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Faculty and Staff

Faculty in the Department of Biology represent a broad range of specialties. All faculty are interested in undergraduate research projects. Please browse the faculty profiles and feel free to contact individual faculty members about their research and teaching interests.

  1. Jessica Baker

    Vivarium Manager and Laboratory Compliance Specialist

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-5655
    jbaker10@radford.edu

    Address

    Box 6931 Center for the Sciences 180

  2. Elizabeth Becker

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    ebecker@radford.edu

    Address

  3. Nancy Boerth

    Instructor, Special Purpose

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-5146
    nboerth@radford.edu

    Address

    Box 6931 Center for the Sciences 274

  4. Joyce Caughron

    Associate Professor

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-6486
    jcaughron2@radford.edu

    Address

    PO Box 6931 Center for the Sciences 278

  5. Peter Christmas

    Professor

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-6142
    pchristma2@radford.edu

    Address

    PO Box 6931 Center for the Sciences 275

  6. Matthew Close

    Associate Professor

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    mclose2@radford.edu

    Address

    PO Box 6931 Center for the Sciences 174
    Headshot of Matthew Close

  7. Jason Davis

    Associate Director, Honors College/Professor

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    jdavis319@radford.edu

    Address

    Box 6931 Center for the Sciences 172
    Headshot of Jason Davis

  8. Melissa DeBiasse

    Assistant Professor

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-5146
    mdebiasse@radford.edu

    Address

    Box 6931 Center for the Sciences 280

  9. Cathy Fisher

    Secretary Senior

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-5146
    cfisher27@radford.edu

    Address

    PO Box 6931 Center for the Sciences 287

  10. Sarah Foltz

    Associate Professor

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    sfoltz3@radford.edu

    Address

    PO Box 6931 Center for the Sciences 173

  11. Graham Glynn

    Professor

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-5222
    gglynn2@radford.edu

    Address

    PO Box 6931 Center for the Sciences 274

  12. Laura Gruss

    Associate Professor

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-5143
    lgruss@radford.edu

    Address

    PO Box 6931 Center for the Sciences 171

  13. Stephanie Huckestein

    Greenhouse Manager/Instructor, Special Purpose

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-5815
    shuckestein@radford.edu

    Address

    Box 6931 Center for the Sciences 0287

  14. Jamie Lau

    Chair, Biology/Associate Professor

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    jlau@radford.edu

    Address

    PO Box 6931 Center for the Sciences 281

  15. Steven McBride

    Assistant Professor

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-5711
    smcbride@radford.edu

    Address

    Box 6931 Center for the Sciences 280

  16. Shaeri Nawar

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-5817
    snawar1@radford.edu

    Address

    Box 6931 Center for the Sciences 183

  17. Sara O'Brien

    Professor

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-6431
    sobrien3@radford.edu

    Address

    PO Box 6931 Center for the Sciences 175

  18. Tara Pelletier

    Associate Professor

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    tpelletier@radford.edu

    Address

    Box 6931 Center for the Sciences 0279
    Headshot of Tara Pelletier

  19. Karen Powers

    Professor

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-6537
    kpowers4@radford.edu

    Address

    PO Box 6931 Center for the Sciences 178
    Headshot of Karen Powers

  20. Sarah Redmond

    Associate Professor

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    sredmond3@radford.edu

    Address

    PO Box 6931 Center for the Sciences 271

  21. Christine Small

    Associate Dean, Artis College of Science & Technology/Professor

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-5958
    cjsmall@radford.edu

    Address

    Box 6936 Reed 107
    Headshot of Christine Small

  22. Eric Weigel

    Instructor, Special Purpose

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-6709
    erweigel@radford.edu

    Address

    PO Box 6931 Center for the Sciences 450

  23. Greg Zagursky

    Biology Laboratory Coordinator

    Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-5715
    gzagursk@radford.edu

    Address

    PO Box 6931 Center for the Sciences M53A

  1. Krystina Angelini

    Assistant Professor, Special Purpose

    RUC-Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-1690
    kangelini@radford.edu

    Address

    Radford University Carilion 9th floor, room 907
    Headshot of Krystina Angelini

  2. Haley Bechtel

    Admin Asst

    RUC-Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-1582
    hbechtel@radford.edu

    Address

    Radford University Carilion 9th Floor, Rm 913

  3. Chet Bhatta

    Associate Professor

    RUC-Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    cbhatta@radford.edu

    Address

    Radford University Carilion 9th Floor, Rm 904
    Headshot of Chet Bhatta

  4. Sara Houser

    Assistant Professor, Special Purpose

    RUC-Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    ssreed@radford.edu

    Address

    Radford University Carilion 9th Floor, Rm 909
    Headshot of Sara Houser

  5. Laura Link

    Assistant Professor, Special Purpose

    RUC-Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-1761
    llink1@radford.edu

    Address

    Radford University Carilion 10th Floor, Rm 1006
    Headshot of Laura Link

  6. Jennifer McBride

    Instructor, Special Purpose

    RUC-Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-2182
    jlmcbride1@radford.edu

    Address

    RUC - Roanoke 908
    Headshot of Jennifer McBride

  7. Ashlee McCraw

    RUC-Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-1761
    abcarter@radford.edu

    Address

    RUC - Roanoke Rm 906

  8. Lief Olson

    Assistant Professor, FTT

    RUC-Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-1761
    llolson@radford.edu

