Department of Biological Science

News from Alumni

In response to BioFeedback, our newsletter for alumni

Lawrence R. Aaronson, B.S. 1979 (Ph.D.)

22 May 2007
I had a great educational experience at FSU, working as a genetics TA for Dr. Debusk and doing research with Dr. DeKloet. After graduating, I received my Ph.D. in Microbiology from Rutgers University in 1984, then completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Human Genetics at the Yale medical School. In 1987, I joined the biology department of Utica College in Utica, NY as Assistant Professor of Biology. I was promoted to Associate Professor in 1992, and to Professor in 1997. I teach a variety of undergraduate courses, including molecular biology, cell biology, microbiology, virology and immunology. My research has focused on the study of natural antifungal compounds in mammalian and amphibian skin, and microbial biodiversity. I have been a national advocate for research in undergraduate institutions, serving as Chair of the American Society for Microbiology Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program review committee, and as a member of the Biology Council of the Council for Undergraduate Research. In May 2007 I was honored with the Carski Foundation/American Society for Microbiology Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award, and presented the Carski Award Lecture at the ASM General Meeting in Toronto, Canada (http://www.asm.org/Academy/index.asp?bid=39527).

Roy Abarbanel, B.S. 1977

31 May 2006
I began my biology career with BSC 201 taught by Dr. Fox and Dr. Tschinkel. My enduring memories are with Dr. Wiese, Dr. Stuy, Dr. Roeder, and Dr. Freeman. Eventually, I found my way in the field of physical therapy, where I have practiced, taught in various schools, delivered talks, and acquired certification in manual therapy. Through it all, I've never forgotten that I have a BS in BS! I hope my work "Non-steroid feedback mechanisms in castrate and cryptorchid rats" has helped the greater good. Very much looking forward to visiting the new teaching and research center.

Mark Akerson, B.S. 1994

19 March 2002
I am proud to say I am graduating in June from the Family Medicine Residency Program at Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon Georgia. Dr. Elliot was my advisor at FSU. He tried to talk me out of medical school. He did not think I was academically qualified to become a medical doctor. But my academics only excelled when I did get into medical school, where I finished in the upper fifteen percent of my class. I also became the Chief resident this year, overseeing all the other residents. As for the future, I am soon to be opening a practice in Marianna, FL. I will move there with my wife, Cathy, an FSU graduate; and my son, Corey, a future FSU grad.

Dr. Mariscal made the biggest impression on me. He was very supportive of my goals and wrote a great letter of recommendation for me.

FSU was a great experience. I would not change anything in my experience while there. It was great having the motivation to become a better student, which I can say I did. Dr. Elliot indirectly inspired me as he did others: Dr. Keith Meyer (pediatric intensive care, Cornell University) and also Dr. Sam Wolf (Ob/GYN, University of Florida, Jacksonville). I look forward to many more great years watching my family members enjoy Florida State. GO NOLES.

Michael H. Allen, B.S. 1975 (M.D.)

26 September 2005
I was in the class of '75, cut my teeth in Gib Debusk's molecular genetics courses, did some research in the social psychology department and worked a little with the telephone counseling service. I then went to medical school, became a psychiatrist and have been reasonably successful there. Married while living in New York and had 2 boys, now 11 and 13. Was involved in the first world trade center bombing and a number of other infamous events there. Moved to Denver where I'm responsible for the psychiatric emergency services and do research on mood disorders as an assoc prof at the University of Colorado Health Sciences. Recently given a NARSAD Independent Investigator Award. I've attached a biography and curriculum vitae. Not sure how much you want to publish but would love put something out there and see if I hear back from anyone.

BIOGRAPHY

Associate Professor of Psychiatry
Director, Emergency and Consultation Psychiatry
Co-Director, Mood Disorders Program
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
Denver, Colorado

Michael H. Allen, MD, is Co-Director of the Mood Disorders Program of the University of Colorado Health Science Center and Associate Professor in the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Allen attended Florida State University, received his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina and trained in psychiatry at the Institute of Living in Hartford. He served as Chief Resident while at the Institute and went on to serve on the full-time faculty of Cornell University Medical College and the New York University School of Medicine.

While at NYU he developed the model Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program at Bellevue Hospital and the associated undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate training programs. This program was mentioned in New York Magazine's "Best Hospitals in New York."

Currently he is director of the psychiatric emergency and consultation services and is co-director of the Mood Disorders Program at the University of Colorado. He is a principal investigator in the NIMH Systematic Treatment Enhancement for Bipolar Disorder and other clinical trials in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and has served as a trainer for many US and international studies.

He has served as president of the American Association for Emergency Psychiatry, chair of the American Psychiatric Association Task Force on Psychiatric Emergency Services, panelist for the Expert Consensus Guideline for the Treatment of Bipolar Disorder, the Colorado Clinical Guidelines Collaborative Depression Program, and lead expert for the Expert Consensus Guideline for the Management of Behavioral Emergencies. He is a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians clinical policy committee for the evaluation and management of psychiatric patients and is a reviewer for the Cochrane Collaborative. He is the author or editor of three books, associate editor of General Hospital Psychiatry, a contributor to many other publications. He lectures widely on suicide, agitation, aggression, and bipolar disorder. He is board certified in psychiatry with added qualifications in addictions.

Paul Allison, B.S. 1974 (M.D., M.B.A.)

21 June 2007
I graduated from FSU in 1974 with BS in Biology. Went to graduate school in Organic Chemistry then on to Medical School at Indiana University. After medical school I worked as a post doc at Eli Lilly in hematology research then completed a pathology residency at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. I have been a faculty pathologist with UT and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. My research interest is in hemostasis and have been working to develop a comprehensive database of platelet proteins using mass spec/ proteomics. My memories of FSU include the first year biology courses with Drs. Williams, DeBusk and Elliott. I still carry a useful background in chemistry due, in part, to the courses with Dr. Walborsky and independent research in Dr. Detar's lab. I don't get to Tallahassee often but was glad to see they opened their own medical school. Too bad so many of us had to go out of state in the 70's to get a good medical education.

Bruce Amato, 1969-1979

2 January 2005
I just ran across the web page. I was a student in the Biology Department in various years from 1969 through 1979 (military, a short life in California, and another degree prolonged my tenure). Dr. Herrnkind got Dr. Beidler to hire me to run the computer room from 1978 through 1983. I taught a one-hour course in scientific computing and built 84 different laboratory systems using microcomputers and various laboratory equipment. I first worked for Dr. Beidler then for Dr. Elam in Bio Unit I building on the first floor. Kim Nearhoof worked in Dr. Freeman's lab across the hall from my office. I used to run with her and her husband Frank.

I didn't stay in Biology although I was the Director of the Health Information Systems Division of a couple of different companies in Washington DC, including Northrop Grumman. I've been a management and marketing consultant now for quite some time. I am married and have a son Andersson.

I trust all is well since my departure. I imagine the place has grown quite a bit. I enjoy looking at the web site. It brings back wonderful memories.

Jenifer E. Austin, B.S. 1999

13 September 2002
As an NSF-funded Environmental Apprentice and National Merit Scholar, I started working in Peter Wainwright's lab on mechanisms of pufferfish feeding while a sophomore.

As a student, I had excellent mentoring from many F.S.U. faculty including Peter Wainwright (whom I still consider my major professor), Joseph Travis for teaching an excellent Evolution class, Alice Winn, Ross Ellington (who taught two great physiology classes), Carolyn Teragawa (Hydra Development), Walter Tschinkel (Animal Diversity), Tim Moerland (graduate Muscle Physiology), Paul Trombley, and Michael Meredith who introduced me to Neuroscience.

Especially, I remember the big tenebriond beetles from the Honors Animal Diversity lab that Dan Shelly (of the Moerland lab) so energetically TA'ed, where we dissected clams, fish, worms and counted flour beetles. My favorite passtime concerned specimen-collecting with kind graduate students--mollies in the marshes, stone crabs, fish trawls, and dune plants.

After my third year, I won the Mark Caffrey Memorial and the Robert B. Short scholarships to help with costs attending a Friday Harbor Labs Neurobiology lab course. Then, I spent that summer on a NSF REU fellowship studying sunfish feeding at the Kellogg Biological Station. And that fall, I took a semester off to do another REU research project on sea anemone symbiotic communication at the Bermuda Biological Station for Research. After returning to FSU to finish my senior courses, I graduated and spent the summer as a Summer Research Fellow at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. In 2000, I started graduate school in the Neurosciences program at Stanford University. Last year, I received a National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship to fund my studies. Currently, I am starting the third year of my Ph.D. working on a basic science model of temporal lobe epilepsy in Paul Buckmaster's lab.

Steven C. Babcock, B.S. 1970

15 September 2003
Upon graduating with my undergraduate biology degree, I worked for the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. I earned the certification of Fisheries Scientist from the American Fisheries Society after commpleting professional and academic work. I earned an M.B.A. at F.S.U. I am now working in the Detroit area and have a post-bachelor's certificate in computer science and a graduate certificate in software engineering.

O. Glenn Beck, Jr., B.S. 1975

5 July 2005
After F.S.U., I entered U.F. College of Dentistry and graduated in 1979. In Gainesville, I met my wife, Marci, who also became a dentist. We moved back to Tallahassee and have been practicing together in general dentistry ever since. We have three great kids: Brian (20), Amelia (19), and Davey (16). I remained loyal to my Seminole roots and have many fond memories of Conradi and the Biology Department at FSU, especially Drs. Stuy and Yerger. I really enjoyed this issue of BioFeedback and look forward to others in the future.

Hal Beecher, Ph.D. 1979

26 March 2002
After 2 years working for The Nature Conservancy in Washington and Oregon, I started working for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (actually, a predecessor) focusing on instream flow--how much water is needed in streams and rivers to provide good habitat for fish and wildlife, with an emphasis on salmonids. My research has been aimed at determining what water depths and velocities are selected by fish and at testing computer models of stream habitat as a function of flow. Several years ago I was involved in a landmark lawsuit (PUD No. 1 of Jefferson County v. Washington Dep't of Ecology (92-1911), 511 U.S. 700 (1994); http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/92-1911.ZS.html) that allowed states to use the federal Clean Water Act to regulate water quantity. A few years ago a new organization, the Instream Flow Council, was formed for my counterparts in state and province fish and wildlife agencies; 2 other FSU biology grads are members: Dale Jones (Florida) and Dr. Bob Nishimoto (Hawaii). The Instream Flow Council has just published a book ("Instream Flows for Riverine Resource Stewardship" http://www.instreamflowcouncil.org/justreleased.htm )which I helped write, along with 16 other IFC members.

25 April 2005
Hal Beecher (Ph.D. 1979) was one of core authors of >Instream Flows for Riverine Resource Stewardship (Annear, T., I. Chisholm, H. Beecher, A. Locke, P. Aarestad, C. Coomer, C. Estes, J. Hunt, R. Jacobson, G. Jobsis, J. Marshall, K. Mayes, G. Smith, R. Wentworth, and C. Stalnaker. 2004. Instream Flows for Riverine Resource Stewardship. Instream Flow Council, Cheyenne, WY), which has been used as a text at FSU. This edition is extensively illustrated. In June 2004, Hal became President-elect of the Instream Flow Council (www.instreamflowcouncil.org), an organization of instream flow specialists in provincial and state governments, with responsibility for managing water for ecological functions. Hal (beechhab@dfw.wa.gov) works for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, where he manages a section http://wdfw.wa.gov/hab/science/water_resources.htm) working to improve understanding and modeling of the relationship among hydrology, hydraulics, and biology, with an emphasis on salmonid fishes.

Arlyn Beneke, B.S. 1977

28 June 2007
After I graduated and was released from the PIMS program, I moved to Northern California and worked for the next eight years as a county agricultural biologist. I then changed careers and have worked for the next twenty two years in the insurance business. In that time I have built a profitable agency primarily writing farm and commercial insurance. Now I am changing careers again--I am working on a master's degree in history at CSUC Chico with the goal of selling my business and teaching history at the community college level.

