I first came to Brevard College in 1997 as an adjunct instructor and now am Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty. I’ve enjoyed my time here and stayed so long because I appreciate the people, the place, and the pursuit of my academic interests while simultaneously growing in my career.
Back in 1997, I saw a job advertisement for an instructor of both biology and environmental science at Brevard College, which seemed to fit me perfectly. Having recently completed my PhD in Zoology at nearby Clemson University, I was working at Western Carolina University to teach biology and operate their electron microscope facility. My graduate research focused on a sea cucumber that gave birth to fully developed young rather than spawning eggs, and I used the electron microscopes to track radioactive elements inside cells and tissues to determine how nutrients were transferred between the mother and her developing young. At the same time that I was conducting this technical biological research and traveling to the coast to work on the sea cucumbers, I was also living off the grid in a cabin I built with my spouse in Balsam Grove. “Living off the grid” means that we lived without any connection to our home from outside—no electricity, no telephone, no water or sewer. It was great fun and incredibly beautiful to live with such a close connection to nature, and it made us appreciate the simplicity and self-reliance associated with a focus on environmental awareness.
The first courses I taught at Brevard College were introductory biology and introductory environmental science, but one of the things I love about Brevard College is that we support faculty to develop courses that are designed around our strengths as well as around student needs. In addition to my research focus on microscopy and developmental biology of marine animals, I also specialize in the ecology and natural history of the Southern Appalachians, so while continuing to teach the needed introductory courses, I also developed courses in biodiversity, aquatic ecology, developmental biology, animals and plants of the Southern Appalachians, environmental education, and skills in sustainable living, a course that came about directly from the requests of students who wanted to learn the skills associated with living off the grid. Students here at Brevard College get a solid grounding in the sciences as well as other fields, but also get some extra experiences and knowledge that students in mainstream public universities miss.
Brevard College and the Appalachian College Association also supported my two sabbaticals, which were academic years that I devoted to research and writing projects rather than teaching and service work. My first sabbatical resulted in the book Mountain Nature: A Seasonal Natural History of the Southern Appalachians, which is a book that I wrote for use in my nature-based classes. It has turned out to be a popular book about the region, and has led to several invitations to teach and speak to people who want to learn more about our local natural world. During my second sabbatical, I published two more books, one called Waterways: Sailing the Southeastern Coast, which is about living close to nature and appreciating the natural world of the southeastern coast, harkening back to the days I spent at the coast while studying sea cucumbers. My third book is called The Legend of Skyco: Spirit Quest, which is a novel of historical fiction that is based on a real boy who was part of the native tribe who first came into contact with English explorers to the region. While I was conducting the research to support Waterways, I learned about the changes to the plants, animals, and people who are native to the coastal region and wondered what it might have been like to live here 500 years ago. For me, wondering and writing go hand-in-hand.
Over the years, Brevard College has supported my curiosity, my teaching and research interests, and has allowed me to earn a living by teaching others what I have learned. At the same time, it has benefitted from the time, energy, and expertise from all its faculty. The best example I can provide for the importance of this beneficial mutualism is that of a successful student: a few years ago, one of our strong biology majors was accepted to University of Georgia’s vet school, but she called me after the first day of class, nearly in tears, because she was so intimidated by the other students and their degrees. I reassured her that she had all the basic information that she needed, plus the ability to communicate effectively, excel in teamwork, make connections across disciplines, think broadly about the subject, and have some quirky knowledge that no one else had. By the end of the semester, she had the top grade in her class, certainly as a result of her own hard work, but also because of what she learned as a student of Brevard College. We provide our students with the background and training to be successful anywhere they choose to go.