Saint Michael's College

Biology Faculty

Douglas E. Facey
Professor of Biology
Department Chair
B.S. University of Maine-Orono; M.S. University of Vermont; Ph.D. University of Georgia

View Dr. Facey's Curriculum Vitae

Courses Taught: Human and Comparative Physiology; Ichthyology; Introduction to Ecology and Evolution; Communications in the Biological Sciences; Biology Senior Seminar

Areas of Expertise: Physiological indicators of environmental stress in fishes, fish community diversity and stability

Recent Scholarly Achievements: Dr. Facey is a co-author of the textbook, The Diversity of Fishes: Biology, Evolution, and Ecology, which was released in April 2009, and he has several research publications and conference presentations coauthored with former students on topics in fish ecology and physiology. 

On Teaching and Research: Dr. Facey finds that his research on local fishes has been significantly enhanced by the participation of students, some of whom have received funding to remain on campus through the summer to do research. He has accompanied students to professional conferences to see them present their research, and he has also had some research publications with students as co-authors.

Outside Saint Michael's: Dr. Facey enjoys traveling with his wife and two sons. They have visited some great parts of the U.S. in recent years, but they always like coming back home to Vermont. Dr. Facey also enjoys almost any activity on the water - such as kayaking, canoeing, or fishing.

Learn more about Dr. Facey in his faculty spotlight.

Campus Office
Cheray Science Hall 302B
Phone: 802.654.2625
Box 283
E-mail: dfacey@smcvt.edu
Personal Web site: http://academics.smcvt.edu/dfacey/

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Valerie S. Banschbach
Professor of Biology
Environmental Studies Program Director
B.A. Pomona College; Ph.D. University of Miami

View Dr. Banschbach's Curriculum Vitae

Courses Taught: Population Ecology; Animal Behavior; Communications in the Biological Sciences; Biology Senior Seminar; First-Year Seminar: Solving Environmental Problems; Tropical Ecology

Areas of Expertise: Behavioral and population ecology, especially of ants, bees and other social insects; conservation biology; evolution of social behavior; pollination biology and other plant-animal interactions

Recent Scholarly Achievements: Dr. Banschbach was a co-presenter at the 2007 annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America, giving a talk on "Ants as bioindicators: Does habitat edge affect community or social structure of north temperate deciduous forest ants?" In 2005 and 2006 she was awarded faculty development grants in for work on ant research in Costa Rica, and then at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University and at Ohio State University.

On Teaching and Research: Dr. Banschbach's research in behavioral ecology and conservation biology focuses on specific questions that she can discuss in her courses, but the process of engaging in original research also informs her teaching. For example, designing ecological research studies is something she teaches students to do and that teaching is informed by her own working experience. Dr. Banschbach's discoveries also provide material for her classes. For example, she documented the function of tool use in a particular forest ant species in Vermont and she discusses this work extensively in her Animal Behavior class. Her teaching also leads her to new ideas for research. The Tropical Ecology course that Dr. Banschbach teaches in Costa Rica spurred her to spend part of her last sabbatical doing a research project on the use of ants as bioindicators in Monteverde, Costa Rica.

Outside Saint Michael's: Dr. Banschbach owns a Staffordshire bull terrier (a breed known as the "Nanny Hound" in the U.K.). She is a big fan of bull breed dogs. 

Learn more about Dr. Banschbach in her faculty spotlight.

Campus Office
Cheray Science Hall 302A
Phone: 802.654.2633
Box 283
E-mail: vbanschbach@smcvt.edu

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Donna M. Bozzone  
Professor of Biology
B.S. Manhattan College; M.A., Ph.D. Princeton University

View Dr. Bozzone's Curriculum Vitae

Courses Taught: Developmental Biology; Cell Biology; Introduction to Cell Biology and Genetics; Communications in the Biological Sciences

Areas of Expertise: Development and embryogenesis; cells; cell communication; cancer; evolution; evolutionary medicine; the connection between developmental biology and ecology and evolution; the history of science

Recent Scholarly Achievements: Dr. Bozzone is the consulting editor for the Biology of Cancer book series published by Chelsea House. She wrote two books in the series and is in the midst of third. Dr. Bozzone and colleague Dr. Doug Green are in the process of writing the textbook, Biology for the Informed Citizen, to be published by Oxford University Press. Dr. Bozzone also continues to work on the development of laboratory teaching models for college and high school instruction.

