Department of Biology

Faculty & Staff

Main Office

Department of Biology

Rieke Science Center, Room 159 Tacoma, WA 98447
253-535-7561

Faculty and Staff

Angelia Alexander

Professor and Dean of Natural Sciences

Ph.D., Epidemiology, University of Washington, 1979

253-535-7545Office Location
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

253-535-8485Office Location
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

253-535-7565Personal Web site
Office Location
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

253-538-6182Office Location
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

253-535-7791Office Location
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

253-535-7549Office Location
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
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

253-535-8287Office Location
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

253-535-7569Office Location
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

253-535-7357Office Location
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

253-535-7199Office Location
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

253-536-5025Office Location
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

253-535-7566Office Location
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

253-535-7567Office Location
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

253-535-8310Office Location
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

253-535-7307Office Location
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

253-535-7550Office Location
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

253-535-7128Office Location
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

253-538-6181Office Location
Education:
  • B.S., Biology, Pacific Lutheran University, 2007
Areas of Emphasis:
  • Biology