Associate Professor of Biology
Education
B.S., Eastern University M.S., University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Ph.D., University of Kentucky
Areas of Expertise
Predator/Prey Dynamics (Primarily Wolves, Black Bear, Mountain Lion, Lynx, American Marten), Predator Ecology, Wildlife Ecology and Population Dynamics, General Ecology, Wildlife Recovery, Evolution, Natural Selection, Conservation, Environmental Science and Issues, Zoology.
Teaching Areas
Vertebrate Zoology, Invertebrate Zoology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Study Abroad (New Zealand, Bonaire), Tropical Ecology (Bonaire), Non-majors Biology.
Can Provide Commentary on These Issues
Predator/Prey Dynamics (Primarily Wolves, Black Bear, Mountain Lion, Lynx, American Marten), Predator Ecology, Wildlife Ecology and Population Dynamics, General Ecology, Wildlife Recovery, Evolution, Natural Selection, Conservation, Environmental Science and Issues, Zoology.
Specific Species/Projects on which I have conducted research: Wolves, Coyote, Black Bear, Grizzly Bear, Mountain Lion, Canada Lynx, Bobcat, American Marten, Elk, Box Turtles, Alligators, Gopher Tortoise, Salamanders, Stream Invertebrates, Caribbean Reef Fish, Caribbean Reef Invertebrates, Biofluorescence of Corals, American Chestnut Trees.
Could provide commentary on the following East Tennessee hot-topic issues: black bear, impact of wildfires and fire ecology, coyote, bobcat, mountain lions, trash, acid rain, coal related pollution
Could also provide commentary on discussions involving: plastics, climate change, environmental degradation, invasive species, reintroduction of species, development, renewable energies, recycling
Other Information
am a member of the Wildlife Society, American Chestnut Foundation, Association of Southeastern Biologists, Society of Conservation Biology. I am the faculty advisor to the Biology Honor Society (Beta-Beta-Beta) and am actively involved in providing STEM education via visits to local public schools and through our annual STEMFEST event.
I am SCUBA certified, a Rescue Diver (PADI), Dive Master (NAUI), and will soon be a member of Blount County Search and Rescue.