On Teaching and Research: Dr. Bozzone's finds that scholarship and teaching are interconnected in a way that makes it difficult for her to tell exactly where one ends and where the other begins. Everything she reads, studies, or researches ends up in her classes. In turn, her classes always raise new questions and ideas for her to investigate.

Outside Saint Michael's: Dr. Bozzone enjoys reading (mysteries, history, and non-fiction in general), cooking, walking. and movies.

Learn more about Dr. Bozzone in her faculty spotlight.

Campus Office
Cheray Science Hall 302C
Phone: 802.654.2627
Box 283
E-mail: dbozzone@smcvt.edu

Contact Dr. Bozzone for information on health careers, including careers in the pre-medical/veterinary/dental fields as well as information on biology education.

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Douglas S. Green
Professor of Biology
B.S. Stanford University; M.S. Worcester Polytechnic Institute; M.A., Ph.D. Princeton University

Professor Doug Green, a highly respected and beloved member of the Saint Michael's Biology Department passed away on Friday, March 18, 2011, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.  He made a significant, positive impact on our campus and our department, and will be missed for a very long time. 

Doug's obituary follows...

DOUGLAS S. GREEN HUNTINGTON - Douglas S. Green passed away peacefully in the Vermont Respite House on March 18, 2011, having faced several years of health challenges with dignity and grace. He was born Jan. 30, 1953 in New York City, and he grew up in Florida, Texas, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and finally San Diego, Calif. Doug graduated as valedictorian from Saint Augustine High School. He earned his bachelor's degree in biology from Stanford University in 1975, and a Ph.D., also in biology, from Princeton University in 1980. Doug also earned a masters degree in Computer Science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1986. Doug met his future wife, Donna Bozzone, in 1978 when she started her graduate work at Princeton. They married in 1982 and then gradually moved north living first in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. while Doug taught at Vassar and Donna completed her thesis. Next they moved to Massachusetts where Doug taught and studied at WPI and Donna did a post-doc at the Worcester Foundation. Finally in 1987, they made their last move and happily made their home in Vermont. Doug was a professor at Saint Michael's College, first in the computer science department and then in biology. Doug devoted his professional life to learning and teaching and was well respected and loved by his students and colleagues. He was even more devoted to his family. He has two daughters, Samantha was born in 1989 and Allison in 1993. No father was ever more over the moon about his children than Doug was about his daughters. Doug's life and the lives of his family, friends, students and colleagues were enriched by his many hobbies and interests: science fiction, gardening, wood-working, chess, astronomy, chess, puzzles of all kinds, biology, computer programming, robots, and especially playing guitar. An unrelentingly positive person, Doug remained a faithful fan of his San Diego Chargers and believed every season that they would win the Super Bowl "this year." In addition to his wife Donna, and daughters Samantha and Allison, Doug is survived by his father, Oscar and his wife Doris of Prescott, Ariz.; his sister, Linda Ybarra of Aberdeen, Wash.; brother, Kenneth of Italy; and brother, Steven and his wife Michelle of San Diego, Calif. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, William Bozzone and his wife Janet and their children, Stephen and Laura. Finally, he leaves behind his "adopted" family, Frank Vella and Kathleen Verville and their children, Laura, Christopher, and Michael. Doug was predeceased by his mother, Dorothy (Harding) Green. Our family would like to thank the wonderful members of the Saint Michael's and Huntington communities for their care and help. Also, we are grateful for the gentle care that Doug received from Dr. Thomas Roland, Jeanne Sheehay, the VNA, and the angels at the Vermont Respite House. Gifts in Doug's name can be made to the Vermont Respite House or the Cancer Patient Support Program Emergency Fund at FAHC.

