Current Position

Associate Professor, Botany Department, Connecticut College
Fellow, Goodwin-Niering Center for the Environment, Connecticut College

Research Interests

Woody plant physiology, secondary growth, vascular development, wood structure and function

BSA Service

BSA Secretary (2015-2018), includes ex-officio membership on Education Committee, Election Committee and Committee on Committees
Symposium organizer: Forest Tree Responses to a Changing Climate, BOTANY 2015
Mentor for PLANTS (Preparing Leaders and Nurturing Tomorrow's Scientists), BOTANY 2014

Other Service

International Association of Wood Anatomists, Council Member (2014-2017 & 2018-2021); The Plant Ontology, Adviser for extension to include wood anatomy and development terms; NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences, Panelist; AAC&U Making General Education Inclusive, Participant (2015); Planning, Priorities and Budget Committee, Chair (2015-2018) and Education Planning and Curricular Committee, Member (2011-2013), both at Connecticut College

Statement of Interest

I have served one term as Secretary of BSA (2015-2018) and am happy to stand for election to serve a second term. This has been a very active period in the history of BSA with the transition to publishing through Wiley and the selection of a new Executive Director. Over the past three years I have learned a great deal amount about how the Society operates and would like to put my experience to use as we work to increase the profile of the Society both nationally and internationally. As a professor at a small undergraduate college with a long-standing commitment to botany, I am especially interested in supporting the educational mission of the Society at all stages of the pipeline. I am also interested in enhancing public outreach and making sure that the Society has a voice in plant science initiatives like the NSF-funded Plant Science Research Network. Lastly, as a plant physiologist and wood anatomist, I am interested in programming to help re-establish BSA and the BOTANY meetings as a hub for plant physiology research and education.