1. Can you tell us your home department and how long have you been a faculty member at APU?

I have been teaching at APU for 20 years in the Department of Biology and Chemistry.

2. What are the classes you teach?

I have taught 10 different classes over the years but in the Spring of 2021, I am teaching Cell Biology Lecture/lab/discussion, Senior Seminar, PreHealth Seminar, and the departmental Research Seminar.

3. What is your area of research/teaching and how did you get interested in this area?

I could write pages. But, the short answer is that I got interested in parasites 40 years ago when I traveled to Ecuador and saw the issues of things like malaria first hand. It led me to a postdoctoral fellowship in molecular parasitology and research on the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni.

4. When and how did you get interested in studying Biology (or science in general)?

I first got interested in studying biology when I was in high school. My teacher made us make a pressed plant collection of 50 plants native to Southern California. I was an athlete and thought for sure I would be bored out of my mind. But nope, I loved it.

5. What are some of the things you most enjoy being in APU?

Mentoring students is the most enjoyable thing in APU.

6. What are some fun things you like to do?

Outside of work, I enjoy: cycling, fishing, hunting, camping, taking road trips and collecting antiques.

7. Anything else you would like the STEM community to know about you?

Even though it is currently not in the form I really like, I am thankful to get out of bed each morning and get to go and do work that I love.