Biology and Environmental Sciences Faculty Profiles

KENNETH D. ANDREWS, Ph.D. - Professor, Dean of College of Health and Sciences
B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Zoology 
Office: PES 101 / 580-559-5496 / kandrews@ecok.edu
Courses Taught: Histology
Research Interest: Morphometrics of the Testudine Carapace

JESSICA BRUMLEY, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor
B.S. in Biology, Ph.D. in Environmental Science
Office: PES 260 / 580-559-5658 / jbrumley@ecok.edu
Courses Taught: Introduction to Environmental Health Sciences, Water Quality and Treatment, Air Quality
Research Interest: Wetland ecology, Water treatment, System thermodynamics

LEAH S. DUDLEY, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor
B.A. in Biology, Ph.D. in Biology
Office: PES 152 / 580-559-5495 / ldudley@ecok.edu
Courses Taught: Botany, General Biology, Plant Ecophysiology, Ecology, Plant Population Biology, Mycology, Ethnobotany, Evolution, Medical Botany
Research Interest: My research generally explores how plants deal with a drying world, using dichotomies such as male versus female plants of dioecious species and outcrossing vs. selfing plant mating systems to test predictions. I meld tools and ideas from both plant ecophysiology and evolution in both field and greenhouse environments from extreme montane environments to lowland prairies. Currently, I am applying these themes to a culturally relevant agricultural system, The Three Sisters. I am addressing how plant-pollinator interactions are influenced by polyculture (bean, corn & squash) compared to monoculture growing conditions under varying soil water availability. 

GEORGE WANG, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor
B.S. in Zoology, M.S. in Biology, Ph.D. in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology
Office: PES 104 / 580-559-5694 / gwang@ecok.edu
Courses Taught: Human Anatomy, Medical Terminology, General Biology, Evolution
Research Interest: I am a community ecologist interested in plant–insect interactions. I conduct field and laboratory based experiments to examine the effects of various biotic and abiotic factors on insect performance and community dynamics. Laboratory Website.

ALISHA HOWARD, Ph.D. - Chair of Biological and Environmental Sciences
B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, B.S. in Chemistry (A.C.S.certified), Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Office: PES 164 / 580-559-5792 / ahoward@ecok.edu
Courses Taught: General Biology, Genetics, Intro to Biotechnology, Biochemistry of Human Disease, Research Methods/BioEthics, Genomics and Bioinformatics, Immunology
Research Interest: We are using the viral oncoprotein tax from human T-cell leukemia virus to identify new host-virus interactions important in viral gene activation.

ERIC HOWARD, M.S. - Instructor
B.S. in Health Education and Promotion, MPH in Epidemiology
Office: PES 254 / 580-559-5614 / ehoward@ecok.edu
Courses Taught: Earth Science, Environmental Health Science, Geographical Information Systems, Epidemiology
Research Interest: Vectorborne disease, Syndromic surveillance, GIS mapping

J. BRUCE MORING, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor
B.S. in Biology, M.S. in Zoology, and Ph.D. in Ecology 
Office: PES 148 / 580-559-5657 / bmoring@ecok.edu
Courses Taught: General Biology, General Zoology, Limnology, Stream Ecology, Senior Seminar 
Research Interest: The influence of altered streamflow on the ecological integrity of stream ecosystems.

APRIL NESBIT, Ph.D. - Associate Professor
B.S. in Biochemistry, Ph.D. in Biomolecular Chemistry
Office: PES 170 / 580-559-5501 / anesbit@ecok.edu
Courses Taught: General Biology, General Microbiology, Forensics, Immunology, Biochemical Genetics, Cell and Molecular Biology, Advanced Molecular Biology, Biology Senior Seminar
Research Interest: Regulation of alternative metabolism in E. coli, identifying bacteria isolates from Blue River, isolating bacteria that produce antibiotics

JOSE MONTALVA, M.S. - Instructor
B.S. in Biology, M.S. in Geography and Environmental Sustainability
Office: PES 146 / 580-559-5498 / jmontalv@ecok.edu
Courses Taught: Earth Science, Human Geography, World Regional Geography, General Biology, Geographic Information Systems.
Research Interest: My research focuses on biogeography. I use the biology, systematics, and ecology of native bees to explore both local and global biodiversity patterns. In recent years, I have also led projects focused on ethnoecology (Traditional Ecological Knowledge) and carbon farming, exploring sustainable practices and the interactions between communities and ecosystems. Laboratory website.