Main Office
Department of BiologyRieke Science Center, Room 159 Tacoma, WA 98447 | 253-535-7561 |
| biology@plu.edu |
Faculty and Staff

Angelia Alexander
Professor and Dean of Natural Sciences
Ph.D., Epidemiology, University of Washington, 1979
| 253-535-7545 | Office Location Morken Center, 239 |
| alexang@plu.edu |
Education:
- Ph.D., Epidemiology, University of Washington, 1979
- B.S., Biology, Juniata College, 1962
- M.A., Microbiology, University of California at Davis, 1966
Areas of Emphasis:
- Microbiology
- Immunology

Ann Auman
Associate Professor
Ph.D., Microbiology, University of Washington, 2001
| 253-535-8485 | Office Location Rieke Science Center, 148 |
| aumanaj@plu.edu |
Education:
- B.S., Cellular and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, 1996
- B.S. with Honors, Microbiology, The Pennsylvania State University, 1996
- Ph.D., Microbiology, University of Washington, 2001
Areas of Emphasis:
- Microbial Ecology
Michael Behrens
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2005
| 253-535-7565 | Personal Web site |
| behrenmd@plu.edu | Office Location Rieke Science Center, 144 |
Education:
- B.S., Biology, Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo, 1996
- M.A., Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2003
- Ph.D., Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2005
Areas of Emphasis:
- Marine ecology, disease ecology, and biogeography

Michelle Behrens
Visiting Instructor
M.S., Biological Sciences, Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo, 1999
| 253-538-6182 | Office Location Rieke Science Center, 159 |
| behrenmr@plu.edu |
Education:
- M.S., Biological Sciences, Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo, 1999
Areas of Emphasis:
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
Rosalind Billharz
Visiting Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Microbiology, University of Washington, 2009
| 253-535-7791 | Office Location Rieke Science Center, 152 |
| billharj@plu.edu |
Education:
- Ph.D., Microbiology, University of Washington, 2009
- B.S., Microbiology and Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, 1998
- B.S., Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles
Areas of Emphasis:
- Microbiology
Tom Carlson
Professor
Ph.D., Zoology, University of Minnesota, 1976
| 253-535-7549 | Office Location Rieke Science Center, 255 |
| carlson@plu.edu |
Education:
- B.A., Biology, Carleton College, 1966
- Ph.D., Zoology, University of Minnesota, 1976
Areas of Emphasis:
- Developmental Biology

Michele Crayton
Professor, Phased Retirement
Ph.D., Plant Physiology/Development, Oregon State University, 1974
| 253-535-7547 | |
| craytoma@plu.edu |
Education:
- Ph.D., Plant Physiology/Development, Oregon State University, 1974
- M.S., Biology, University of Missouri at Kansas City, 1969
- B.S., Biology, University of Missouri at Kansas City, 1967
Areas of Emphasis:
- toxic freshwater cyanobacteria

Patty Dolan
Clinical Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Biology, Kent State University, 1990
| 253-535-8287 | Office Location Rieke Science Center, 254 |
| dolanpl@plu.edu |
Education:
- Ph.D., Biology, Kent State University, 1990
Areas of Emphasis:
- Physiological topics
Jacob Egge
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, 2007
| 253-535-7569 | Office Location Rieke Science Center, 146 |
| eggejj@plu.edu |
Education:
- B.A., Biology and History, Luther College, 2001
- Ph.D., Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, 2007
Areas of Emphasis:
- evolutionary biology

Mary Ellard-Ivey
Associate Professor
Ph.D., Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, 1994
| 253-535-7357 | Office Location Rieke Science Center, 147 |
| ellardma@plu.edu |
Education:
- B.S., M.S., Botany, University College Dublin, 1987, 1988
- Ph.D., Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, 1994
Areas of Emphasis:
- Plant responses to the environment
Rosemarie Haberle
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Botany, University of Texas at Austin, 2006
| 253-535-7199 | Office Location Rieke Science Center, 146 |
| haberlrc@plu.edu |
Education:
- Ph.D., Botany, University of Texas at Austin, 2006
- M.S., Biology, Northern Arizona University, 1998
- B.S., Botany, Northern Arizona University, 1993
- M.L.S., Library Science, University of Arizona, 1983
- B. A., History, Skidmore College, 1975
Areas of Emphasis:
- Plant Systematics and Evolution

Neva Laurie-Berry
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Biology, Washington University at St. Louis, 2008
| 253-536-5025 | Office Location Rieke Science Center, 153 |
| laurienl@plu.edu |
Education:
- B.A., Biology, Illinois Wesleyan University, 2000
- Ph.D., Biology, Washington University at St. Louis, 2008
Areas of Emphasis:
- Plant Physiology
Jerrold Lerum
Professor
Ph.D., Biological Sciences, Northwestern University, 1973
| 253-535-7566 | Office Location Rieke Science Center, 152 |
| lerumje@plu.edu |
Education:
- B.A., Biology and Chemistry, Luther College, 1963
- M.S., Zoology, University of Wisconsin, 1965
- Ph.D., Biological Sciences, Northwestern University, 1973
Areas of Emphasis:
- Reproductive Biology

John Main
Professor, Phased Retirement
Ph.D., Botany, University of Washington, 1970
| 253-535-7567 | Office Location Rieke Science Center, 127 |
| mainjl@plu.edu |
Education:
- B.S., Biology and Chemistry, Chadron State College, 1965
- M.S., Biological Chemistry, Chadron State College, 1966
- Ph.D., Botany, University of Washington, 1970
Amy Siegesmund
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Microbiology, Washington State University, 2003
| 253-535-8310 | Office Location Rieke Science Center, 154 |
| siegesam@plu.edu |
Education:
- B.A. with Honors, Biology, Alverno College, 1996
- Ph.D., Microbiology, Washington State University, 2003
Areas of Emphasis:
- Bacterial pathogenesis

Julie Smith
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, New Mexico State University, 2005
| 253-535-7307 | Office Location Rieke Science Center, 150 |
| smith@plu.edu |
Education:
- B.A., Biology and English, Saint Ambrose University, 1994
- Ph.D., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, New Mexico State University, 2005
Areas of Emphasis:
- behavioral ecology
Matt Smith
Associate Professor and Chair
Ph.D., Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, 1997
| 253-535-7550 | Office Location Rieke Science Center, 155 |
| smithmf@plu.edu |
Education:
- B.S., Biology, Humboldt State University, 1990
- Ph.D., Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, 1997
Areas of Emphasis:
- Vertebrate Physiology
- Neurobiology

William Teska
Professor
Ph.D., Zoology, Michigan State University, 1978
| 253-535-7128 | Office Location Rieke Science Center, 143 |
| teska@plu.edu |
Education:
- B.S. of Forestry, University of Idaho, 1972
- Ph.D., Zoology, Michigan State University, 1978
Areas of Emphasis:
- Conservation Biology
Audrey Thornburg
Laboratory Manager
B.S., Biology, Pacific Lutheran University, 2007
| 253-538-6181 | Office Location Rieke Science Center, 159 |
| northal@plu.edu |
Education:
- B.S., Biology, Pacific Lutheran University, 2007
Areas of Emphasis:
- Biology