Bio/Personal Statement
I have been an educator for four decades. Over a long and convoluted career, I have worked as a field ecologist, a teacher of grades 5-12, a college biology instructor and department chair, a wilderness canoe guide, an international workshop coordinator, environmental researcher and educator, and science education instructor.
My favorite moments continue to be those when people (young or old) make a discovery and allow themselves to change their view of the world. My mantra has long been “We hate what we fear and fear what we don’t understand. A proper inquiry-based education improves understanding, decreases fears, and turns loathing to love and respect.”
This is how teachers and educational leaders will help create more peaceful, productive, and sustainable communities across the globe. Professional Interests
Performance measures of cost-effective, inquiry-based STEM education strategies;
Tangible measures of positive personal and community impacts linked to STEM Education and Environmental Education programming (i.e., STEM / Environmental careers, personal sphere behaviors, public sphere actions, quantitative analysis of environmental protection or improvements) Publications, Awards, and Other Highlights
Science Educator of the Year for Higher Education - Tennessee Science Teachers Association 2021
STEM Education Award – Partners in Education 2019
Academic Leadership Academy Fellow – Bluegrass Higher Education Consortium 2015
SGA Great Teacher Award – Midway College 2015
“Care About Air” Award – St. Louis Metro-East Air and Health Forum 2013
Teacher Spotlight - Belleville East High School 2011
U.S. Presidential Scholars Distinguished Teacher 2005
Outstanding Biology Teacher Finalist – NABT 2005
Audrey Tomera Outstanding Doctoral Student Award, SIU-Carbondale 2003
Illinois Environmental Educator of the Year 1996
Excellence in Teaching Award, Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, IL 1994
Illinois Math and Science Academy Award of Excellence – Aurora, IL 1993
Teacher of the Year: OCS – Monroe, LA 1985
