main programs focused on restoring, protecting, and enhancing freshwater and estuarine habitats in the Southeast region.


Frank Marmo, DCJ

Teaching Faculty Public Safety & Security
fmarmo@fsu.edu

Frank Marmo earned his Doctorate in Criminal Justice from California University of Pennsylvania and his master's in Public Administration from the University of New Haven. He received his bachelor's in Business Administration from Western Connection State University, where he also earned his Associate of Science in Liberal Arts and Computer Science.

Dr. Marmo has served as Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Glenville State College in West Virginia, as well as Visiting Instructor of Criminal Justice at West Virginia University.

For more than 20 years, he served as a Certified FBI Instructor and FBI Police Instructor teaching more than 500 courses of instruction and presentations. As FBI's Chief of Weapons of Mass Destruction policy, Dr. Marmo was a principal FBI contributor and author to Presidential Policy Directives.

Dr. Marmo also has been recognized for his service in the United States Marine Corps, where he served as a non-commissioned officer, combat veteran and liaison with Italian military forces in Beirut, Lebanon.

 


Tory Peek, DrPH, MPH, CPH

Teaching Faculty Public Health
jtpeek@fsu.edu

Tory Peek earned his Ph.D. in Public Health from the University of South Florida, where he also received his Master of Public Health. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration from Middle Georgia State and his Associate of Arts in Health and Physical Education from Gordon State College, where he later became interim head coach.
Prior to teaching at Florida State University Panama City, he was an instructor at University of South Florida. His courses have focused on critical issues and careers in public health, as well as contemporary health science and public health programs and policies. Dr. Peek also has addressed workforce and leadership development.
He has been published in Public Health Reports and Frontiers in Public Health.