Choosing the Profession
During my master's degree training I discovered higher ed teaching while serving as a teaching assistant. It was at that time that I realized pursuit of a PhD would allow me to serve in the same capacity as those professors I'd worked with as an undergrad.
I have done research on identifying regeneration genes in two species of North American brittle stars, which has been integrated into my BIO 300 Molecular Biology class.
Why Mount Union?
My favorite part of the job is interacting with students as a teacher, advisor, research mentor, and field trip leader.
The small size and location remind me of my own undergraduate institution in Iowa. The upper level classes I teach (developmental biology, marine biology, and molecular biology) are all classes I envisioned teaching as a graduate student. The focus on teaching was the most appealing reason I chose to work here.