Eighteen students were inducted into Beta Beta Beta, the national honor society for biology, on Monday, April 27th. The students, who are both Biology and Chemistry majors, celebrated with their guests and distinguished attendees, including Dr. Robert Kane, interim dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, and faculty from the Departments of Biology and Chemistry.
Beta Beta Beta Inductees:
Shania Almoukhtafi (in absentia)
Arrianna Blachowicz
Kayla Buczkowski
Jia-Li Casillas (in absentia)
Hannah Cassidy
Alex Cegielski (in absentia)
Isabella Costa
Abberly Dela Rosa
Madeline Fiorella
Eddy Franklin
Caitlin Garrell (in absentia)
Madeline Gill
Patrick Hennegan (in absentia)
Elizabeth Macartney (in absentia)
Madeline Maugans
Natalie Mellenthine
Elise Spence
Mysha Turk
In addition to the student inductees, Dr. Aykhan Yusifov, assistant professor of Biology, was honored as this year’s honorary inductee. Dr. Yusifov may be the newest member of the Biology Department, having started at Niagara University in August of 2025, but he has already become a vital member of the department. He has participated in numerous Open Houses, serves on the NUSTAR fellowship selection committee, teaches essential courses to majors and non-majors alike, presents his research at several conferences, and has already begun work on his new research lab which promises to introduce students to new and exciting research aimed at preventing cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.
All new inductees are now lifetime members of Beta Beta Beta. They join a network of over 300,000 biologists and gain access to exclusive membership benefits, including eligibility for research and travel grant funding, opportunities to present at district and national conventions, and the chance to publish in BIOS, the society’s peer-reviewed quarterly journal. Members also receive free online access to BIOS.
Eta Xi, Niagara University’s chapter of Beta Beta Beta, began in October of 2002 with 23 charter members. The original advisor was the late, Dr. Robert Greene. Membership continues to grow and flourish each year under the leadership of current advisors, Drs. Virginia Glazier, associate professor of Biology, and Cassie Marnocha, associate professor of Biology and Director of Environmental Sciences.
