Biographical Statement
The beginning of any class is a stressful time for both the students and the facilitator. All of us enter into this new experience with a good measure of trepidation and apprehension, and it is my hope that I can help settle this a little by telling you more about who I am. It is always best if we know the people we are going to work with.
I spent my early life moving throughout the country and even spending part of a year in the United Arab Emirates (Dubai specifically). In fact up until college I had never lived anywhere for longer than a couple of years and it has made me a very out-going and adventurous person. For undergraduate studies I attended the University of Missouri-Rolla, a small science and engineering school, finishing two B.S. degrees (Chemistry and Biology) in four years. I went on to earn a Ph.D. in Microbiology from Duke University in North Carolina and publish a couple of scholarly article on my research dealing with anthrax.
During my graduate career I moved to Michigan and post graduation I went to work for a national laboratory testing firm (EMSL Analytical) as a Microbiology Manager. Within a year I was the Midwest Regional Microbiology Manager and giving national talks on environmental testing. For almost five years I served in this capacity, until I decided to return to teaching full time. I have found that the experiences I have had in industry have been invaluable at helping me look at education from a much more practical viewpoint and this is what I hope to bring to our class.
When not teaching classes I liked to participate in a variety of different activities. I am an active member of my professional community in both the American Society for Microbiology and the American Genetics Society where I serve on the educational committees, working on educational policies for undergraduates. Outside of the profession I spend time with my family, photography and I just finished my first triathlon.