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Malcolm (Mac) Lippert
Associate Professor of Biology
B.S. Hope College; Ph.D. University of Vermont

Courses Taught: Genetics; Microbiology; Communications in the Biological Sciences; Biology Senior Seminar; Introduction to Cell Biology and Genetics

Areas of Expertise: Dr. Lippert is a molecular biologist/geneticist and is interested in cancer and other diseases that originate from mutations. He works with undergraduate researchers to explore why and how mutations occur. Specifically they use yeast as a model system to measure effects of transcription on mutation. Transcription is a normal cellular process that is critical for the expression of genetic information. Recent students have explored the mechanisms by which point mutations and chromosomal changes occur. In addition, they perform molecular analyses to determine the specific genetic change.

On Teaching and Research: Dr. Lippert feels there is a synergy. He reads widely in order to cover the fields of genetics and microbiology in his courses. As a researcher, he attends conferences and learns new developments that he then shares with his classes. In addition, he has developed laboratories for Genetics that originated as experiments in his research program.

Outside Saint Michael's: Dr. Lippert enjoys reading, listening to music (especially Jazz), and walking his Laborador Retriever.

Campus Office
Cheray Science Hall 313E
Phone: 802.654.2856
Box 283
E-mail: mlippert@smcvt.edu

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Mark Lubkowitz
Associate Professor of Biology
B.S. Washington and Lee University; Ph.D. University of Tennessee

View Dr. Lubkowitz's Curriculum Vitae

Courses Taught: Introduction to Cell Biology and Genetics; Plant Biology; Molecular Biology; Communications in the Biological Sciences

Areas of Expertise: Dr. Lubkowitz studies leaf development to better understand how genes are integrated into functional networks and how small changes in these networks can lead to evolutionary changes. He is also interested in how small proteins are transported between plant cells. The broader impact of his work has the potential to affect plant reproductive success and could enhance future breeding practices and transgenic technologies in cereal crops.

Recent Scholarly Achievements: Dr. Lubkowitz was awarded a three-year, $170,700 grant from the National Science Foundation to fund his research on oligeopeptide transporters in seed development.

On Teaching and Research: Dr. Lubkowitz says his research influences the way he teaches in two ways: first through student involvement with his projects, and secondly through incorporating his research experiments into his courses. In the last seven years, Dr. Lubkowitz has mentored 12 students in his laboratory.   

Outside Saint Michael's: Dr. Lubkowitz enjoys whitewater kayaking, making cheese and wine, and pruning his grape plants.

Learn more about Dr. Lubkowitz in his faculty spotlight.

Campus Office
Cheray Science Hall 313D
Phone: 802.654.2695
Box 283
E-mail: mlubkowitz@smcvt.edu
Personal Web site: http://academics.smcvt.edu/mlubkowitz/home.html

Contact Dr. Lubkowitz for information on the Biochemistry major.

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Declan McCabe
Associate Professor of Biology
B.S. St. Joseph’s University; M.S. University of Pittsburgh; Ph.D. University of Vermont

View Dr. McCabe's Curriculum Vitae

Courses Taught: Introduction to Ecology and Evolution; Community Ecology; Communications in the Biological Sciences

Areas of Expertise: Dr. McCabe studies community interactions in freshwater ecosystems. His recent projects have included an examination of the effects of zebra mussels on fish foraging efficiency in sandy habitats

Recent Scholarly Achievements: Dr. McCabe is involved in an outreach program aimed at high school teachers and students who study water quality in rivers and streams. The work is funded in part by a three-year, $6.7 milion grant from the National Science Foundation. In March 2008, Dr. McCabe was awarded a grant from Vermont EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) for research work with five student interns. The research focused on determining how different land uses affect macroinvertebrate diversity in streams.

On Teaching and Research: As a community ecologist, Dr. McCabe's scholarship is based in local Vermont habitats including Lake Champlain. These same habitats make ideal classrooms for his courses. The field-based components of his Community Ecology course are typically in previous research sites. Dr. McCabe finds that this is now coming full circle as he suggests research sites to his collaborators based upon locations he has used as teaching sites.