I believe I am testament to the fact you don't have to make a living within biological sciences to profit from a biology degree. A serious student graduating in the hard sciences will go forward instilled with confidence and a thirst for knowledge that will be a major help in becoming successful in any endeavor one chooses in life. I remember Dr. Roeder said that the main purpose of studying at the undergraduate level is "learning to learn." I am sorry the wonderful professors who taught me wasted their time on someone who did not go on to further the field of science but I am eternally grateful for the education I received.

Terry Bennett, B.S. 1977

21 April 2002
After earning my degree in August 1984, I returned to FSU in the fall of 1986 to earn a Master of Public Administration degree (April 1988). During my studies at FSU, from fall 1982 to summer 1984, I was in heaven. After completing an AA degree at North Florida Junior College in Madison, I was suddenly dropped off into a major research institution, and boy, was it a switch. The organic chem class in Madison ended its second semester with "four survivors" . . . my friends at FSU were walking around bemoaning that only one kid in 200 would earn an A that semester (he was a junior college transfer from Palatka, current Tallahassee doctor Les Wilson, PIMS alumnus), and the other ribald rumor was that Playboy was ranking the "roughest" professors in America and several of our chem and bio professors were being studied to determine their failure rates.

Picking favorites among my biology professors is not an easy task since some of the courses were small and intimate and others were frankly large, cold and impersonal. Dr. Ellias was a dear person; she provided me a copy of the reference letter she wrote for my candidacy for medical school. In her letter, she noted that I had transferred to FSU from a very small, rural school system but that she was well aware that my personality and work ethic would bode well in graduate studies. We never discussed the letter (and I never made medical school), but I was touched to stop by Culley's Funeral Home during her funeral visitation and note that I was the only undergrad who had made it by to say farewell. On the day of our final examination in Pathogenic Microorganisms, she prepared an incredible feast--biscuits, jelly, orange juice, white gravy--and wheeled it into that Conradi "tomb" on a lab cart. As a hungry, tired, frustrated undergrad, you never forgot those professors who took the time to feed you, to counsel you, or to simply listen to your wild, harried dreams. There were two suicides among students in that term, and she also took time to talk to all of us (Ph.D. candidates, premeds, PIMS students) about the benefits of taking a drive to the coast when the pressures stacked up, learning how to identify birds (I remember that several Audubon prints were donated to Strozier in memory of a professor that year, and she was behind that drive), or to listen to a symphony. She dearly missed many of her friends and family back in Michigan.

Another stellar teacher, and human being, is Dr. Robert Reeves. He directed PIMS when I was there. In the spring of my senior year, I was elected vice president of Alpha Epsilon Delta, and Dr. Reeves, two other officers, and I loaded up in his Toyota and headed to Birmingham to attend the national biennial convention. We met premeds from all around the nation and spent three days ragging on Dr. Paul Elliott for escorting the UF delegation (blasted LIZARDS) to the Pittsburgh of the South. After returning to FSU in the fall of 1986 to begin my masters, I was elected vice president of Gold Key and was honored to nominate Dr. Reeves for one of Gold Key's Teacher of the Month awards. Totally unbeknown to him, I snuck into a monthly meeting of AED and was given the chance to honor him. The real irony is that the chair of undergraduate admissions of the UF School of Pharmacy was the invited speaker for that session (I spent six weeks in Gator Hell before literally running back to Tallahassee), and the visiting Lizard smirked that he was thrilled that I was very obviously "doing well" in my old stomping grounds . . . truer words have never been spoken.

The memories amassed there are incredible . . . watching the late Dr. Wiese push his cart and hold himself upright with every step. He allowed me to miss my midterm exam in Animal Development with the caveat that my final exam would be double weighted--I had lost my grandfather in Brunswick, Georgia, and needed to drive up for the service. Dr. Wiese told me that he was impressed to find young people who still cared about their grandparents . . . and to be very careful on the road. His lab assistant Mary Stewart struck a great pose that semester up at the Capitol in a death penalty protest rally. She always provided political insights to us mere undergraduates. I remember one of the Biology Seminar professors getting our attention by telling us how the great research universities in England would close the bell towers during December and June finals since the stress was so intense.

I remember the rich accents of Dr. Stuy and the late Dr. Graziadei . . . and Stuy bicycling everywhere on campus. After leaving FSU, I worked for a short stint in the office of the Florida Auditor General, and the daughter of the late Dr. Harry Lipner was a colleague. We shared many laughs talking about her father's incredible stack of parking tickets when he shuttled himself from Conradi to IMB. Dr. Short's lectures in parasitology were great . . . he had some of the most shocking worm slides known to man. My roommate and I had to take a lab section at 9 p.m. since all the other sections filled. Our TA was Bowie Kotrla, a brilliant and caring young lady, and we shared many laughs, especially when our worms under permanent slides seemed to be moving and when she delivered to us fresh cat dung from the animal shelter. The stench could make you engage in dieting "toute suite."

As for me, I will end my eleventh year of teaching in late May. I teach biology and chemistry at York Comprehensive High School in York, South Carolina. This term marks 5 semesters at this school. I am the lead sponsor of the sophomore class, the coach of the National Ocean Science Bowl team (we won the prize for top poster in Georgia and South Carolina in the regionals at USC in Columbia), sponsor of the campus branch of the South Carolina Junior Academy of Science (the students won third place in the team Olympiad this winter for the state meeting; plus a pair of boys won FIRST in biology...kudos to FSU), campus coordinator for our Relay for Life team for the American Cancer Society, a member of the Corps of Mentor Teachers at Winthrop University (only 15 miles away . . . a former womens' college with the colors garnet and gold . . . they had a president in the fifties from FSU), and a 2001 participant in the Villanova University-Howard Hughes Medical Institute Summer Research Institute (four juniors accompanied me). Before York, I worked for 2.5 years at the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in north Georgia. At this school, I sponsored the math team and math club and coached tennis. Before this position, I was employed in various schools in Leon, Jefferson, Madison, and Hamilton Counties. I have always preached the FSU message . . . in my heart, I would love to retire to the Tallahassee campus. When I tell my kids about David Balkwill's discovery of deep level microbes in oil wells or the incredible research on synthetic forms of taxol on campus, I beam with pride. My students see the posters on my wall of FSU athletic and academic triumphs, the copies of Florida State Times rest in my classroom library, and I average wearing about two FSU sweaters or golf shirts per week. Godspeed to the research, the public outreach, and the service that biology at The Florida State University offers. I am a proud and energized alumnus of a stellar program. Vires, Artes, Mores, In Seminole Pride, Terry Bennett, P.O. Box 51, York, SC 29745 (work: 803-684-2336) (home:803-628-0464) tbennett62@hotmail.com.

David E. Black, B.S. ca. 1963

5 July 2005
After graduating from FSU, I taught in the high school for 15 years: 5 at the Howey Academy and 10 at Clermont H.S. In 1978 I went into the citrus business--owned and operated a fruit stand and gift shop. In June 2000, I sold the business and retired to raise 22 acres of citrus and run 25 head of cows. I still reside where my grandparents settled in 1899. I was sad to read about Conradi. I spent many hours in that building. Please don't let them tear it down.

Mark Bloeth, B.S. 1989

13 April 2004
I graduated from FSU in 1989 and have been employed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency since 1990. I've worked in the Pesticides and Toxic Substances Branch and have dealt in areas such as PCB regulation, PCB spill cleanup, and chemical manufacturer requirements under the Toxic Substances Control Act. I'm currently involved in pesticide product enforcement, pesticide regulation and pesticide import/export which also touches on Homeland Security issues under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.

In the mid 1990s I was heavily involved in the enforcement investigations in Mississippi and Tennessee regarding widespread illegal use of methyl parathion in homes, daycares, schools, churches, etc. Lately, I was involved in the "Quail Plantation cases" in South Georgia involving several quail plantations whose illegal use of carbofuran in chicken eggs targeted and killed predators of wild quail and quail eggs. I've also investigated and brought a multi-million dollar action against a major pesticide producer for illegal import and distribution of pesticides. My biology degree and education at FSU have definitely helped in my career in achieving some "real world" environmental protection.

Shannon (Posey) Brittain, B.S. 1998

18 June 2007
Upon graduation with a B.S. in biology from Florida State University, I moved to Orlando. I accepted a position as a water quality analyst with a nationwide laboratory. One year later I found myself tired of talking to test tubes and accepted a position as a biologist with the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (Orlando airport). To many people's surprise, airports are very concerned with their influence on the environment in both a chemical and biological aspect! Three years later I wanted to broaden my horizons and I accepted a position with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection as a Regional Biologist with the Bureau of Invasive Plant Management. This was the most rewarding and enjoyable position I have held to date. I was able to work one on one with the community in both the private and public sector to develop management plans to protect wetlands and surface water bodies. Spending your work days outside on a boat is a biologist's dream! Later, I went to work with the Orange County Environmental Protection Division as a senior lake management specialist. I soon found out that local goverment solicits a lot more red tape than state goverment! And now, today, I reside in Panama City, only two hours away from FSU football, and am a stay at home mother of three and loving every minute of it! However, I will professionally be back one day!

Thanks for providing a forum to share our life experiences!

Joel D. Bumgardner, B.S. 1984 (M.S., Ph.D.)

18 March 2004
I obtained my BS with honors in biology from FSU in 1984. I then attended graduate school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Biomedical Engineering. I got interested in biomedical engineering through my honors work in immunology with Dr. Ken Roux. While at UAB I received another BS degree in Materials Engineering in 1988, an MS in Biomedical Engineering in 1989, and my PhD in 1994. My biomedical engineering research has focused on biomedical alloys, their corrosion/degradation properties, host/cellular material interactions, and surface modifications. I received a Fulbright Fellowship (1993-1994) to the University of Umea, Umea, Sweden, to do research on dental materials and implants. I have been in the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department at Mississippi State University since Fall 1994 working in the biomedical engineering program within the Bagley College of Engineering and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. I am now an associate professor and the Interim Department Head. A few years ago, I came back to FSU, the first time since graduating, to give a seminar in the Biomedical Engineering Department. A former undergraduate student of mine now attends law school at FSU and another has applied to graduate school in the Biology Department at FSU. I will be moving to the Biomedical Engineering Program at the University of Memphis-University of Tennessee Health Science Center in August 2004.

Thanks for the newsletter; looks like all is going well. Go Noles.

Justin Burokas, B.S. 1995

18 May 2006
After graduating from FSU, I became an orthopedic tech, then an X-ray technician. Then I became an orthopedic physician's assistant. I am currently employed with an orthopedic surgeon working in the operating room as a first assist two days per week, and we see patients the other three days of the week. Go Noles!

Kristy (Jones-Sturdivant) Campbell, B.S. 1998

19 June 2007
Immediately after graduating from Florida State I entered the Master's in Anesthesiology and Patient Monitoring Program at Emory University in Atlanta. I completed the program in the summer of 2000 and have been working ever since as an Anesthesiologist's Assistant (AA) at the Emory University Hospital. In the seven and half years that I have been practicing as an AA I have provided anesthesia in the operating room on all types of surgical cases ranging from liver and kidney transplants to brain anuerysms. While I find my job challenging and rewarding what I love most is spending time with my two daughters! Living in Atlanta and now working part-time I enjoy many different aspects of the city. We get back to Tallahassee whenever we can.

Yvonne (Holton) Carter, B.S. 1987

28 June 2007
I graduated from FSU in 1987 with a BS in Medical Technology. My husband (Daniel Carter) graduated from FSU in 1989 with a degree in Communications. I have spent the past 20 years working in hospital laboratories. In 1996, we moved to Roseville, California, to raise our 2 boys near my husband's family.

