Professor of Biology/Director of CREATE
Biology / Academic
- Office:
- IDEA Center 342
- Mailbox:
- 61612
- Email:
- Phone:
- 903.813.2206
Education:
Ph.D.; Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology; University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
B.S.; Biology; Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA
Faculty Bio:
I joined the faculty of Austin College as an assistant professor of biology in 2003 and was granted tenure and promoted to associate professor in 2009, and promoted to full professor in 2017. I have worked extensively with undergraduate research students who have presented their work on campus and at regional and national meetings. As a member of the Johnson Center committee, I led the development of the all-campus Austin College Student Scholarship Conference (ACSC) to provide professional opportunities for students to present their research on campus in all subject areas. I was elected a Councilor in Biology for the Council for Undergraduate Research (CUR) in 2013 and named the Director of the Center for Research, Experiential, Artistic, and Transformative Education (CREATE) at Austin College in 2015. Additionally, I serve on the steering committee for Austin College’s Science Teaching and Research (STAR) Leadership Program, which works to integrate leadership training into the science curriculum to better prepare students for careers and citizenship. My research program on molecular mechanisms of cancer is supported by the Discovery Foundation in Dallas, Texas.
Courses Taught:
- Biology 116: Introductory Cell Biology
- Biology 248: Cellular Physiology
- Biology 340: Immunology
- Biology 347: Cancer Biology
- Biology 354: Human Infectious Diseases
- Biology 472: Research and Design of Experiments
Research Interests:
My research focuses on how the activity and specificity of an enzyme called the proteasome affects the biology of a cell. The activities of proteasomes are essential for almost every process in the eukaryotic cell. My lab uses a variety of genetic, biochemical, and molecular biology approaches to specifically study a proteasome activator called PA28gamma, which is a prominent marker of several cancers and the autoimmune disease, systemic lupus erythematosus. In my lab, we currently pursue questions examining the role that PA28/proteasomes play in regulating cell division as well as apoptosis. Through understanding the regulation of proteasome activity, we hope to understand the biological processes that lead to cancerous transformations and aberrant cellular function.
Publications, CV, and Links:
- Curriculum Vitae
- Biology Department
- Student Scholarship Conference
- Lab page
- Council on Undergraduate Research
- Sigma Xi
- ASCB