Biosketches of invited speakers, Institute facilitators, and ... - SENCER

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Amy Wilstermann is an associate professor of biology at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI. She received her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Oakland University and her doctoral degree, also in biochemistry, from Vanderbilt University where she studied biophysical interactions between topoisomerase II and chemotherapeutic agents that target the enzyme. Amy continues to study topoisomerase interactions and has recently begun investigate the relationships that exist between bacterial infections, collagen degrading enzymes, and the premature rupture of fetal membranes. Prior to taking her current position at Calvin, Amy taught at Trevecca Nazarene University (Nashville, TN) where she served as the coordinator for the Department of Science and Mathematics and helped to develop an interdisciplinary course entitled Issues in Science for the core curriculum. At Calvin, Amy serves on the Biology Curriculum Committee and has participated in the department’s recent revision of the introductory sequence of courses for majors. Amy regularly teaches introductory biology and microbiology courses for pre-health students, and a newly developed first-semester SENCER course, The Living World: Concepts and Connections, that serves both biology majors and non-major students. At SSI 2010, Amy will co-present the concurrent session “Field Report: Teaching Biology Through Societal Challenges—Lessons from a New Biology Course.” Jason Wingert is an assistant professor of health and wellness at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. He received his master's degree in physical therapy from the University of Missouri–Columbia and his doctorate in movement science from Washington University in St. Louis. Jason worked as a pediatric physical therapist before earning his doctorate. His clinical experiences fueled his research, which quantified sensory deficits in young people with cerebral palsy and related those sensory changes to specific central nervous system abnormalities using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In 2008, Jason was awarded the Young Investigator award by the Child Neurology Society. He is currently expanding his earlier research by investigating the role that age-related somatosensory changes play in increasing fall risk with age. He regularly teaches courses on anatomy, men's health, and pathophysiology of chronic diseases. The latter course is part of a multidisciplinary cluster of courses called Food for Thought, which investigates different aspects of food, food systems, and food culture and became a SENCER model in 2008. At SSI 2010, Jason will co-present a session on “Food for Thought: Integrating Learning Across STEM and Non-STEM Disciplines Using Cross-Class Projects.” Thomas Wood is associate professor at George Mason University where he coordinates conservation studies in New Century College. He also coordinates the master’s program in zoo and aquarium leadership and directs doctoral students studying conservation biology at the Smithsonian Institution. For the past ten years, Tom has led development of a formal education and research program between George Mason and the Smithsonian. He also serves as director of environmental studies at Airlie in Warrenton Virginia. He has been instrumental in the development of many learning communities with natural history and conservation-based themes in New Century College. The learning community, Mysteries of Migration: Consequences for Conservation Policies, was co-developed with Dr. Elizabeth Gunn and selected as a SENCER model course in 2001. Tom was the recipient of George Mason University’s Teaching Excellence Award in 1999. At SSI 2010, Thomas will present a session on “A SENCER National Model: Mysteries of Migration” and serve as a panelist on the work session “Advanced Civic Engagement.” He will also co-facilitate work sessions on “Developing a SENCER Course” and “Planning Next Steps and Accessing Resources.” 74
Caralyn B. Zehnder is an assistant professor and the environmental science program coordinator at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Georgia. She received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Penn State University and then spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer teaching math and science in a village high school in Western Samoa. Caralyn earned her PhD in ecology from the University of Georgia focusing on plant-insect interactions. For the past two years, Caralyn has been teaching a variety of courses in the biological and environmental sciences department at GCSU including environmental science, ecology, population and community ecology, biodiversity and a graduate-level teaching techniques class. This fall, Caralyn is teaching an environmental science capstone course on alternative energy which she developed in collaboration with a chemistry professor during a SENCERsponsored workshop. Caralyn participated in this workshop during her first year at GCSU and now helps mentor faculty interested in designing courses that include civic engagement. Additionally, this fall she will be leading a SENCER post-institute implementation award funded workshop for biology graduate students. Workshop participants will design new SENCERized labs for Introduction to Environmental Science. At SSI 2010, Caralyn will co-present the concurrent session “Creating SENCER Faculty Networks on Your Campus.” She will also present a poster on “Teaching Biology Graduate Students to Develop SENCERized Undergraduate Laboratory Activities.” Ia (Mzia) Zhvania is a professor of functional neuroanatomy and cytology at Georgian Ilia State University. Ia is also head researcher at Georgian I. Beritashvili Institute of Physiology. She received her doctoral degree after finishing PhD courses at the Institute of Brain, Russian Academy of Medical Science and her Science Doctor Degree at Georgian State University (specialty: cell biology). At the Institute of Physiology, her scientific group investigates structural changes of different brain regions provoked by different forms of epilepsy and addiction and also studies stress-induced molecular alterations and the role of catecholamines in these alterations. Recently, Ia’s group has begun to develop atomic force microscopic research of 3D architecture and mechanical properties of live neuron. For two years, Ia, with two other Georgian scientists, coordinated SENCER Project in Georgia (SENCER- Georgia). The project is now finished, but former coordinators created the Georgian SENCER Innovation Center, with a special emphasis on science education according to SENCER philosophy. During the last couple of years, in Georgia and Armenia, with financial support from SENCER, SENCER-Georgia and the Sigma Xi Georgian Branch, the coordinators have organized different meetings, workshops, seminars related with science promotion and promotion of the SENCER ideals. Ia is now developing a new science education course with a focus on nanobiology/nanomedicine. This course will be offered to master students of Ilia State University (specialty: molecular biology) beginning in September. At SSI 2010, Ia is especially interested to learn more about how American professors teach such courses. At SSI 2010, Ia will co-present the concurrent session “Field Reports: International SENCER Initiatives.” 75
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Biosketches of invited speakers, Institute facilitators, and ... - SENCER

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