I am currently licensed as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist in California. I work for Mercy Healthcare as a Regional Laboratory Quality Assurance/Compliance Coordinator for the Sacramento area.

Last September, we were fortunate enough to get some box seats to a FSU football game, so we decided to take our boys to Tallahassee! Although they were both born there, they were very young when we left and did not have any memory of the town. It was great fun to enjoy the game and show them around the campus and the town.

Go Noles!!

Anthony J. Caruso, B.S. 1992

22 March 2004
I attended FSU as a Biology major from 88-92. Attended Life Chiropractic College 93-96. Chiropractic Physician currently in solo practice in Lake Worth, Florida. Married 10 years with 2 children (4 & 6), and looking forward to taking my kids to their first football game and tour of the campus. I loved my years at FSU and received a great education that prepared me for my postgraduate years.

Elizabeth Chattin, B.S. 1995 (M.S.)

20 June 2007
Post FSU, I undertook the task of answering the question: What do I want to be when I grow up? I had a strong interest in conservation biology, but I wasn't sure what academic or professional path to take. I wandered across country and up the eastern seaboard participating in amphibian and reptile research projects for just about every federal, natural resource acronym possible. Eventually, a stint in the salamander capitol of the world, Great Smoky Mountains NP, led to my master's thesis that addressed the spatial distribution of the Junaluska salamander, Eurycea junaluska. After gradual school, I moved to California and worked for a period of time in the non-profit conservation arena and eventually infiltrated a local, land use planning division as a biologist. Wow, was I in for a shock! I had no idea how disparate the land use planning and conservation biology disciplines were, but it has become one of my goals to bridge these disciplines. For several years, I've been involved on a number of grant projects that focus on improving how biological resources are evaluated for land use and transportation impacts at the project and regional scale. I've worked with universities, non profits, and local, state and federal resource agencies to address how we manage these resources now and in the future. I still haven't figured out what I'm going to be when I grow up, but where is the fun and sense of exploration in that? My sincere thanks go to Dr. Tom Miller, Dr. Alice Winn, Dr. Fran James, and many others.

James B. Claiborne, B.S. 1977 (Ph.D.)

18 April 2005 I was a biology major undergraduate - graduated December 1977. Went on the University of Miami for Ph.D. in 1981. Did a couple of years postdoc in Germany at a Max Planck Institute, then started as Assistant Professor at Georgia Southern, was promoted to Professor in 1994, and have been here ever since. Research supported by NSF for the most part. Interest is in vertebrate osmoregulation, pH balance, physiological genomics. Recently awarded the GSU Eidson award, given about every ten years. Curriculum vitae.

Andre F. Clewell, faculty member 1962-1979

25 July 2007 After leaving FSU, I joined an environmental consulting firm in Palmetto, Florida (south of Tampa), and became involved in research and development in the new field of wetland creation, which soon evolved into that of ecological restoration. While there, I finished writing a book, Guide to the Vascular Plants of the Florida Panhandle (FSU Press, 1985), which I had started at FSU. In 1984 I opened up my own firm, A. F. Clewell, Inc., to design and implement ecological restoration projects and to conduct ecological inventories and assessments. Much of our work consisted of recovering forested wetlands on lands that had been mined for phosphate and physically reclaimed. My office was located initially in Sarasota, then in Quincy from 1991 to 2003, and subsequently in Holmes Beach and Bradenton until we closed the business in 2006. Much of our work in later years consisted of inventorying and conducting ecosystem management research for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in Mississippi and then restoring wet savannas (pitcher-plant bogs) and bottomland hardwood forests in Mississippi for The Nature Conservancy. In addition, we conducted ecological inventories along various rivers for Florida land management agencies.

When it first organized in 1989, I joined the organization that was soon renamed the Society for Ecological Restoration International (SER). I served on its Board of Directors for its first seven years and as President for two of those years. I helped launch SER's journal Restoration Ecology and served on its editorial board for a dozen years. I authored most of SER’s foundation documents, which now appear on its website (http://www.ser.org). Since 1999, I have spent much time in India giving lectures and promoting the development ecological restoration at universities, government bureaus, and NGOs. In 2005 I helped organize and became a co-coordinator of a new global organization, based out of the Missouri Botanical Garden, called the RNC Alliance. RNC stands for restoring natural capital, which is defined as "the replenishment of natural capital stocks in the interests of long-term human well-being and ecosystem health." Essentially, it is a merger of ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation with sustainable economic development initiatives, primarily in developing nations. My next scheduled consulting assignment will be to provide oversight of ecological restoration programs under the auspices of the United Nations in the Middle East.

I currently reside in Ellenton, Florida (near Bradenton, south of Tampa), where I maintain a personal herbarium that contains mounted specimens of more than 1,100 species. My new book, Ecological Restoration, Principles, Values, and Structure of an Emerging Profession, will be published by Island Press in autumn 2007. I also do the talk show circuit and have a new fragrance out (just kidding!). I can be reached by telephone at 941-531-3879 and by email at clewell@verizon.net.

Derik E. Cockerham, B.A. 2005

8 September 2007
B.A. in Biological Science, FSU 2005
B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Science, University of West Florida 2007
Medical Technologist II (ASCP)
Employed at Bay Medical Center, Panama City, FL

Loren D. Coen, M.S. 1979 (Ph.D.)

8 April 2005
I currently am at the Marine Resources Research Institute, SCDNR, in Charleston, SC, as an Associate Marine Scientist, where I manage its Shellfish Research Section. I got my M.S. (residing in the Conradi basement) with Dr. Lawrence Abele, and then a Ph.D. at the Univ. of Maryland at College Park. I have been actively involved in the graduate Marine Biology program at the College of Charleston and in the Marine Science Program at the University of South Carolina.

Despite working on decapod crabs and sea grasses with Larry and Ken Heck and then later corals and crabs with Gary Vermeij at Maryland, I have been working on the restoration of intertidal oyster reefs, related work on the ecological value of estuarine habitats as nurseries, impacts of mariculture on surrounding communities, invasive species, remote sensing of intertidal habitats, and even disease dynamics of shellfish populations. In 2001 we started a state-wide community oyster restoration program (SCORE) that has been quite successful. In 2004 in fact we received a Coastal America Partnership Award for our Community Restoration (SCORE) Program and also won the Theodore M. Sperry Award from the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER). Interestingly, I have been working on the above with three former FSU grads, Drs. Dara and Pace Wilber (NOAA-CSC) here in Charleston and Keith Walters (Coastal Carolina University).

http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/marine/mrri/shellfish/index.htm
http://www.cofc.edu/~marine/
http://www3.csc.noaa.gov/scoysters/

Edwin J. (Ed) Conklin, B.S. 1973, M.S. 1976

4 March 2002
Major Professor: Dick Mariscal

Greatest Gifts from Biological Science at FSU

• Critical writing and thinking skills, especially honed by Dick Mariscal
• Seminars that taught me to speak before any audience, on any subject
• An appreciation for the joys of in situ field work, taught with a smile and a special flair by Bill Herrnkind
• A chance in 1974 to be a Hydrolab aquanaut on a saturation mission
• The marvel of nature's design as seen through electron microscopy

Unforgettable Times in Biological Science

• Collecting scorpions for General Biology Labs at St. Teresa, or, up close and personal with the Eastern Diamondback
• High and dry in St. Joe Bay, or four miles from Presnell's without a paddle
• Fish feeding experiments at Hydrolab
• Homecoming Parades with the Tallahassee, Sopchoppy, and Gulf Coast Marine Biological Association
• Panhandling for Anemone Research funds

The education I received at the department gave me an excellent background for a career in natural resource management and science policy. This year I will have 26 years of state service in a number of agencies. Some assignments I have had:

• Statistician for the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission
• Coastal Planner for the Department of Environmental Regulation
• Apalachicola Critical Area Planner for the Department of Community Affairs

And for the Department of Natural Resources/Environmental Protection:

• Administrator for the Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) Program
• Chief Biologist for the Florida Park Service
• Deputy Director of the Florida Park Service
• Deputy Director of State Lands
• Director of Marine Resources
• Director of Resource Assessment (current position)

Maurice P. "Phil" De Young, B.S. 1996 (Ph.D.)

14 January 2005
Upon graduating in 1996 (B.S.), I took a few years off before enrolling in graduate school close to home. I began graduate school at Florida Atlantic University as a master's student in the biology department. A year into my research, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry was granted approval to start a doctoral program, so I chose to transfer and become the first student to participate in the new program. While my course of study was a combination of "pure" chemistry and molecular biology, my research was more focused towards molecular oncology. My graduate thesis sought out to prove that bioinformatics approaches could be used to identify novel molecular targets of high organ and tumor selectivity in colon cancer. This work led to the identification of two highly specific cancer genes believed to have the potential to improve both the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. In addition, this work provided the basis for two approved patents and the first submission of a novel gene sequence into Genbank for the university. I have co-authored five peer reviewed original research articles based on this work; I am first author in four of them.

This past year I accepted an oncology fellowship with simultaneous appointments at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School. Here I am focusing on studying the interplay between p53 family members in head and neck cancers and their roles in development and tumorigenesis. Currently I reside in Boston with my wife, who was a fellow graduate student at FAU, and our two year old son. I've since turned them into Seminole sports fans and can't wait to show them the university and the department as well.

Susan H. Drake, B.S. 1970, M.S. 1975 (M.D.)

22 April 2003
I got my B.S. in Biological Science in December of 1970, then my M.S. in pollution biology and embryology of fishes in 1975 under Drs. Livingston, Simberloff, and Yerger. M.D., USF College of Medicine, 1979. ObGyn residency to 1983. Private practice in ObGyn, 1983-1998. Now part-time consultant to Board of Medicine and part-time gynecologist for VA Outpatient Clinic in Tallahassee. Have enjoyed caring for women and also teaching family practice residents and FSU Program in Medical Sciences students over the years. I am grateful for the education and experiences I had at the Biological Science Department over many wonderful years.

Eric E. Dueno, B.A. 1993 (M.S., Ph.D.)

31 May 2006
Eric Dueno's interest in botany was sparked while studying at FSU. After completion of his undergraduate degree, he then went on to earn an M.S. in natural products chemistry at the University of Central Florida, Orlando, in 1996. He then returned to Tallahassee, where he taught biology, chemistry and math for two years at the Tallahassee Community College. In 1999 Eric enrolled in the Chemistry Ph.D. program at the University of South Florida, Tampa. In the spring of 2004, he completed his doctorate in synthetic organic chemistry. In the fall of 2004 he accepted a tenure-track faculty position at Eastern Kentucky University near Lexington, KY. His teaching duties include sophomore organic chemistry and spectrophotometric identification of organic molecules. Eric has published over twenty scientific publications and two lab manuals. His current research involves the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds for medicinal purposes and the isolation and elucidation of naturally occurring compounds. He is particularly grateful to Dr. Ellen Granger and Dr. Siwo deKloet for their outstanding guidance and support during his studies at FSU.

Douglas Eder, Ph.D. 1973

10 July 2007
I spent 31 years on the biology faculty of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). My scholarly work occurred in the areas of neuroendocrinology and anatomy. More than once I returned to FSU to visit my own former students and work alongside them in the lab of my doctoral mentor, Ted Williams. During the last 12 years I shifted to administrative activities to foster the academic assessment of student learning. Although I retired from SIUE in 2006, retirement is not part of my psyche. You will now find me back in Florida as associate provost at the University of North Florida. It's good to come home.

