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Education

Ph.D. in Biology, University of Rhode Island
M.S. in Marine Biology, University of North Carolina, Wilmington
B.S. in Marine Science, Eckerd College

About Al

Ever since I was very young, I wanted to be a marine biologist and educator. My pathway to accomplishing these goals has been convoluted but worthwhile. I obtained my B.S. in Marine Science at Eckerd College, which solidified my core interests in marine animal physiology. After some time away from school, I built upon this interest by pursuing my M.S. in Marine Biology at UNC, Wilmington, which expanded my science “toolkit” by integrating, among other things, biochemical approaches to studying organismal physiology. From there I went on to obtain my Ph.D. in Biology at the University of Rhode Island where my education opened my eyes to the impacts of climate change--specifically ocean acidification--on marine organisms. Concurrent with my graduate education, I was also an NSF Fellow and science outreach instructor.

Those experiences as a Fellow and in outreach sparked my passion for teaching. As an experienced educator I have taught groups of various sizes and all ages in both traditional and non-traditional classroom settings. To make science topics more tangible I strive to link current, real-world issues and events with each and every lesson. I find that this approach tends to make complex concepts more understandable and fosters student curiosity---which I believe is why people get in to the STEM fields. Seeing people of any age marvel at the wonders of our natural world never becomes tiresome.

In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, playing guitar, and making my own cheeses, sauces, and preserves.

Courses taught at the University of New 51����

- Introduction to Marine Biology
- Marine Vertebrate Zoology
- Introduction to Environmental Science
- Ecology
- Invertebrate Zoology
- Marine Pollution
- Biology I (for both majors and non-majors)
- Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II