Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences

Mary Lehman, Chair
Reannan Tinsley, Administrative Assistant
Ruth H. Holliday, Laboratory and Research Specialist

The Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at Longwood provides fundamental training for students interested in biological science, environmental science, geography, and earth science. Students interested in biology can earn a bachelor’s degree or a minor. Students interested in environmental science can pursue a bachelor’s degree or a minor. The Department also offers minors in geography, earth science and geographic information sciences as well as a Pre-Medical Program, a Clinical Lab Sciences Program, and teaching licensure for 6-12 Biology.

The Department further contributes to the university’s mission of developing Citizen Leaders through its commitment to coursework in multiple goals in the Civitae Core Curriculum as well as the curriculum in Elementary Education. In addition to helping students become scientifically literate, the Department seeks to help its students develop both critical and independent thinking skills through coursework and student research opportunities.

The Department’s commitment to excellence in the major and minor programs as well as its contributions to Civitae Core and Elementary Education is evident in its commitment to institutional assessment. Senior biology majors are required to take a comprehensive achievement test appropriate for their major. The purpose of the test, given in both the spring and fall terms, is to assess the progress of the majors and the effectiveness of the program. Additionally, courses contributing to the university’s Civitae Core are assessed each semester.

Biology

Faculty

Amorette E. Barber, PhD, Professor of Biology
Dale L. Beach, PhD, Associate Professor of Biology
Benjamin K. Campbell, PhD, Associate Professor of Science Education & Biology, Program Coordinator for Secondary Science Education
Alix D. Dowling Fink, PhD, Professor of Biology
Mark L. Fink, PhD, Professor of Biology
Kenneth Fortino, PhD, Associate Professor of Biology
Catherine L. Franssen, PhD, Lecturer of Biology
R. Adam Franssen, PhD, Associate Professor of Biology
Jameson Hinkle, MS, Lecturer of Environmental Science
Brandon E. Jackson, PhD, Associate Professor of Biology, Biology Program Coordinator
Dina M. Leech, PhD, Associate Professor of Biology
Mary E. Lehman, PhD, Professor of Biology, Department Chair
Bjoern C. Ludwar, PhD, Associate Professor of Biology, Director of Pre-Health
Ann Mayo, PhD, Lecturer of Biology
Amanda Starr, PhD, Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology
Denis Trubitsyn, PhD, Associate Professor of Biology
Michael Wise, PhD, Lecturer of Biology

Integrated Environmental Sciences

Faculty

Larry Collins, PhD, Lecturer of Environmental Science
Kathy DeBusk Gee, PhD, Associate Professor of Environmental Science, Environmental Sciences Program Coordinator
Alix D. Dowling Fink, PhD, Professor of Biology
Mark L. Fink, PhD, Professor of Biology
David S. Hardin, PhD, Associate Professor of Geography
Jameson Hinkle, MS, Lecturer of Environmental Science
Dina M. Leech, PhD, Associate Professor of Biology
Mary E. Lehman, PhD, Professor of Biology, Department Chair
Ravi Sankar, PhD, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Geography
Michael Wise, PhD, Lecturer of Biology

Earth Science and Geography

Faculty

Larry Collins, PhD, Lecturer of Environmental Science
Kathy DeBusk Gee, PhD, Associate Professor of Environmental Science
David S. Hardin, PhD, Associate Professor of Geography
Ravi Sankar, PhD, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Geography

Programs

Bachelor of Science

Minor