Paul M. Edwards, B.S. 1990

2 June 2006
One of my fondest memories of attending FSU was taking Organic Chemistry from Dr. Delos Detar. I credit Dr. Detar's commitment to instilling in me the concept of diligence and preparation in everything that you do in life and business. I have many wonderful memories of the biological sciences department at FSU and today I still think about the commitment to education and research. Since leaving FSU, I have completed two years of medical school, helped start and manage an orthopedic clinical practice, completed a graduate degree in business at the University of Minnesota, and currently work in Silicon Valley as Vice President of Marketing & Business Development for a medical device start-up (Endotex Interventional Systems) focusing on the prevention of stroke. I currently live in Mill Valley, CA (next to Sausalito), and love spending most of my free time in the vast Bay Area outdoors with my family. I have two boys who both are in Boy Scouts, and we love hiking, camping, skiing, hitting the beach, traveling and hopefully making a positive difference in others’ lives. I thank FSU, its dedicated faculty and diverse student body for helping me reach this point in my life.

Fay Ferrell, Ph.D., 1979 (M.D.)

10 January 2008
While doing holiday office cleaning I came across the Spring 2007 BioFeedback newsletter and would like to contribute. I am 80 miles away in Dothan and invite any FSU BIO folks to drop by if they are passing through!

After completing my Ph.D. under Dr. Beidler I was awarded a NIH Postdoctoral Research Fellowship to continue studying plasticity in the developing gustatory system at the University of Michigan Institute of Dental Research with two earlier Beidler Ph.D.s, Charlotte Mistretta and Robert Bradley. I then joined the faculty at the University of California, Davis, and there, in the '80s, completed three consecutive Heart of California Double Century bicycle rides, climbed Half Dome in Yosemite, and made four ascents of Devils Tower in Wyoming. For my midlife crisis I entered medical school in 1987 at the age of 43, obtaining the M.D. from the Chicago Medical School and completing a general internship and psychiatric residency at Duke University Medical Center. Since 1995 I have lived in the country on eight acres on a creek in Dothan, Alabama (the REAL Peanut Capital of the World), enjoy a rewarding psychiatric practice, and (this will probably come as no surprise to any old timers who remember my taste-preference studies with the beagle puppies) I do foster care at my home for pregnant dogs and their pups in conjunction with the local humane society and animal shelter. I thank all of my professors at FSU for teaching me to think critically. When patients tell me that they came to me because they were confident that I could nail their diagnoses accurately and prescribe the appropriate treatments the first time around, I attribute this to my FSU training. With the evolution of the speciality of psychoneuroendocrinology I think of Dr. Marc Freeman. I called Dr. Herrnkind for a quick phone consult before testifying as an expert witness in a domestic violence case. Dr. Tschinkel will probably be pleased to know that, thanks to his love of fire ants, I have developed a peaceful coexistence with the ones I share my land with. In the spring of 1974, my 9-year-old son was recruited by Sammy Seminole and the other cheerleaders to STREAK on Landis Green, where he climbed up a light pole and ended up on the front page of the Tallahassee Democrat!

Last spring I journeyed to FSU to hear Dr. Herrnkind give his farewell lecture before retirement. I was in the audience over 30 years before, when he gave his "Cueing behavior and the 8-ball" lecture on the spiny lobsters. D�já vu!

John R. Fernandez, B.S. 1980 (M.D., J.D.)

5 June 2006
John R. Fernandez, MD, JD, FACEP (B.S. 1980). Emergency Medicine Physician USF 1988. Attorney FSU 2002. Pilot; musician; author; living in Stuart, Florida.

David L. Fitzgerald, B.S. 1990

22 May 2006
I am currently President & CEO of Central Florida Real Estate Ventures, Inc. We are a commercial & residential real estate development company in the Central Florida area. I credit my vision and ability to create, develop, and run this well respected Central Florida corporation to my years at FSU. Being a Biological Science major is much more relevant than many people may think. The analytical and scientific skills and thought processes learned at FSU are directly transferable to running a real estate development corporation. In addition, by being a Bio. major, I feel my corporation is much more sensitive to “Smart Growth” and respects biological and environmental issues much more than traditional developers. We are currently developing two residential subdivisions and one small office building here in the Metro-Orlando area. Thanks to FSU for great memories, sharp skills, and an entrepreneurial spirit to succeed! I always look forward to visiting campus every Fall for kickoff!

(Congratulations to Mr. Fitzgerald, who was also recently appointed a Commissioner on the Planning, Zoning, and Appeals Board.)

Kimble Frazer, B.S. 1991

5 August 2008
I've been meaning to send an update for a long time, but have never quite gotten around to it. Thanks for the regular "BioFeedback" mailings over the years. It's been nice to be able to keep up with the academic progress at FSU. As one in a long line of FSU graduates (one of my grandmothers, both my parents, and three younger siblings all got their degrees at FSU), it will always hold a special place in my heart. I got my first start in research at FSU, and the didactic and practical knowledge I received there has served me well over the years as I've built my own budding biomedical research career. A quick synopsis of my post-FSU course follows:

I graduated with a degree in Biological Sciences from FSU in 1991. While at FSU, I did immunology research with Dr. Ken Roux there.

I then joined the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP; an NIH MD/PhD training program) at UT Southwestern in Dallas, TX. I did my first two years of medical school at UTSW, as well as most of my graduate schooling there. While I was still in graduate training, my mentor moved to become director of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation in Oklahoma City, and I moved with him. I received my PhD in Immunology from UTSW in 1998 and transferred to the University of Oklahoma to complete medical school, receiving my MD in 2000.

I then moved to Salt Lake City, UT to complete my residency in pediatrics at the University of Utah. Following residency, I did fellowship training in pediatric hematology-oncology also at the University of Utah, finishing in 2005. During fellowship, I did research on RNAi and epigenetics in the laboratory of Dr. Bradley Cairns, an HHMI lab here at the University of Utah's Huntsman Cancer Institute.

After finishing the fellowship, I joined the University of Utah's faculty as an Instructor in Pediatrics. During this time, I changed my scientific focus somewhat, and since late 2006 I have been using zebrafish to study T cell leukemias and lymphomas, and the epigenetic changes that distinguish them from benign lymphocytes. In 2007, I accepted an Asst. Professor position within the Dept. of Pediatrics, as well as an adjunct appointment within the Dept. of Oncological Sciences. I currently work in our Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology to provide clinical care at the University of Utah, as well as working on the research enterprise described above at the Huntsman Cancer Institute.

Thanks for your continued efforts in pursuit of FSU's academic mission. I certainly benefitted from my time as FSU, and if you'd ever like someone to swing by and talk about how one can use zebrafish to study pediatric malignancies & epigenetics, I'd love to make a return trip!

Pasquale V. Gazzara, B.S. 1951

24 March 2003, updated 5 July 2005
I graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. in 1951. In 1952 I returned to Florida State to earn a teaching degree, then went on to teach science for 23 years in the New York school system. After I retired in 1983, I became a paralegal for 14 years. I've been married to Geraldine DiPalma for 47 years, have four children and 6 grandchildren. I have been fully retired for nine years. I attended the 50-year reunion for my graduating class. The alumni did a great job in providing for us. I look forward to the issues of BioFeedback; keep it up.

Mary Knoblock Gearhard, B.S. 1978, PIMS 1979 (M.D.)

15 April 2005
Conradi was my favorite building at the University---my first class there was embryology with Dr. Wiese--­what a delight he was, although it took me 3 weeks to understand that he was saying the word"syncytiu"---his accent made it sound like "soon-soo-she-um."

My other favorite professor was Dr. Robert Short­--to this day I can recall genus-species names of way too many parasites

My husband Tom and I are PIMS T-79ers and finished med school at UF in ’82. Our Family Practice residencies were completed in Phoenix, AZ, and we have been in Powder Springs, GA, for the past 20 years. We practice in the same office and have two daughters, Caroline and Katherine.

Tom Gearhard, B.S. 1978, PIMS 1979 (M.D.)

15 April 2005
See Mary Knoblock Gearhard , B.S. 1978, PIMS 1979 (M.D.)

Elizabeth R. Gold, B.S. 1965

4 April 2002
After I graduated in 1965, I went on (foolishly) to do master's at the University of Maryland, finding when I finished that there were still no jobs to be had. I worked as a hospital lab tech for a year or two (ugh, worst job) and then went back to school in law, thinking I would go into environmental law. I currently have my own office and practice domestic and criminal law, which still requires some knowledge of behavioral science, if not of the animal kingdom. I am able to use my biology background in helping my 16 year old with AP Biology, and I can identify all the birds in the back yard. I don't regret my time in the biology department, and I loved FSU.

Question? Were there really human bones in those boxes under the stairs on the top floor? [Editor's note: I don't know, and the boxes aren't there any more. Can any of our readers shed light on this question? Stranger things have happened in the department's history!] Did Gib DeBusk mean to scar me for life? I enjoyed my experiences in the biology department. Good luck to the department in the future!!!!

Phillip V. Gordon, Ph.D. 1992 (M.D.)

7 March 2006
All those years ago in Tom Keller's lab, when I was wasting time late at night doing creative writing instead of lab work, who knew it would actually pay off some day. I did eventually complete my PhD and enter the PIMs program, but I also kept up the hobby of writing short stories and editorial pieces. This year I got my second book published (Cherubs in the Land of Lucifer). For those who are interested, the book can be bought at http://www.booklocker.com/books/2375.html or at your favorite brick-and-mortar or on-line retailer. Excerpts can be read at http://cherubsinthelandoflucifer.com.

Today I am a fellowship program director, a former assistant residency program director and (yes, although Tom can hardly believe it) a mentor in the laboratory. I spent a lot of hours during medical school and residency at the patient bedside, much of it was drudgery, and I did wonder how much educational value there was in some of it. Particularly as I read books like House of God, which influenced me greatly. In the last decade, we have humanely limited residency duty hours and worked hard to balance education with housestaff service, but something is being lost in that balance.

Cherubs tells the story of my coming of age during this "revolution" in medical education. I hope housestaff and lay people all over the country are going to read it. I am worried that what we're losing in this new age of medical education is the sense of patient ownership that was intrinsic to all those long hours of call and duty. I think we are losing doctors at the bedside at the time of death. I think we are losing doctors as mentors in the death process. I think we're losing doctors who are willing to stay in the hospital past their shifts. Instead we have more and more regulation, more and more bureaurocracy, pulling us towards specialty and anonymity--pulling us away from the patient.

The book is not about policy or history. It is a memoir about a boy and his dying father, about a neonatologist and his dying patients, and about a country in which we may not have quite figured out how to reconcile all of this incredible medical technology with our current culture. I hope some of you might consider reading it and perhaps seeing what happened to that graduate student with all the gradiose ideas. I hope, for some of you, it might help you to think about effective communication with the physicians of your loved ones, should they be terminally ill. I hope that, for others, it will just be a darned good read.

Stephen V. Guida, B.S. 1983 (D.P.M.)

1 June 2004
I graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. degree in Biology in 1983. I went on to podiatry school and received my D.P.M. degree in 1989. I then completed a residency in podiaatric medicine and surgery at the Marion V.A. Medical Center in 1990. I completed a one-year associateship in 1991 and have been in private practice since 1992. I am greatful to the FSU Biological Science Deparatment for preparing me for my medical career.

James E. Hall III, B.S. 1969, grad school 1970

18 May 2008
I was a student in the Department of Biological Science during the latter '60's until 1970. I received a B.S. in Bio. Sci. in 1969 and entered graduate school as a student of molecular genetics under Dr. A. Gib DeBusk, whom I admired and disappointed. I didn't continue my graduate studies because of personal issues that had to be resolved, as I explained to him, but eventually used my biology training later in 1971 to attend an internship in Medical Technology, which I've been involved in for the last 37 years. Currently, I have certification as a Histocompatibility Technologist and work in an HLA laboratory at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, still going strong at the age of 61. Our laboratory specializes in sequencing the DNA controlling the HLA protein structure to obtain donor and recipient HLA-typing information for transplants (solid organ and stem-cell/bone marrow). We've discovered quite a few new HLA alleles, since we provide our services to the Argentine bone marrow registry, which serves an extremely heterogeneous population; consequently, I've participated in writing several papers related to these new alleles.