    Address

    RUC - Roanoke Rm 1006

  9. Binuk Samarasinghe

    Academic Lab Manager

    RUC-Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-5391
    bsamarasinghe@radford.edu

    Address

    RUC - Roanoke Rm 1006

  10. Megan Sanctuary

    RUC-Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-1761
    msanctuary@radford.edu

    Address

    RUC - Roanoke Rm 1030

  11. Brittany Ulm

    RUC-Biology, Dept of

    Contact

    (540) 831-1761
    bulm@radford.edu

    Address

    RUC - Roanoke Rm 1030

Retired and Emeritus Faculty

  • Gary Coté, Ph.D.
    Years Taught at Radford: 1998-2019
    Areas of Teaching:  General Biology, Human Biology, Cell Biology and Advanced Cell Biology, Mycology, and Senior Seminar.
    Areas of Research:  Plant cells that produce crystals of calcium oxalate.  Local lichen populations, with contributions to the RU herbarium.
    Outreach: Webmaster for the Wildwood Park natural history.  Mentored students making contributions to the webpage, especially interactive tree and wildflower keys.
  • Sally Dennis, Ph.D.
    Years Taught: 1986(?)-2006
    Area of Teaching/Research:Environmental Biology, Pollution Biology
  • Judy Guinan, Ph.D.
    Years Taught at Radford: 2002-2017; Director of the Environmental Center, 2002-2008
    Areas of Teaching: Environmental biology (including study abroad in Panama), ecology, animal behavior, human biology, and conservation
    Areas of Research: Relationships between reproductive behavior and stress physiology in eastern bluebirds
  • Joel Hagen, Ph.D.
    Years Taught at Radford: 1989-2020; Department Chair: 2007-2014
    Areas of Teaching:  Organismal Biology, Ecology, Bioethics, Study Abroad (United Kingdom, Galapagos Islands)
    Areas of Research:  History of Biology
  • Charles Kugler, Ph.D.
    Years Taught at Radford: 1979 - December 2005
    Areas of Teaching: General Biology (majors and non-majors), Evolution, Entomology, interdisciplinary courses (General Biology for Nonmajors; Evolution and Creationism; guest lecturer in Peace Studies)
    Areas of Research: Comparative morphology and evolution of the sting apparatus in ants; systematics, ecology and behavior of ants. 
  • Charlene Lutes, Ph.D.
    Years Taught: Through 1996
    Other Positions at Radford: Chair, Biology Department Chair;  Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
    Area of Teaching/Research: Genetics. Lutes also endowed a scholarship, which several biology majors have received.
  • Pat Mikesell, Ph.D.
    Years Taught at Radford: Sept. 1966- Dec. 2002
    Area of Teaching/Research: General Biology, Histology, Microtechniques, General Botany, Field Botany of the Vascular Plants and Regional Flora
  • Dave Moore, Ph.D.
    Years Taught at Radford: 1963-1968, 1972-1989 (occasionally); 1990-1996 
    Other Positions at Radford: Dean, School of Natural Sciences 1969-1971; Vice President for Academic Affairs 1972-1989; Selu Conservancy 1996-2006.
    Area of Teaching/Research: General Biology, Ecology, Ornithology
  • Charles Neal, Ph.D.
    Years Taught at Radford: 1976-2005
    Area of Teaching/Research: Human Anatomy and Physiology, Comparative Animal Physiology
  • Judy Niehaus, Ph.D.
    Years Taught: 1983-2013
    Area of Teaching/Research: Cell Biology
  • Mary Roberts, Ph.D.
    Years Taught: 1980-2006
    Area of Teaching/Research: Microbiology, Immunology
  • J. Orion Rogers, Ph.D. (Emeritus)
    Years at Radford: August 1994 until June 2022
    Areas of Teaching: General Biology, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Histology, Developmental Biology, Comparative Physiology
    Areas of Research: Influence of calcium and hormones on development of embryonic chick duodenal epithelium
    Administrative positions: Director, Honors Academy; May 2000 until April 2003; Chair, Department of Biology; January 2006 until August 2007; Interim Associate Dean, August 2007 until June 2008; Dean, College of Science and Technology, July 2008 until April 2017; Interim Dean, College of Graduate Studies and Research, December 2018 until June 2019; Institutional Official for IRB and IACUC, December 2018 - December 2019; Dean, Artis College of Science and Technology, April 2017 until June 2021; Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, July 2021 until June 2022
  • Bob Sheehy, Ph.D.
    Years Taught at Radford: 1996-2021
    Areas of Teaching: General Biology, Genetics, Evolution, Conservation Biology, Ornithology, Molecular Ecology  
    Areas of Research: Landscape Genetics, Population Genetics, Molecular Evolution.
  • Fred Singer, Ph.D.
    Years Taught at Radford: 1989-2013
    Area of Teaching/Research: Behavioral & Community Ecolog
  • Darrell White
    Years Taught at Radford: 2005-2019; Greenhouse Manager/Special Purpose Faculty
    Areas of Teaching:  Advanced Biology Seminar, Plants and Society, Ecology, Environmental Biology, Human Biology 
    Areas of Research: Hemi-parasitic plant interactions, allelopathy, sustainable harvest of medicinal plants 
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