Teaching Interests

• Introductory Plant Biology - structure, function, evolution, and human uses of plants (PBIO225/BSCI225)
• Introductory Biology III: Organismal Biology - fundamental principles governing the function and evolution of all organisms (BSCI207/HLSC207)
• Plants and Empires: Historical Issues and Contemporary Consequences - scientific, economic, and cultural perspectives characterizing plant-human interactions from the origins of agriculture to modern times (HONR239F)

Research Interests

• Biophysical and biochemical mechanisms controlling the structure, development, and evolution of land plants
• Fundamental principles of organismal form
• Active engagement pedagogy and multidisciplinary reasoning in introductory biology courses

Awards

• Guggenheim Fellowship, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, 1995-1996
• Lilly Endowment Fellowship, Center for Teaching Excellence, UMD, 2007-2008
• Teaching and Curriculum Development Excellence Award, College of Chemical and Life Sciences, UMD, 2008
• Education Fellow in the Life Sciences, National Academies, United States, 2009-2010
• Creative Educator Award, Board of Visitors, College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences, UMD, 2012
• Outstanding Faculty Award, Honors College, UMD, 2013
• Philip Merrill Presidential Scholar - Faculty Mentor Award, UMD, 2014, 2020
• Donna B. Hamilton Outstanding Teaching Award, College of Undergraduate Studies, UMD, 2016
• Sigma Circle Award, Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, Office of the Vice-President for Student Affairs, UMD, 2020
• William E. and Patricia H. Kirwan Undergraduate Education Award, President’s Office, UMD, 2020

Education

• Ph.D. Cornell University, 1979

All Publications