The professors who guided me and inspired me most were Drs. Loretta Ellias, Gib Debusk, Robert Short, Mary Noka Hood, and a graduate student of Dr. Debusk whose name I don't recall, but who defended his dissertation in English and French, a feat that astounded me then. I would love to return to revisit FSU, but would probably not recognize anything but the oldest areas of the campus. My best wishes are extended to the professors mentioned above.

Roy A. Hammac, B.S. 1968

5 April 2003
I graduated in 1968 with a B.S. in biology. After college I served in combat in Vietnam as an army officer. After the army, I worked for Prudential Insurance Company for 2 years, then went to work for Wyeth (pharmaceutical company), where I am employed currently. I have worked for Wyeth for 29 years, and I manage a sales force which encompasses the states of Virginia and Maryland and Washington, DC. My wife (Patty) and I live in Chester Springs, PA (Pennsylvania is our company headquarters location), and we celebrated our 33rd anniversary in March.

Don Scott Hatcher, B.S. 1969

29 March 2005
I graduated with biology major and completed my science education requirements too. I have been a high school biology teacher with 24 years at Winter Park High (FL), 9 years at Lake Highland Preparatory (Orlando), and 1 year at Lake Mary High School. When I graduated, science education majors were treated as “second class students” by most of the biology professors, but I have heard that has changed and biology department professors no longer treat science ed majors with disdain. Glad to hear that a new biology building is going to be built. I have "fond" memories of going to Conradi in the middle of the night to conduct Drosophila labs. Campus security always got a big laugh when you told them you were going to the biology building to "collect virgin flies." Thanks for the memories. I doubt if any of my professors from the 60's are still there.

Paul M. Hendricks, B.A. 1977 (M.D.)

30 Aug 2007
I have fond memories of my courses there and of Conradi building. I went on to an MD at UF and currently live just outside Chattanooga, Tennessee, and practice emergency medicine in Chattanooga. I have been a long-time environmental activist with the Sierra Club and recently won election to the Signal Mountain Town Council and then was elected Mayor. We are working to initiate open space/conservation land use planning and energy efficiency for our town and I recently signed the Mayor's Agreement on Climate Change (only the 4th community in Tennessee to do so). I have a son who wants to be a filmmaker (and may attend FSU in a few years) and a daughter who is 8, but already a committed "tree-hugger" and plans to be a veterinarian (and then become President so she can save all the trees and habitat for endangered species!!). Best to all my old friends and professors.

James R. Jensen, B.S. 1969 (M.S.)

5 July 2005
After completing my bachelor's degree, I entered graduate school at F.A.U. and finished my master's degree in microbiology in June 1971. After serving in the U.S.A.F. as an officer, I completed a one-year program at Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital to complete a state supervisor's license for microbiology, clinical chemistry, immunohematology, serology, and hematology. I have enjoyed 26 years at Shands Teaching Hospital in Gainesville, during which time I supervsised an immunology, endocrinology, and special chemistry laboratory. Currently I have been working in the immunohematology and blood-banking section of the hospital. I enjoyed my years at F.S.U. and the excellent education and challenges of the Department of Biological Science. We have three children; two are U.F. Gators, and 1 is an F.S.U. Seminole. Thanks for keeping me updated with this wonderful newsletter.

Herb Jervis, M.S. 1971, Ph.D. 1973

7 May 2003
Recently retired to our dream house on Amelia Island with my bride of twenty-nine years, Mary Gregory (FSU 1969) after a mixed career in academia and more commercial pursuits. After a two-year postdoc (in biochemistry) at Virginia Tech, I spend the next eight years on the faculty at Adelphi University (Garden City, N.Y.). With tenure in hand, mid-life crisis hit. Mary said younger women out of the question--change your career. Back to law school at age 40, then a career as a biotech patent attourney, first in private practice in New York and later with SmithKline Beecham in Philadelphia. Finished my career as V.P. and Chief Patent Counsel of Pioneer Hi-Bred Int'l in Des Moines, IA, where I took a case to the U.S. Supreme Court, successfully, ensuring that patent rights are available to inventors of new plant varieties.

Dave Jolkovsky, B.S. 1977 (D.M.D., M.S.)

18 March 2004
Thanks very much for sending Biofeedback. It brought back many warm memories of the wonderful people in the Biology Department when I was at Florida State. It was sad to hear that several wonderful professors had passed on. Dr. Stuy was particularly kind in allowing me to do a Directed Individual Study at his lab after I took his genetics lab course. I can still remember his love of kayaking. It was also saddening to learn of Dr. Walborsky's passing last year. His lecture on wines is still on of the best I've ever seen.

As for me, I successfully completed Phase A of PIMS and transferred to UF College of Medicine, where I realized during Phase B that I did not like working with sick people. I transferred to the UF College of Dentistry and graduated in 1981. After enjoying traveling with the US Air Force for a few years as a dentist, I went back to school and completed a Masters in Oral Biology from UCLA and a residency program in Periodontal Surgery. I have had a private full-time periodontics and implant practice in Davis, California, since 1991 and still am on part-time faculty at UCLA School of Dentistry. I enjoy travel, photography, and tennis. My wife of 20 years (Ann) and I have two wonderful daughters (Hanna age 10 and Eliana age 8). Every spring I still reminisce about how wonderful and beautiful Tallahassee was with all of the plants blooming and the fragrant smells. However, the people are what really make FSU and Tallahassee so special.

Please, if you can, publish at least a portion of this so that I might hear from some fellow students from that era. I will be forwarding a donation as a way of remembering Drs. Stuy and Walborsky.

Christine Widdows Jordan, B.S. 1987 (M.D.)

3 May 2004
See Frank Jordan, M.S. 1989 (Ph.D.)

Jeffrey R. Keim, B.S. 1975 (M.D.)

24 May 2006
I was a graduate student in Neuroscience under Dr. Graziadei and then went on to obtain my MD degree from the University of Miami. I was an intern at the Mayo Clinic and then completed a general surgery residency and plastic surgery fellowship in the Army. I am board certified in general surgery, plastic surgery and hand surgery. I practice plastic surgery in Minot, North Dakota and fish or hunt whenever I can.

Kerri Kissinger-Miralles, B.S. 1999

14 April 2005
I am proud to inform FSU that since my graduation from FSU, I am currently teaching Honors Biology in the largest high school in Broward County. I enjoy preparing students for the future, and encouraging students to pursue a career in sciences.

Thank you FSU for some of the best memories of my life. I will miss the Conradi building.

Kristin (Borden) Kraus, M.S. 1975

10 November 2006
For three years after finishing at FSU, I was the Production Editor for the journals published at Cold Spring harbor Laboratory Press: Genes & Development, Genome Research, and Learning & Memory. After we moved to Salt Lake City, I was hired by Ovid Technologies, a company that offers online subscription access to medical books, journals, and databases. As Manager of the Journals Full-Text Development group, I served as a liaison between Ovid's Journal division and publishers around the world. About three years ago, I left Ovid to become the Medical Editor for the Department of Neurosurgery here at the University of Utah.

Chris Kuebler, B.S. 1975

5 July 2005
My bachelor's degree was received in 1975, and it led to a 30-year career in the pharmaceutical industry. I spent my first 20 years in sales and marketing for Squibb and Abbott, eventually heading up Abbott Europe in the early nineties. For the last 10 years, I have been chairman and CEO of Covance, Inc., a $3 billion market cap contract research services company for the world's biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. We are the largest toxicology and clinical-trail central labs in the world. Our 1000 employees excel at all aspects of applied science needed to gain approval for new therapeutics. FSU provided a great foundation for running a life-sciences company.

Michael Kuperberg, B.S. 1986, M.S. 1986 (Ph.D.)

15 May 2004
I received a bachelor's in Biological Science from FSU in 1986 and an M.S. in Biological Science from FSU in 1986. I received my Ph.D. in Phamaceutical Sciences (Environmental Toxicology) from FAMU in 1999. I worked for Skip Livingston from 1980 until 1988, and I've worked for Roy Herndon (FSU Center for Biomedical & Toxicological Research) since then. I am currently on assignment to the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science in Bethesda, Maryland, through a two-year IPA (Intergovernmental Personnel Act--the federal legislation that allows federal agencies to "borrow" employees from non-federal entities like universities). As a Program Manager in the Environmental Remediation Sciences Division, I manage approximately 40 multi-year basic science research projects in the general areas of ecology and subsurface remediation science.

My wife Jeanne has a job with Cordus (the cardiac subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson). She is a clinical specialist for their cardiac cath lab product line. She vists 10 or 15 hospitals in this area as "tech support" for their products. The pay is good and the working conditions are great. Lots of flexibility and no call! Our daughters have adapted pretty quickly and seem to enjoy life in the big city.

Paige Johnson Layman, B.S. 1999

24 October 2007
After graduation, I worked as a construction assistant at an architecture firm before finding a position in a DNA sequencing lab. Through that position I was able to take classes at NIH in Bethesda, MD, where I learned about a career in genetic counseling. I did what I never expected to do—went back to school and received my master's in human genetics at Sarah Lawrence College, which focused specifically on genetic counseling. Following grad school, I held a research position regarding the genetics of congenital heart defects. I am now in Charlotte, NC, working with families in a high-risk obstetrics office, educating them on risks, available testing, and probably outcomes for their pregnancies. I found what I want to be when I grow up—I just didn't know until after FSU that it even existed! I've come a long way from my biology degree with a marine bio focus!

James Liberatos, Ph.D. 1986

26 June 2007
I was a graduate student of Dr. Bob Short. I've stayed in science since leaving FSU and am a professor of biology at Louisiana Tech University. In addition, I am dean of the College of Applied & Natural Sciences, which has academic units in Agricultural Sciences, Biology, Forestry, Health Information Management, Human Ecology and Nursing.

Randy Martin, Ph.D. 1975

8 March 2002
Advisor: William F. Herrnkind

When I arrived in 1969, Dr. Godfrey was chairman of the department. I think he was one helluva guy, as exemplified by this anecdote: I was admitted to the department without a Teaching Assistantship and had written that I wouldn't be able to attend without financial help. I changed my mind and came anyway, without informing Dr. Godfrey. When I showed up at his office, he said he thought I wasn't coming. I said I changed my mind, and he said, "Well, I have good news. Since you're here, I'll give you a teaching assistantship!" What a great way to start out in the Biology Dep't. at FSU!

The professors who made the greatest impression on me were my major professor, Bill Herrnkind, an outstanding teacher and mentor, Dan Simberloff, a brilliant mind if there ever was one, and Glayde Whitney in the Psychology Department. I'm aware of Glayde's recent passing and the controversy regarding racism, but I was inspired by his course in Behavioral Genetics and never thought racism was a theme. He served well as my "outside the department professor" on my dissertation committee.

Other memories of my experiences that stand out include my marriage to Sharon Dillingham, a pred-med student and Tallahassee native in March, 1972. In a few days, we'll celebrate our 30th anniversary. Our oldest son, Will, is a junior majoring in Philosophy at FSU. We have two other children. Sharon is in her 20th year of private practice as a cardiologist in Inverness, Florida.

What I have done since leaving FSU is make a lot of career changes! I have been an Adjunct Instructor at the community college level, an Assistant Professor of Biology, and an Environmental Scientist at an engineering firm. Presently, I am enjoying a fusion of archaeology and biology at Gulf Archaeology Research Institute (GARI), Crystal River, Florida, where I am Assistant Director and Division Head - Biological Sciences. I can be reached at GARI at (352) 564-0888 and rmarti40@tampabay.rr.com.

Kenneth D. Matejka, B.S. 1990 (M.D.)

12 April 2004
I graduate spring '90. Since then I attended med school (University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida). Then did my residency (diagnostic radiology, Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation, New Orleans, La.), general surgery internship (Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation, New Orleans, La.), and finally a fellowhship (MRI at Ochsner Medical Foundation, board certification from the American Board of Radiology). Currrently I am practicing with Radiology Associates in Corpus Christi, Texas. Married seven years to Amy Zenick, a lawyer, from Ft. Worth, Texas.

