Current Position
I am currently an assistant professor in the department of Organismal Biology & Ecology at Colorado College, a liberal arts undergraduate serving institution. I enjoy conducting research with my students and teaching courses including Field Botany, Biology of Plants, Evolution, and Biogeography & Phylogenetics.
Research Interests
I am a plant systematist working on the Goodeniaceae and Bromeliaceae and I am interested in bromeliad life history evolution.
BSA Service
I founded the Primarily Undergraduate Institution (PUI) section of the BSA, creating a professional development community for current and future PUI faculty. I am a lifetime member of the BSA.
Other Service
I have spoken about the liberal arts faculty job market and professional preparedness to graduate students and postdocs at multiple institutions. I have also served on various committees in ASPT.
Statement of Interest
I would help to create synergistic feedback between botanical research, education, and outreach by promoting open communication between all stakeholders, accessible information, and best practices. I am an advocate for inclusive botanical pedagogy and more inclusion of botany across a broad educational curriculum.
Current Position
I am currently a professor of biology at South Dakota State University (SDSU). I teach high enrollment general botany and general biology courses as well as coordinate biology education program at SDSU.
Research Interests
My research interests are broad and multifaceted: research projects are across the disciplines including biology education, systematics, ethnobotany of Lakota, and evolution of gene families (R, MAPK and WRKYs). I have successfully mentored nine graduate students and 31 undergraduates and served on 15 graduate committees.
BSA Service
As a loyal member of the BSA for over the past 15 years, I have been actively engaged in the society through my contributions to various sections and through my service as the Chair of teaching section from 2015-2018. I also served as the Vice Chair/Program Director of the section before serving as the Chair. I have been actively supporting BSA education initiatives such as PlantingScience, NSF-funded PLANTS, student award/mentoring programs as well as my current service on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
Other Service
I am currently serving as the President of Faculty Senate at SDSU, and as the Chair of Natural Science Discipline Council for South Dakota Board of Regents. Currently serving as the founding faculty of the Institute for STEM Education Enhancement (ISEE), I have successfully led multiple STEM education initiatives in the state: most of them are on serving rural and minority communities for K-12 science education enhancement, science teacher preparation and professional development, as well as mentoring undergraduate and graduate students for their research and transferable skills. Most of these projects are externally funded and integrate botanical education. I am also serving as an Associate Editor of Frontiers in Genetics.
Statement of Interest
I am interested to bring to the BSA board a different perspective, high energy, enthusiasm, and diverse experiences (on botanical education and outreach) to enhance diversity and inclusion as well as to promote, strengthen, and enhance BSA education initiatives toward accomplishing the mission of the society.