Outside Saint Michael's: Dr. McCabe enjoys wood working and home improvement, guitar playing and folk music, camping, and working with the Cub Scouts.

Learn more about Dr. McCabe in his faculty spotlight.

Campus Office
Cheray Science Hall 301B
Phone: 802.654.2626
Box 283
E-mail: dmccabe@smcvt.edu
Personal Web site: http://academics.smcvt.edu/dmccabe/

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Adam L. Weaver
Assistant Professor
B.A. University of Delaware; Ph.D. Ohio University

View Dr. Weaver's Curriculum Vitae

Courses Taught: Human and Comparative Anatomy; Neurobiology; Introduction to Cell Biology and Genetics; Communications in the Biological Sciences

Areas of Expertise: neurobiology / neuroscience; neuron networks; computer modeling; comparative biology; electrophysiology biophysical modeling

On Teaching and Research: Dr. Weaver's recent scholarship involves both neurophysiology and computer modeling of biological processes. Through this experience, Saint Michael's College is now one of a relatively few institutions that offers in-class experiences recording from single neurons and small networks of neurons, as well as working with computer models of these same neurons. Dr. Weaver says he appreciates neurobiology because of its interdisciplinary nature. Many fields within the liberal arts investigate the mind from different viewpoints. He says he is happy that he can bring perspectives from the natural sciences to this ongoing dialogue.

Outside Saint Michael's: Dr. Weaver enjoys cycling, skiing, computer programming and music production.

Campus Office
Cheray Science Hall 302D
Phone: 802.654.2624
Box 283
E-mail: aweaver2@smcvt.edu
Personal Web site: http://academics.smcvt.edu/aweaver2/

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Denise Martin
Lab Coordinator/Instructor of Biology
B.A. Wheaton College; M.S. University of Vermont

View Ms. Martin's Curriculum Vitae

Courses Taught: Introduction to Ecology and Evolution; Introduction to Cell Biology and Genetics

Areas of Expertise: Development of laboratory experiments for introductory level courses

Recent Scholarly Achievements: Ms. Martin has co-authored publications on biology laboratory techniques, more recently a piece with colleague Dr. Donna Bozzone on "An Experimental System to Study Phagocytosis." 

On Teaching and Research: Ms. Martin says that Saint Michael's biology program enables students to become directly involved in research, starting as early as their first year in the major. In her role overseeing the General Biology laboratory program, she values the opportunity to work closely with students as they become engaged in actual research projects and experience the process of science.

Outside Saint Michael's: Ms. Martin enjoys weaving, reading, snowshoeing, bicycling, kayaking, hiking and martial arts.

Campus Office
Cheray Science Hall 312
Phone: 802.654.2628
Box 283
E-mail: dmartin@smcvt.edu

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Peter Hope
Instructor of Biology
B.A. Middlebury College; M.S. University of Vermont

Courses Taught: Ecosystem Ecology; Introduction to Ecology and Evolution; Introduction to Cell Biology and Genetics; Communications in the Biological Sciences; Tropical Ecology 

Areas of Expertise: Forest composition, dynamics and succession, fern systematics

On Teaching and Research: Mr. Hope's favorite class to teach is Ecosystem Ecology, which he teaches in the fall. It is a field course with labs spent outside visiting and studying many of Vermont's interesting ecosystems. The course includes some of Mr. Hope's favorite subjects including geology, ecology, and botany. Mr. Hope finds it very gratifying to introduce students to these ecosystems. He appreciates the stories his students tell him when they later took their friends or parents to one of the sites that they visited in class.

Outside Saint Michael's: Mr. Hope enjoys nature photography, hiking, canoeing, violin, and playing the guitar.

Campus Office
Cheray Science Hall 316
Phone: 802.654.2491
Box 283
E-mail: phope@smcvt.edu

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Daniel J. Bean
Professor Emeritus
Ph.D. University of Rhode Island

Dr. Bean's research interests include water quality studies of streams and ponds with emphasis on chemistry, benthos, and plankton communities; active in NSF funded programs of teacher training to improve secondary science learning.

Phone: 802.864.6187 (home)