Stephanie J. Mathews, B.S. 2003

5 July 2005
I am enrolled as a graduate student in the Science and Mathematics Education Department at Florida Institute of Technology. I am working on a M.S. degree in science education with certification in biology and chemistry. I hope to graduate in fall 2006 or spring 2007. I enjoyed everything while at FSU and hope to be able to send future students to the place I called my home away from home.

Hoyt Matthai, B.S. 1977

24 May 2002, updated 14 August 2006
M.S. in Cell Biology 5/92, Hood College The majority of my career has been in the cell biology field including IVD (in vitro diagnostic) cell culture, cells used in the manufacture of an injectable and lastly, cell therapy. I started my career in biology at a small Maryland company that produced cells for in-vitro diagnostic use (IVD). I eventually landed at BioWhittaker (now a Cambrex company) for 16 years where I was eventually promoted to Senior Director of Site Operations. In 1993 I was involved in a European joint venture startup company between BioWhittaker and Boehringer Ingelheim, where until mid-1995, I was the general manager of the facility. This facility was built from the ground up to produce cell cultures, cell culture media and process bovine serum. My family and I lived in Belgium for just over two years, and we traveled all over Europe, going as far south as Italy, as far east as Budapest and the Czech Republic and as far north as the Netherlands. After joining a few venture capital companies, I became the VP of Operations at MetriGenix. This is a spin off company from one of the companies that deciphered the human genome (Gene Logic). In 2002, we launched a new, three-dimensional gene chip. Because of its increased surface area, better and results were obtained much faster than with conventional gene chips. Eventually, I found my way to my current position as the VP of Manufacturing and Logistics Operations at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) in Manassas, Virginia. ATCC is the world's leading biological repository and has been in business for over 80 years.

Dianne (Buckheister) McNeill, B.A. (Biological Science/German) 1989

29 June 2007
Dianne is the Chemistry Manager for ECC, an environmental remediation and clean construction company, with offices worldwide. She acquires and manages resources for all ECC project-level chemists, ensuring that client needs and project-objectives are satisfied. In 2006, Dianne founded the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Society of Women Environmental Professionals (http://www.swepcolo.org), and serves this professional networking group as acting president. She has completed three mini-triathlons and numerous foot races, though not quickly. She credits Professor Joe Travis with honing her ability to think creatively and critically at the same time, and actually misses his “zero point extra credit” questions. Dr. Travis provided invaluable growth opportunities to Dianne as student; she is honored to still count him among her friends. Dianne lives near Denver, Colorado, with her husband and young son, where they enjoy hiking and biking in the mountains and playing in the snow. They recently moved to a house with a big yard where their son is discovering new uses for dirt.

D. Bruce Means, B.S. 1968, M.S. 1972, Ph.D. 1975

12 August 2004
In September of 2004, my new book, coauthored with fellow Biological Science alum and courtesy faculty member Anne Rudloe, appeared in bookstores: Priceless Florida, by Ellie Whitney, D. Bruce Means, and Anne Rudloe (Pineapple Press, Sarasota, 432 pages, 800 color photos, paper ISBN-1-56164-308-4, hardcover ISBN-1-56164-309-2). According to the publisher, Priceless Florida is about the incomprehensible riches of every kind of natural ecosystem found in Florida from the abyssal plain of the Gulf of Mexico to the highest, driest sand ridge. It is written in a way that will appeal to young and old, laypersons and scientists. A cornucopia of colorful illustrations and exquisite photographs makes you feel you are there. The comprehensive text enlivens with facts and brims with intriguing curiosities while bridging multiple fields in a crisp, readable style that only seasoned science-educators like Drs. Whitney, Means, and Rudloe could offer. Much of Florida has been bought and sold many times over, but this book makes clear how rich is the state's natural biodiversity and just how valuable are the remaining species and ecosystems.

Jason H. Moore, B.S. 1991 (M.S., Ph.D.)

15 May 2004
I worked with Drs. Siwo deKloet and Laura Keller while an undergraduate in the Department of Biological Science. Following graduation in 1991, I worked as a research assistant for two years and then earned an M.S. in Applied Statistics, an M.S. in Human Genetics, and a Ph.D. in Human Genetics from the University of Michigan. After earning my Ph.D. in 1999 I took a position as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Center for Human Genetics Research at the Vanderbilt University Medical School in Nashville. In 2003 I was given tenure in the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics and was given an endowed Ingram Professorship in Cancer Research. This summer I will be leaving Vanderbilt to join the faculty at Dartmouth Medical School in New Hampshire as the Frank Lane Research Scholar in Computational Genetics, Associate Professor of Genetics, and Director of Bioinformatics for the Norris Cotton Cancer Center. My Biological Science education at FSU has served me well. I hope to visit sometime soon.

John Mullinax, B.S. 2002 (M.D.)

20 June 2007
I recently graduated from USF College of Medicine and will begin my residency in General Surgery here in Tampa at USF. Other updates since graduation include a marriage to Laura Gill (FSU College of Ed '03). While at FSU I worked with Dr. Tschinkel in his lab and I am very excited to see his much deserved recognition for his work with fire ants. I was also one of the many TA’s to Ann Lumsden in the non-majors BSC1005L program.

If there are any students in your current undergraduate program that are interested in medical school, especially here at USF, feel free to put them in contact with me. I'd love to help a fellow Seminole any way that I can.

James Murray, B.S. 1969 (Ph.D.)

12 April 2005
I graduated from FSU in 1969 with a B.S. in Microbiology (I assume that Dept no longer exists). I remember well and with fond memories Drs. Elias, Hood, and Pates in the Micro Dept. It is nice to hear that the new Bio Bldg will finally be built, although long nights in Conradi (even sleeping there some nights) make the passing of that torch bittersweet.

Upon graduation, after marrying Elizabeth McElligott (FSU, BA English 69), I went to work as a lab tech at Cordis Laboratories, Miami, FLA, and started part time as a graduate student at the University of Miami ( at least I didn't go to Gainesville). Before starting full time at U of M, I was drafted and spent the next 3 years in the Army teaching blood banking and hematology to Med Techs at Ft. Sam Houston TX. In 1974 I returned to U of M and finished my Ph.D. in Immunology in 1978. From 1978 to 1981 I was a postdoctoral fellow in the Pathology Dept. at Yale Univ Medical School and then joined the staff at NEN/DuPont near Boston (1981 to 1986), where I researched the development of human monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) for cancer therapy and diagnostics. In 1986 my family and I moved to the Washington DC area where I spent the next 13 years as a Senior Scientist at IntraCell Corp. in the area of human Mabs and autologous human tumor vaccines. In 1999 I joined Human Genome Sciences, Inc., as a Senior Scientist in the Assay Development Dept. developing and validating assays used in the cGMP production of biotherapeutics. In 1999, I left HGS to take a career change to the area of Regulatory Affairs at Technical Resources International, Inc. Here I am involved in the preparation of filings to the FDA on behalf of the Nat'l Cancer Inst. My wife Beth and I have 4 children: Molly, an Assist. Prof of English at Columbia Univ.; Matt, a writer for Saturday Night Live; Megan, an Admin Assistant for the CEO of Inphonics Corp.; Meredith, a sophomore at Drexel Univ. in biology-Pre Med. My wife and I are active in the Baltimore Seminole Club (there are a large # of FSU alums up here).

Robert A. Nelson III, A.A. 1968 (M.S., M.D., Ph.D.)

12 August 2007
It truly is remarkable how only one class with the right instructor can change your life forever.

I only attended FSU for the first two years of liberal arts. I then (cough, sputter), transferred to the University of Florida to complete my undergraduate studies with a major in Chemistry. I continued with my schooling eventually winding up with my MS (also in Chemistry from U of F)), finally entering Vanderbilt University in a five year MD/PhD (in Clinical Pharmacology).

During all of my studies there was really only one instructor who made a difference in my life--and he was from FSU.

His name was Dickie Brinson and he ran the FSU Flying High Circus.

A little background would help here. My father was a microbiologist. In fact, when he was only 26 he was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on TPI (a test for syphilis). Growing up as the son of Dr. Robert Armstrong Nelson Jr. was both rewarding and challenging. However, trying to "be like dad" became a bit of an obsession with me. While I admired the man beyond belief, I found it difficult to live up to his academic achievements.

I grew up a shy, introverted kid--a bit of a bookworm really. All my education up until this point had been in private all-boy schools. I was 18 years old and I hadn't even had a date yet. I had almost no social skills. When I took the FSU circus class as my Phys. Ed. requirement, I met Dickie Brinson. Everything changed for me the day Dickie Brinson taught me how to juggle.

Dickie was extremely generous with his time--not only was he patient (I'm a klutz) but he was very kind and compassionate as well. He taught me not to focus on the expectations of others and to be proud to be just myself. His passion and enthusiasm for his chosen art form inspired me to see what I could accomplish on my own.

I have not been in medicine for over 30 years. I no longer do any kind of work in chemistry or pharmacology. Since 1976, I have worked solely as a professional juggler. I've been very fortunate to have performed all over the world and lucky enough to have won all kinds of awards as well. The last time I checked, however, they weren't giving out any Nobel Prizes for juggling.

Too bad, cause if they did, it should go to Dickie Brinson. Thanks to him, I've had an amazing life.

Added later . . . .

I work as a comedy juggler in Japan a lot . . . I do my act in Japanese. One of the top dogs at the Tokyo Institute of Medicine now is Dr. Nishioka. He was my dad's best friend way back when my father started the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Miami (1960). When he heard that the "great Dr. Nelson's" son was performing in Fukuoka, he sent all these Japanese doctors down to watch me at the amusement park. It was hilarious watching these very influential and important men look at me (in my jester's costume) and go through the realization that their own sons could end up like me.

Here's the good thing . . . . When my dad died, they all got together and wrote this huge tribute to him, but it was all in Japanese, and at the time, I couldn't read Japanese at all. So I asked one of the young girls in the park to help me translate it. We fell in love and got married (the only reason her parents approved was because of that article). Kumi and I are still very much in love today, 18 years later.

Gerald J. Niemi, Ph.D. 1983

3 August 2007
I just received the Outstanding Scientist Award for the Great Lakes from the International Joint Commission--you can find info at their website. I did my Ph.D. with Fran James and finished in 1983. I always enjoy perusing the newsletter and I keep in sporadic contact with Fran.

Laura E. Ocker (formerly Laura Somervill), B.S. 1993

1 June 2006
In 2003 I completed my Masters of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine and obtained my license to practice acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine from the Oregon Board of Medical Examiners. I currently work as the resident acupuncturist at Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center in Hillsboro, Oregon. Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center (VGMHC) is a primary care facility with a 30-year history of providing high quality culturally appropriate healthcare to families and individuals who otherwise would not have access to health care. It is rewarding to help others, to witness the positive changes my clients experience with acupuncture treatment, and to work side-by-side with the fantastic team of medical professionals at VGMHC.

Robert W. Perkins

12 March 2004
I am a 1969 law graduate of FSU. I have long known of the excellence of biological sciences at FSU. I am presently into malacology (freshwater clams) in Florida and would appreciate any information about them and especially location and types of populations in the lakes and ponds of north Florida and south Georgia.

Please send me any information you have on these freshwater clams.

I am a long-time attorney and lobbyist in Florida, former head resident counselor in the Southern Scholarship Foundation.

Dirk E. Peterson, B.S., 1980, (M.S., Ph.D., M.D.)

4 April 2005
I remember fondly my years of study in the department (1976-80). There was a cadre of truly great graduate students, especially under Drs. Livingston and Herrnkind, that really stimulated my development as a scientist. I remember their student organization, which was a counter to the PIMS program, called PIGS (program in graduate studies) which mostly involved discussing biology, academics, and coeds over beer and pizza. Other mentors such as Drs. Heard and Hoffman (Chemistry) also guided me during my development. Dr. Herrnkind was my undergraduate advisor and friend.

