Emilia Sola Gracia, Ph.D.
Area(s) of Expertise: Animal Behavior, Parasite-Host Interactions, Ecology, Social Behaviors
Courses Taught
- BIOL 1101/L - Biology: A Human Perspective
- BIOL 1102/L - Introduction to Ecology
- BIOL 1108K - Principles of Biology II
- BIOL 1260/L - Environmental Science
Education
- Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
- Thesis: Social Insects as Solitary Vehicles
- B.S., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Rochester
Research/Special Interests
While Dr. Solá Gracia is not part of a research group now, they are interested in animal behavior, parasite-host interactions, social behaviors, sustainability, DEI, and diversifying STEAM.
Publications
Book title: Thriving as a Woman in Leadership in Higher Education: Stories and Strategies from Your Peers. Chapter title: Thriving through a Teaching Circle: Creating Spaces for the Support and Cultivation of Faculty Women of Color. Annmarie Jackson, Ph.D.; Holley Johnson, EdD; Lauren C. Johnson, Ph.D.; Winnifred Namatovu, Ph.D.; Richelle Oakley, Ph.D.; Chantelle Renaud-Grant, Ph.D.; Emilia Solá Gracia, Ph.D.; Wendy Walker, Ph.D.; & Cristina Washell, EdD - University of North Georgia
Solá Gracia, E., Budas, B.*, & Hughes, D.P. (2017). Observations on a Generalist Entomopathogen within a Social Insect Fortress. Submitted to Myrmecological News.
Solá Gracia, E., de Bekker, Hanks, E., & Hughes, D. P. (2017). Within the Fortress: the Tolerance of a Specialized Parasite in a Social Insect Society. Under review in BMC Ecology.
Brian D. Wisenden, Jorge Y. Martinez-Marquez, Emilia S. Gracia, and Daniel C. McEwen (2012) High Intensity and Prevalence of Two Species of Trematode Metacercariae In the Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas) with No Compromise of Minnow Anti-Predator Competence. Journal of Parasitology: August 2012, Vol. 98, No. 4, pp. 722-727.
Personal Information
Pronouns: Ella, she, her, they, them
Safe Zone trained
Dr. Emilia Solá Gracia is a Lecturer in the Department of Biology at UNG Dahlonega. She began her academic career at the University of Rochester in NY. She majored in Ecology and Evolutionary Sciences and was active with the TRiO programs on campus. While in Rochester she explored her interests in research and studying animals by doing two REU programs and studying Nasonia wasps. She leaped at the opportunity to care for naked mole rats used for aging research.
After graduating from U of R, Dr. Solá Gracia obtained her Ph.D. from Penn State University. Her research focused on how fungal parasites affected social behaviors in ant workers. However, she wanted to help minority students succeed in academia. She first began this journey by teaching Upward Bound students. After attaining her Ph.D. she became a Teaching/Research postdoc at Penn State. Now she is working at UNG with excitement to continue her mission of helping students succeed.