Marissa A. Vara
About Marissa A. Vara
Marissa A. Vara is a Higher Education Specialist at UCAR - The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, where she has worked since 2021. She has a diverse background in education and research, with previous roles at various institutions including The University of Texas at Austin and the National Science Foundation.
Work at UCAR
Marissa A. Vara has served as a Higher Education Specialist at UCAR - The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research since 2021. In this role, she leads communications for the Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science (SOARS) program across multiple platforms. She co-manages social media accounts for the UCAR Center for Science Education, focusing on developing and implementing a comprehensive social media strategy. Additionally, Vara collaborates with a diverse team, including subject matter experts and graphic artists, to coordinate the work of students, mentors, and advisors. She also leads a mentoring network for NCAR|UCAR|UCP summer internships, providing essential guidance and training for mentors.
Education and Expertise
Marissa A. Vara earned a Bachelor's Degree in Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences from The University of Texas at Austin, where she studied from 2009 to 2014. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master of Science (M.S.) in Paleoclimatology from Louisiana State University, completing her studies from 2016 to 2018. Her academic background provides a strong foundation for her work in higher education and atmospheric research.
Background
Prior to her current position at UCAR, Marissa A. Vara held various roles in academia and research. She worked as an Undergraduate Research Assistant at The University of Texas at Austin's Jackson School of Geosciences from 2011 to 2014. She was a Graduate Assistant at Louisiana State University from 2016 to 2018 and served as a Science Assistant at the National Science Foundation from 2019 to 2021. Vara also has experience as a Secondary Science Teacher at Uvalde High School and as a Project Manager at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Achievements
Marissa A. Vara has developed a multi-day in-person training program for mentors, focusing on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) training. She serves as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Lead for UCAR Community Programs, where she advises leadership on DEI initiatives. Additionally, she fosters internal and external partnerships to enhance the reach of the SOARS program within the scientific community.