I recall this one instance during my basic ecology class when Dr. Livingston asked one of the FSU student-atheletes in the class what the primary aquatic marcrophyte was in Apalachicola Bay. The student said "kelp?" and Dr. Livingston, with pain in his face, said, "God no, man, it's turtle grass!" He never sat in the front row again. I'm sorry to see Dr. Livingston has retired--who will watch The Bay now?

I cannot believe they are still using Conradi building, after all this time. I remember climbing into the second floor window late one night in order to get into Dr. Heard's teaching lab, as we had been out all weekend SCBUA diving and collecting invertebrates for the next week (undergrads were not given keys to the building and we didn't think to call security!).

I remember the department advisor, Mrs. Stoutamire, warning us about taking classes from the "three S's" (Drs. Stuy, Strong, and Simberloff). I got by with only having to face Dr. Stuy in genetics laboratory. He was not so tough.

At Dr. Herrnkind's urging, I completed the fantastic marine biology saturation class at the FSU Marine Lab during my last semester at FSU and never looked back. I went on to complete my M.S. in environmental sciences at Long Island University and a Ph.D. in ecological sciences, under the direction of the late ichtyologist Ray Birdsong (FSU B.S. 1962, M.S. 1963) at Old Dominion University. Then it was off to medical school at Case Western Reserve University and residency at University Medical Center in Jacksonville. I am now an ob-gyn in private practice in Fort Myers.

I look back with pride on the years I spent working hard as a biology major. The most overiding memory is that it all went by too quickly. There was always something interesting going on in the department.

Michael G. Peterson, B.S., 1967; M.S. 1970

5 August 2008
I'm recently retired from 30 years in the medical business (cardiac pacemakers and implantable defibrillators) and now living in the mountains of NW Montana, though we still have a vacation home in Florida. My most influential professor and friend was Anne Pates, but after graduation with my masters in bacteriology (under her guidance) I lost track of her. Congrats on the new building. Lots of fond memories at Conradi.

L. Davis Phaup III, M.S. 1992

29 June 2007
I got my M.S. with Dr. Ross Ellington, and I'm currently Environmental, Health & Safety Coordinator for Old Dominion Electric Cooperative in Glen Allen, Virginia. My wife, Christine, my two children, Hayley and Evan, and I visited Ross and the campus last November during the weekend of the Florida State vs. UVA football game.

Brett W. Podoski, B.S. 1994

29 March 2002
I really enjoyed my time at FSU and I think the news letter is a great idea. Dr. Elliot was Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies when I was there. Professor Outlaw (Botany) and Professor Hofer (Biology) are ones I remember. Maybe some day we can rebuild the Conradi building.. HAHA.. it was in need of repair when I was there.

I currently work for the FDA/Center For Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN). I've been with FDA for 5 years. I've Identified and assessed current emerging and complex issues, international standards and strategies affecting the implementation procedures, policies, and activities of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Reviewed proposed and final HACCP regulations and provided insight and comments on other Agency and foreign country HACCP and food safety regulations. Coordinated and implemented HACCP principles and concepts into industry and or Agency wide, Center and field programs. Advisor to field operations on HACCP investigations and case compliance reviews. Facilitated Office of Regulatory Affairs publication of allergen inspection guide. Assisted in the development of compliance policy guides (CPG) on food allergens concerning manufacturing and labeling practices and spice reconditioning validation. Co-developed and initiated the use of FDA Validation Reviewers Guide. Served as CFSAN secondary reviewer for incoming spice industry validation submissions regarding ethylene oxide (ETO) spice reconditioning. Assisted with the review and compilation of public comments on the interagency Listeria monocytogenes action plan. Co-authored the development and publication of guidance for processors to control Listeria monocytogenes in refrigerated RTE foods. Coordinated Center and General Counsel review of risk assessment and preparation for public comment. Served as editor and reviewer of the FDA fresh-cut produce industry guidance. Developed, reviewed, and/or presented FDA training (allergen, Listeria, imported spices, and HACCP). Served as food safety scenario developer with ICF Consulting for creation of exercise regarding domestic bovine to test the FDA and USDA BSE contingency plans. Served as representative and technical resource for alternative food processing technologies (high pressure, UV, and pulse electric field). Organized the development of training workshop on the HACCP System for Foods given to the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality Control, Ministry of Industry and Technological Development sponsored by Commercial Law Development Program United States Department of Commerce. Served as lead for ORA virtual university advisor--HACCP organizer and course developer. Reviewed of food security operational risk management plans including, water, bottled, ozonated, spring; cereal, whole-grain, not heat treated; honey; breaded foods, frozen, raw (e.g.seafood, vegetables).

I'm Secretary of the Capital Area Affiliate of Food Protection (CAFPA) here in DC, an affiliate of the International Association of Food Protection (IAFP).

I currently live in Arlington, VA. I'm fortunate to be dating an extraordinary young woman named Eve Friedman.

Best of luck and GO NOLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the opportunity to reach out and share current experiences with past friends and fellow alumni.

Richard I. Rothman, B.S. 1977

24 March 2003
Teaching biology for the last 25 years. Currently at Spanish River H.S. in Boca Raton, FL. Also coaching cross country and track. Team has won six state (Florida) championships in girls' cross country. Have been inducted into the Palm Beach Co. Sports Hall of Fame and the Florida Athletic Coaches' Association Hall of Fame. Have received 82 coach-of-the-year awards, including two state coach-of-the-year, 1999 and 2003. At Spanish River since 1983, when the school opened.

Anne Rudloe, Ph.D. 1978

12 August 2004
See D. Bruce Means, B.S. 1968, M.S. 1972, Ph.D. 1975

Raymond Runyan, M.S. 1976

25 March 2003
I graduated with an M.S. degree in 1976 from biology as part of the Genetics Group. My advisor was Dr. Thomas Seale. We published a couple of Journal of Bacteriology papers in 1976 and 1978 as I recall. Tom Seale moved to the University of Florida in 1976, and he was a faculty member at the University of Oklahoma at least till a few years ago when I last heard from him.

I left Tallahassee in 1976 and went to run an electron microscope lab at School of Medicine of the University of South Carolina. While at South Carolina, I developed an interest in the development of the embryonic heart. I returned to graduate school in 1979 at Texas Tech University because one of the few labs in heart development was located there. I received my Ph.D. degree in 1983 and did a postdoc that started at the University of Connecticut Health Science Center and moved to the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. I was a faculty member at the University of Iowa between 1986 and 1992. after getting tenure at Iowa, I was recruited to Arizona and I've been a faculty member here in Tucson since 1992. I've had a continuously NIH-funded research program from my very first day as a faculty member and I currently direct a Program Project Grant on cardiac development.

While my time in Tallahassee seems very long ago, I've always thought that the training I received in journal clubs and research presentations at FSU made a big difference in my career. I was petrified of speaking to audiences as a beginning graduate student and I eventually ended up making quite a few presentations at regional and national meetings. The Genetics Group journal club was a tough audience and after them, everybody else seemed easy. Dr. Menzel's question after every single journal club was "What is the biological significance of this work? My advisor's question was always "What is the hypothesis?". By the time I returned to graduate school in Texas, I had no fear of audiences and my work was always hypothesis driven. I felt that I had an advantage over the students in my department at Tech because of the training at FSU. Even today, I continue to ask our graduate students the two basic questions I learned at FSU.

Kenneth S. Saladin, Ph.D. 1979

21 June 2007
I received my Ph.D. under Dr. Robert Short's direction in 1979, and worked as a graduate teaching assistant under Lynn Fox, Walt Tschinkel, Bob Short, Jim Byram, and Pasquale Graziadei. I received appointment to the faculty of Georgia College in Milledgeville, GA, in 1977 and wrote my dissertation during my early years here. Thus, I've just completed my 30th year on the faculty, and hope to continue at least 10 more. I regularly teach human anatomy and physiology, animal behavior, histology, and a study abroad course in the Galapagos Islands, and have also taught parasitology, sociobiology, and general zoology in earlier years. I have two college textbooks in print and two others in preparation, all for McGraw-Hill Higher Education. My first one, Anatomy and Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function (1177 pp.) is now going into its fifth edition. It has become McGraw-Hill's top-selling textbook in the sciences and mathematics division and one of the two top-selling A&P texts on the market internationally. My second, Human Anatomy, is a smaller book (795 pp.) just released in its second edition and still on the rise. Among other teaching and publication awards, I was named Distinguished Professor in 2001. My wife Diane and I have a daughter, Nicole, who has just completed her master's degree in marine environmental management at Duke University, and a son, Emory, a junior in interior design at the Art Institute of Atlanta.

Jennifer Wade Seaton, B.S. 1995 (M.D.)

4 June 2004
I earned my B.S. in Biology in April of 1995. I then went on to enroll in medical school at Hahnemann University (now Drexel) in Philadelphia in August 1998. I graduated from Drexel in May of 2002 with a degree in medicine (ob-gyn). I am currently finishing my second year of residency at Lankenau Hospital in Philadelphia. I am also expecting my first child in September 2004.

Incidentally, my mother, Cynthia Headen Wade, is also a graduate of FSU, August 1972, Elementary Education.

Marlin P. Seay, B.S. 2002

17 March 2004
After competing my B.S. in April 2002, I entered graduate school at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville to obtain my master's in Healthcare Administration. I worked in the Emergency Department at Baptist Medical Center during my didactic studies at UNF, and I am currently completing my administrative residency at Piedmont Medical Center in Atlanta. I anticipate finishing my residency in May 2005, at which time I will formally graduate with my UNF cohort.

I enjoy reading about the career progress of other alumni and I look forward to the next issue of BioFeedback. Keep up the great work!

J. Kenneth Shull, Ph.D. 1973

17 March 2004
I received my Ph.D. in genetics, with Margaret Menzel as my major professor. I was on the faculty of Loyola University in New Orleans from 1973 through 1984 and served as chair of the Department of Biological Sciences. I moved to Boone, NC, in 1984, where I joined the faculty of Appalachian State University. I am professor of biology now. In 2002-03, I was president of the Association of Southeastern Biologists and received the 2003 Meritorious Teaching Award from that organization. Carolyn and I have been married 36 years. We have two children and two grandchildren.

Tom Simpson, Ph.D. 1971

21 April 2002
I began my doctorate at FSU in 1967 under the late Dr. Bob Hull. He passed away during the third year of my program, and the late Dr. Lutz Wiese was kind enough to take over the program and see me through the last year. Some faculty members mentioned in the newsletter were on my committee (Dr. Pasquale Graziadei), Dr. Bob Godfrey was a very close friend of Dr. Hull, and I also was fortunate to have him as an ally and colleague. Dr. Margaret Menzel was often in our lab or I was in hers, and Dr. G. Herbert Taylor was my first contact with some leading edge molecular genetics for which he had become internationally well known by then. Dr. Hull was the department chairman as well as my major professor, and other than his filling an empty petri dish with cigarettes while in the lab, he was also challenging his grad students with approaches to the conduct of research that required not only knowledge and domestication of the beastie (as we called our little protozoans) with which you were working but the knowledge of the tools you were using to extract information: a pH meter, the Spec 20 (high class spectrophotometry in the 60's), even the cold room where you kept your media were assumed by him to be areas in which every detail about its operation must be understood.

