Faculty and Staff

Joseph A. Arruda, Professor of Biology. [Ph.D., Kansas State University]

• Specialties: limnology, water quality and biological monitoring and assessment, land snails

• Advising Areas: environment, ecology, marine biology, pre-pt, pre-med

• Heckert Wells 323 / voice: (620)235-4738 / e-mail Dr. Arruda

• web site

Peter Chung, Assistant Professor of Microbiology. [Ph.D., Kansas State University]

• Specialties: microbiology, microbiology, molecular biology (nucleic acid manipulation and protein expression systems in microbes and coccidia), tissue culture

• Advising Areas: pre-medical, pre-pt, microbiology

• Heckert Wells 303 / voice: (620)235-4736 / e-mail Dr. Chung

James T. Dawson, Professor of Botany, Chairperson. [Ph.D., University of Kentucky]

• Specialties: algology, plant physiology, medical mycology

• Advising Areas: pre-dental, pre-medical, botany

• Heckert Wells 223 / voice: (620)235-4734 / e-mail Dr. Dawson

Cynthia S. Ford, Professor of Biology. [Ph.D., Kansas State University]

• Specialties: natural history, parasitology, environmental education, biological illustration

• Advising Areas: natural history, ecological restoration 

• Heckert Wells 321 / voice:(620)235-4728 / e-mail Dr. Cindy Ford

Steven D. Ford, Professor of Zoology. [Ph.D., Purdue University]

• Specialties: vertebrate zoology, mammalogy, ornithology, ecology, wildlife management, anatomy 

• Advising Areas: pre-wildlife, zoology, ecology 

• Heckert Wells 330 / voice: (620)235-4745 / e-mail Dr. Steve Ford

David Gordon, Associate Professor of Biology. [Ph.D., University of California at Davis]

• Specialties: entomology, ecology

• Advising Areas: pre-medical, pre-veterinary, pre-optometry, pre-forestry, entomology 

• Heckert Wells 325 / voice: (620)235-4735  / e-mail Dr. Gordon 

• web site | Alternate Pollinators | Pyemotes Mystery Bites

Phillip Harries, Assistant Professor of Biology. [Ph.D. WashingtonUniversity]

• Specialties: plant viruses, cellular and molecular biology of plants

• Advising Areas: pre-health, cell and molecular biology  

• Heckert Wells 205 / voice: (620)235-4864 / e-mail Dr. Harries

Mandy Peak, Assistant Professor of Biology. [Ph.D., Oklahoma Health Sciences Center]

• Specialties: molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry

• Advising Areas:pre-health, cell and molecular biology

• HW 203 / voice: (620)235-6541 / e-mail Dr. Peak

Virginia Rider, Professor of Zoology. [Ph.D., Arizona State University]

• Specialties: gene regulation, reproductive physiology, implantation, mammalian oocyte maturation 

• Advising Areas: pre-medical, pre-veterinary medicine;

• Heckert Wells 213 / voice: (620)235-4739 / e-mail Dr. Rider

Neal Schmidt, Instructor. [D. Pharmacy, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center]

• Specialties: anatomy and physiology

• Advising Areas: pre-physical therapy, pre-medical 

• Heckert Wells 304 / voice: (620)235-4737 / e-mail Dr. Schmidt

Dixie L. Smith, Associate Professor of Biology. [Ph.D., Kansas State University]

• Specialties: soil ecology, grassland ecology, woodland expansion, science education

• Advising Areas: secondary education 

• Heckert Wells 220 / voice: (620)235-4741 / e-mail Dr. Smith

Stephen L. Timme, Professor of Botany, Director, T. M. Sperry Herbarium. [Ph.D., Mississippi State University]

• Specialties: bryology, biosystematics, tropical biology;

• Advising Areas: plant systematics, botany, plant ecology

• Heckert Wells 302 / voice: (620)235-4740 / e-mail Dr. Timme

• web site

James R. Triplett, Professor of Zoology. [Ph.D., University of Kansas]

• Specialties: ichthyology, limnology, fisheries management, aquaculture;

• Advising Areas: pre-fisheries, aquaculture, marine biology

• Heckert Wells 205 / voice: (620)235-4730 / e-mail Dr. Triplett

Xiaolu Wu, Assistant Professor of Biology. [Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago]

• Specialties: cell and molecular biology, virology

• Advising Areas: pre-medical, microbiology

• Heckert Wells 322 / voice: 620.235.4036 / e-mail Dr. Wu

Daniel Zurek, Associate Professor of Biology. [Ph.D., University of California - San Diego]

• Specialties: cellular and molecular biology, biotechnology, and plant molecular physiology.

• Advising Areas: pre-medical, cell and molecular, biotechnology

• Heckert Wells 222 / voice:(620)235-4746 / e-mail Dr. Zurek

Kelly Borden, Administrative Specialist

• Specialties: budgets, purchasing, filing, fixing copier machines, phone, email, fax, everything important

• Heckert Wells 223 / voice: (620)235-4731 / e-mail Kelly Borden

Donna Lair, Storekeeper

• Specialties: chemical stores, inventory, ordering;

• Heckert Wells 312 / voice: (620)235-4742 / e-mail Donna Lair

Delia Lister, Director, Nature Reach

• Specialties: natural history education

• Heckert Wells 329 / voice:(620)235-4727 / e-mail Delia Lister