Department:
Geology
Degrees:
Ph.D., M.A., Indiana University; B.S. Auburn University
Curriculum Vitae:
Teaching Experience:
I came to Appalachian as Chair of the Department of Geology in 2005 after spending 28 years at the University of West Georgia. Trained as a paleontologist, my research centers on Paleozoic echinoderms, Devonian and Carboniferous community structure, and rebounds from mass extinction events. My field areas span the globe giving me an opportunity to work with colleagues from many different cultures. For the past 25 years, I have conducted fieldwork in China with colleagues from Indiana University, the Nanjing Institute, and the Academy of Geological Sciences in Beijing. At West Georgia, I was twice recognized as the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia Distinguished Professor.
Why I like to teach honors courses:
As a paleontologist, my research on evolutionary paleobiology straddles the boundaries between Geology and Biology. My freshman honors courses challenge students to think differently about the world around them, and being talented motivated students they readily accept the challenge. I derive great joy in seeing the intellectual growth in my students in their earliest days as university students.
Emeritus:
No