Dr. Michael Espiritu Awarded Tenure and Promotion
We are proud to announce that Dr. Michael Espiritu of the Pharmaceutical Sciences faculty has been awarded tenure and promoted to the rank of Associate Professor beginning July 1, 2025!
Dr. Espiritu first joined the School of Pharmacy in 2017 as a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. John Harrelson. By July 2019, he had earned a tenure-track faculty position, quickly distinguishing himself as both an exceptional educator and an innovative researcher.
In the classroom, students commend Dr. Espiritu for creating a welcoming, engaging learning environment—often punctuated by his signature “dad jokes,” which have become an endearing part of his teaching style.
In the lab, where Dr. Espiritu has mentored over 25 students, his research is dedicated to elucidating the medicinal properties of α-conotoxins—peptides derived from venomous cone snails native to the coastal waters of the Hawaiian Islands, where he is originally from—for the treatment of conditions such as chronic pain and multiple sclerosis.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Espiritu on this well-deserved milestone in his academic career!
Dr. Jessica Merlo Promoted to Associate Professor and Granted Extended - Term
At the March meeting of the University Board of Trustees, the board granted Dr. Jessie Merlo, PharmD, BCACP promotion to the rank of associate professor and granted her extended term. Dr. Merlo joined the School of Pharmacy as a full-time faculty member in 2019 following the completion of her PGY-2 residency in Academia and Ambulatory Care through the School and in collaboration with the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 2017 and completed a PGY-1 residency with the West Texas VA Health System. In her first six years as a faculty, Dr. Merlo has demonstrated excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service to the university and profession. Among her many accomplishments are the following highlights:
- Recognized as P2 Teacher of the Year by the School in 2021.
- Appointed as the Stream Coordinator for the Pharmacy Skills and Application course series (skill-based curriculum).
- Served as a representative of the College of Health Professions on Faculty Senate, as well as the ad hoc committees on Academic Freedom and Faculty Misconduct Policy.
- Co-authored the 2019 and 2023 updates to the AACP Pharmacotherapy Toolkit, a resource used by pharmacy programs across the country for mapping therapeutics topics in the PharmD curriculum.
- Contributed to a successfully funded HOWTO Grant with colleagues from across the College to promote interprofessional education ($985,752).
Jessie spends her free time exploring Oregon’s natural beauty, unique food, and variety of family entertainment options with her husband JD and their two children. She has established herself as a highly regarded educator, collaborator, and colleague during her time with Ƶ, and we are excited to celebrate her accomplishments and her promotion this year.
- Written by:
Nicola Carter, PhD | Chair of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Associate Professor | School of Pharmacy
Ryan Gibbard, PharmD, RPh, BCPS | Chair of Pharmacy Practice & Associate Professor | School of Pharmacy