KARINA GELIS CADENA joined the Department of Statistics as a lecturer in Fall 2025. She earned her Ph.D. in statistics from the University of Florida, where her research focused on developing nonparametric methods for survival analyses, with applications to omics and cardiovascular health data. Prior to that, she taught mathematics and statistics at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, where she also completed her master’s degree. Originally from Colombia, Karina began her career as a high school teacher after earning her bachelor’s degree in mathematics. Outside of academia, she enjoys spending time with her family, exploring nature, reading and listening to music.