Education
- Ph.D. Plant Pathology, Penn State University
- B.S. Plant Sciences, Cornell University
- A.A.S. Horticulture, Finger Lakes Community College
What are the main focuses of your research, if applicable?
Students’ interests largely drive my research. I have projects researching plant physiological responses to stress, insect diversity and interactions, and plant pathogen biology. My goal with undergraduate research is to help students explore their interests in greater depth and guide them through the research process, from formulating a hypothesis to presenting their findings.
What specific courses or specialties do you teach, and/or what has drawn you to those specialties?
- General Biology II (BIOL 102)
- The Secret Life of Mushrooms (BIOL 105)
- Botanical Battlefields (BIOL 335)
- Plant Physiology (BIOL 406)
My background is in plant sciences, plant pathology, and mycology. I enjoy helping students appreciate both the beauty and complexity of God’s creation by learning about the inner workings of organisms and how they interact with one another and their environment. My interest in plants and fungi began when I took classes that taught me how to identify them, and I still love being able to recognize what I’m seeing while on a walk or hike! Through my courses, I hope students will grow a deeper appreciation of God’s handiwork by understanding biology at every level.
In your opinion, what is the most important piece of advice you give your students to help them succeed? How do you weave this advice into your classroom?
I want students to recognize that we flourish in community. We were made to develop relationships and learn from one another. I hope students can learn to appreciate their peers' differences and find ways to work together more effectively in a lower-stakes environment before graduating. I encourage peer learning through the activities I do in class and give them opportunities to reflect on group experiences.
Selected publications
- Hay, F.S., Sharma, S., Hoepting, C.A., Strickland, D., Luong, K., Pethybridge, S.J. 2019. Emergence of Stemphylium leaf blight of onion in New York associated with fungicide resistance. Plant Disease. 103: 3083-3092. doi:10.1094/PDIS-03-19-0676-RE