2024 GMiS Luminaries

Education:  PhD in Environmental Microbiology, University of Massachusetts;  Masters in Biology, Bachelors in Industrial Microbiology, University of Puerto Rico;  Post-doctoral research in Immunobiology and Genetics, Harvard Medical School

Throughout her personal and professional journeys, Dr. Almaris Alonso-Claudio has remained committed to excellence, creativity, and leadership. She is the first Hispanic female scientist hired to become a branch chief at FDA, and the first to lead cutting-edge food-safety research projects – all while supporting collaboration with the International Association for Food Protection. 

As a student, young Almaris led initiatives for minority students in science and helped them advance into STEM subjects.  For this work, she received the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) Presidential Award in 2007.  She also earned the Women Who Make a Difference Award from the University of Massachusetts.

Now at the FDA, Almaris provides managerial direction to research scientists conducting cutting edge scientific projects that cover listeria, campylobacter, cronobacter, and live microbials related to food safety in support of regulatory programs.  She also leads a diverse organization where new strategies for DEI are shared internally and externally for recruitment practices at FDA, and she’s led FDA’s minority internship program for the Office of Regulatory Affairs for five years.

Almaris continues to mentor disadvantaged students in Puerto Rico and across the agency as a mentor member of the FDA Mentoring program, including participation in the first FDA Speed Executive Mentoring in 2024, as well as a coach in training for the Health and Human Service Coaching Program. 

Beyond her impressive work at the FDA, she is the founder and CEO of a small business in Maryland that protects and represents children's books to help increase the number of publications addressing DEIA in public schools. This initiative is particularly important to the support of teachers and education in Maryland and around the world.

Through her inclusive leadership sty;e, her prolific mentoring, and her considerable coaching skills, Dr. Alonso-Cluadio has demonstrated a keen ability to facilitate a more equitable and inclusive workforce.  These and other achievements are a testament to her commitment to, and passion for, DEI in food safety careers.  She’s also proven to be an effective recruiter and implementer of training strategies that support food safety programs at FDA.

With a hard-wired passion for leadership, and by pushing boundaries by pursuing creative solutions, Almaris has continuously proven that her ability to approach challenging situations with strategic vision, expertise, and technical knowledge will achieve results. Her collaborative approach, combined with good communication skills, has allowed Dr. Alonso-Claudio to effectively lead teams and drive projects to successful completion – leading to a track record of creativity, perseverance, and a lifelong commitment to making a positive influence in her field and community.