Teaching
Salisbury University Undergraduate Courses:
Introduction to Sustainability (ENVR 102)
In this course we learn about sustainability and examine our use/waste stream. How do our behaviors affect natural systems? How much can these systems absorb, and for how long, without serious consequences? Is our current path sustainable? Is our present way of doing things fair to others, or to future generations? If not, how do we need to change our ways?
Methods and Analysis (ENVR 300)
Provides and overview of methodologies or the study o interactions between human societies and the environment. Guides students in the focused preparation of a research paper and formal research presentation.
Wildlife Management and Field Techniques (ENVR 355) Spring semesters
Theoretical and practical issues surrounding wildlife management and how habitat assessment and field techniques facilitate management decisions. Field trips enable students to visit local agencies managing natural areas and resources and give students hands-on experience in techniques that commonly are used to assess, monitor, and quantify wildlife populations and their habitats. Research projects enable students to apply knowledge gained in class to test biological hypotheses.
Conservation and Biodiversity (ENVR 353) Fall semesters
Students learn ways to describe biodiversity at different scales, discuss major threats to biodiversity, and explore methods for conserving and preserving biodiversity. Students also engage with speakers from local conservation organizations and researchers, and explore ways in which biodiversity is being monitored or conserved on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
Wildlife Conservation in Trinidad & Tobago (ENVR 495) Summer 2015, 2017
Introduction to the study of tropical wildlife, wildlife conservation issues in developing countries, and community-based conservation. Students study tropical wildlife diversity as well, learning to identify a variety of birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. Co-taught with Dr. Reema Persad-Clem in 2015.
Senior Seminar (ENVR 499) Fall 2016, 2017
Captstone course for ENVR majors. The three aspects of the course include: professional development, a weekly discussion of environmental topics in preparation for contemporary civic discourse, and a capstone project. In 2016, students delved into ways to share the natural history, environmental amenities, and educational opportunities of the Nanticoke River and Salisbury University’s newly acquired Nanticoke River Center with other SU faculty and staff.
Ecology (BIOL 310) Spring 2015, Spring 2016
Introduction to the interactions between organisms and their environment. Exploration of the biotic and abiotic factors affecting individuals, populations, communities and ecosystems. Lecture and laboratory.
Aliens among us: Invasive species (HONR 212) Spring 2014
In this course students use primary scientific articles, popular literature, and numerous interesting case studies to understand the characteristics of invasive species, explore hypotheses regarding the causes of biological invasions, and examine the complex issues surrounding invasive species management.
Field Research (ENVR 486) Topics vary by semester but have included research on native pollinator behavior around campus, homeowner attitudes towards naturalized lawns, and research on the nesting success of ground-nesting songbirds in response to invasive earthworms.
Most of my courses have an experiential or field component. Depending on the course, this might entail visiting a sewage treatment plant or a chicken processing plant to learn about our use/waste stream in Introduction to Sustainability or seining for fish at Assateague National Seashore while discussing diversity indices in Conservation & Biodiversity.
Summer Tanager caught with Wildlife Management class
Heading out to measure and tag leatherback sea turtles in Trinidad
Canoeing in Conservation & Biodiversity
Learning about spotted turtles from Stephanie Lamb in Wildlife Management
Hatchling leatherback sea turtle in Trinidad
Working on a group project in Wildlife Managements