The professors who made the greatest impression (others than the ones mentioned) included Dr. Bob Short, Dr. Bill Herrnkind (two more I was fortunate to call friends as well as mentors), Dr. Gib DeBusk, Dr. Skip Livingston, and the person who really made the biology operations work, the Department Secretary, Barbara Stoutamire. Outstanding memories outside the academic activities were related to the ongoing war in Vietnam. The national guard on campus, the Students for Democratic Society (SDS), continuous soap box chatterings in front of the student union, the faculty and student discontent with some of the university administration at the time, the governor (Claude Kirk) sitting in a rocking chair on the lawn in front of the library all night to calm student protests, and a bomb going off in the building next to Conradi at midnight, just as I was getting my best thin sections on the ultramicrotome in the basement. I also remember driving in to work one morning as I was in the final stages of my research and seeing the building surrounded by fire engines . . . I immediately assumed that all my little beasties, and my dissertation, were in serious trouble. Turned out to be on opposite end of building, but because that was where we kept the formaldehyde it gave the firemen more than the usual problems. I left to take a temporary position at Wake Forest and then a tenure-track position at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA, teaching ecology, cell biology, and marine and invertebrate biology. After promotion and tenure, I left to go into environmental consulting in 1978, first at Dames & Moore and for the last 12 years as VP at CH2M HILL, all in Atlanta. Love my work . . . travel a lot as the Ecosystem Market Segment Leader for the firm working mostly in natural resources management and restoration for energy projects. Have not looked at protozoans in 25 years, unfortunately, but remember every day the skills, behaviors, professionalism, and talents the wonderful faculty at FSU transferred to me over those 4 great years. Anxious to hear from some of the others who may have been at the college in those days, and look forward to dropping by next time I am in Tallahassee.

Bruce Slater, B.S. 1973 (M.D., MPH)

25 April 2005
I graduated in 1973 in Biology, went to UF for MD, Internal Medicine Residency, worked for the National Health Service Corps for 3 years in underserved New Mexico as a general internist, married a Gator! (Jan Hogle, PhD in Anthropology at Univ Connecticut), worked for Peace Corps as doctor for PC Volunteers for 7 1/2 years, worked as an internist at George Washington University in Washington, DC, for 13 years, and 18 months ago was recruited to be Medical Director Computerized Decision Support at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison Wisconsin. So that is my last 30 years give or take in a nutshell! Would love to hear from any 'Noles in Wisconsin.

Michael Spear, B.S. 1976 (M.D.)

23 March 2004
The recent Biological Science newsletter brought to mind Robert Short, who was my favorite professor at FSU (not many professors at the college level care enough to correct your grammar and spelling, but he did). I wonder whether you have any info about his career at FSU since I graduated. I truly regret that I never contacted him to tell him how much I appreciated his efforts on my behalf. [Editor's note: BioFeedback was able to put Dr. Spear back in touch with Dr. Short, who at this writing is alive and well and living in Tallahassee, although long retired from the department.]

As for me, I was a member of one of the early PIMS classes at FSU and graduated from the University of Florida College of Medicine in 1979. I then did an internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship at Vanderbilt. My wife and I then moved to Bristol, TN, where I have been in gastroenterology practice since. Both of my sisters are FSU alumnae (my eldest sister Pat Spear might be known to members of the Biological Science Department, as she is chairman of microbiology at Northwestern University).

Joseph Strater, B.S. 2001

21 April 2005
I graduated from FSU in fall of 2001 with my degree in biology. I am currently in my last year of chiropractic school. I was borderline on attending chiropractic school, and I owe much of my direction to Dr. Quadagno, who influenced me to do my DIS on the subject of chiropractic and its history. That DIS opened a whole new world to me about what chiropractic really is, and it made my career choice easy. It has given me a career I will love forever, never get bored of, and change many other lives in ways you cannot even imagine. My time at FSU was some of the most memorable and enjoyable years of my life. The students, the faculty, and of course football games were all incredible. I feel privileged to have been apart of FSU and all of its great traditions! And thanks forever Dr. Q!

Dr. Henry Tamar, Ph.D. 1957

6 April 2003
After I was granted the Ph.D. in sensory physiology by Florida State in 1957, I served as Head of the Division fo Science and Mathematics at the Pembroke State College, Pembroke, NC. In 1962, I went on to Indiana State University, where I became full professor (I retired in 1998). In 1972 I authored the book Principles of Sensory Physiology. My research on planktonic ciliates (Protozoa) at Indiana State culminated in my papers and micrographs being heavily used in the book Identification and Ecology of Limnetic Plankton Ciliates by W. Foissner, H. Berger, and J. Schaumburg (Munich, November 1999). In this book (p. 626), a new species, Membranicola tamari, was dedicated to me by its discoverers.

Franklin B. Titlow, B.S. 1970

5 July 2005
Budd Titlow went on to earn an M.S. in wildlife ecology at Virginia Tech in 1973 and has since completed more than 300 hours of additional postgraduate training and seminars. He lives in Durham, North Carolina, and has worked as an environmental scientist for a variety of agencies and companies, including the Federal Power Commission, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the National Park Service, Baystate Environmental Consultants, ENSR International, and most recently, the BSC Group, Inc.

In addition to many scientific publications, he has published over 200 ppopular articles, 3000 photos, and a book. His writing and photography have won awards from BBC International, the National Wildlife Federation, the Natural Conservancy, Nature's Best magazine, Kodak International, and many others. More information on his photography is available at http://www.agpix.com/photographer/prime/A0229960.html.

5 Sept 2007

Budd Titlow owns and operates Titlow Ecological Services (TES) in Durham, North Carolina. He is a Professional Wetland Scientist (Society of Wetland Scientists # 754), Professional Wildlife Biologist (Master of Science, Virginia Tech), Regulatory Compliance Specialist, and Ecological Group Manager. He also qualifies as a Certified Environmental Professional. During the past 34 years, Budd has a wide range of experience with the federal government and as a private consultant.

Budd's career includes 13 years as a NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) Compliance Specialist with the federal government, including eight years with the National Park Service. His federal experience involves an array of public infrastructure and resource conservation projects; including hydro-electric pumped storage reservoirs, wind farms, natural gas pipelines, regional coal-mining/oil and gas development plans, wild and scenic river/new area studies, endangered species mitigation plans, and natural resource inventory/facility management plans for five national parks.

Budd has supervised environmental science staffs for private consulting firms and projects throughout New England. His workload included more than 500 different projects, ranging from regional shopping malls, “big box” retail plazas, office/industrial business parks, mixed-use subdivisions, interstate highways and municipal/international airports to wetland restoration designs, rare/endangered species investigations, wildlife habitat enhancement plans, vegetation management plans, and natural resource "existing condition" surveys.

During the past three years, Budd has worked in North Carolina as a private consultant, with an emphasis on stream-wetland delineation, impact assessment, mitigation design, and compliance permitting as well as wildlife habitat enhancement plans. To date, Budd’s primary North Carolina projects are the 900-acre Brunswick County Nature Park, Umstead Hotel on the SAS Campus in Cary, Dolly/Randy Parton Family Entertainment Center in Roanoke Rapids, Randleigh Farms Mixed-Use Development in Raleigh, Town Transportation Center in Chapel Hill, Granville Central High School in Stem, and the City of Sanford’s Sanitary Sewer System Improvement Project. While in North Carolina, he also coordinated wetland/stream delineation and mitigation for the Homestead Preserve Residential Community in Hot Springs, Virginia.

Budd has operated "NATUREGRAPHS - Freelance Photography and Writing - from the Tundra to the Tides" for the past 32 years. Budd's photographs have won multiple international and national awards and he is the author of two books. Voyageur Press is currently marketing his latest book, "Seashells – Jewels From the Ocean", worldwide. Budd’s publication credits also include more than 50 magazine photo-essays and 5,000 photographs. His work has been featured in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Portfolio and Wall Calendar, BBC Wildlife Magazine, Sierra Club Notecards, Outdoor Photographer, National Wildlife, Audubon, Outside, Nature's Best, Travel/Holiday, Time/Life Publications, Popular Photography, Petersen's Photographic and many more.

Budd has been the lead presenter at more than 500 public hearings with municipal boards and commissions. Public speaking skill is also essential to successful consulting. A public hearing in front of a municipal board or commission is the culmination of work on a project. To get an approval, the project team must explain the details and nuances of the proposal to the satisfaction of the commissioners or board members, most of whom are community volunteers. Budd has also served as an expert witness for several adjudicatory hearings on wetland functions/values, wildlife habitat impacts, and endangered species presence. Additionally, Budd has presented more than 50 multi-media programs on environmental permitting to monthly meetings, annual conferences, and specialty workshops throughout the United States.

Honors and Awards

• Elected to Board of Directors, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC
• Merit Award Winner, BBC International Wildlife-Photographer-of-the-Year, London, England
• Conservationist-of-the-Year, Sudbury Valley Trustees, Maynard, MA
• Founder, Sudbury Valley Nature Photographers, Wayland, MA
• Artist-in-Residence, The Ford Plantation, Savannah, GA
• Charter Member, North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA), Wheatridge, CO
• Merit Award Winner, National Wildlife Federation, Reston, VA
• Merit Award Winner, The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA
• Merit Award Winner, Nature's Best Magazine, Reston, VA
• Grand Prize for Color Photography, Kodak International Awards, Rochester, NY
• Employee-of-the-Year, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO

Elizabeth (Schneider) Tuttle, B.S. 1975

28 June 2007
I attended PIMS at FSU--transferred to University of Florida Medical School for the last three years for the M.D. degree. I met my husband of 30 years now in our medical class. We live in Worthington, Ohio, where I practice family medicine with The Ohio State University Primary Care group. Steve and I have four children--all grown now and doing well--and two wonderful grandchildren.

I give Florida State University and especially the biology department a lot of credit for launching me toward my medical career. I had great professors--great education and wonderful memories.

Michael P. Weinstein, Ph.D. 1975

11 April 2005
Michael P. Weinstein, Ph.D. is President & CEO, New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium (NJMSC), and Director, New Jersey Sea Grant College Program. With more than twenty-eight years experience in research and teaching, Dr. Weinstein’s primary academic interests include the role of estuarine habitat in the production of marine recreational and commercial fishes and shellfish. He has conducted extensive research in the areas of coastal ecology, fisheries science, wetland ecology, and restoration ecology, primarily in salt marshes, sea grass meadows, and mangrove habitats. Dr. Weinstein is deeply committed to technology transfer and outreach based on his research, especially in melding the science and practice of habitat restoration, sustainable development, integrated coastal zone management, and the “bottom up” management of fisheries resources. He has served on several National Research Council Committees, an NCEAS Working Group, the US-Japan CEST Panel, the Governor’s Dredged Material Task Force, and currently serves on the Governor’s Tourism Advisory Council as New Jersey’s Ecotourism Representative. He is a member of the National Working Group for preparing the Nationwide Strategy for Coastal Habitat Restoration. He also serves on many other advisory councils and scientific advisory panels. He has been an invited speaker on numerous occasions and has authored more than 175 journal articles, abstracts, books, chapters and monographs. His most recent text, Concepts and Controversies in Tidal Marsh Ecology, is expected to have international impact on the direction of tidal marsh research and restoration science. Curriculum vitae.

Robert A. White, Jr., B.S. 1968

6 April 2003
I graduated from FSU in June of 1968, B.S. Biology. Fran January 1969 to December 1970, I enjoyed the tropical weather with the U.S. Army (9th Division and 1st Cavalry Division) in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam with no real adverse effects on my attitude or health. I entered the University of Georgia (UGA) in 1971, finished an M.S. in 1973 and a Ph.D. in 1979-80 in entomology with research in biochemistry of insects. After several postdocs, I worked for a private toxicology consulting firm for 2 years, taught high school physics and chemistry for 6 years, college biology for 3.5 years (Truett-McConnell College), and for the last 6 years, have been an applied entomologist with a small consulting/ag sales firm, NIPCAM, in Watkinsville, Georgia. My wife Carol is a Dean and chemist and our son is attending Georgia Southern University.

Editorial board: Anne B. Thistle (chair, thistle@bio.fsu.edu), Joanna Carter (carter@bio.fsu.edu), and Cathy Oakley (oakley@mailer.fsu.edu).