Professional Bio

BS in Biology, 1979, University of Wisconsin-Platteville
MS in Plant Pathology, 1981, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
PhD in Plant Pathology, 1985, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb
Biotechnology Outreach Specialist at the Biotechnology Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and with the Family Living Program of Cooperative Extension, University of Wisconsin-Extension, since 1991.

Through BioTrek, the Outreach Program at the Biotechnology Center, became a member of ASTC in 1997. Served as a Congressional Science Fellow with the staff of the House Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, 2000-2001. Launched Science Expeditions, the University of Wisconsin-Madison annual science open house, 2003. Initiated UW-Madison Science Alliance, a network of science outreachers, 2003. Co-created the UW-Madison science outreach portal, science.wisc.edu, 2004. Co-developer of "Wednesday Nite @ The Lab", a public science series offered every Wednesday night, 50 times a year, beginning in February 2006; WN@TL is now in its fourth year.

Currently on loan from UW-Madison to the Office of Legislative and Public Affairs, National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia.

Expertise & Interest Descriptors

Sharing science with the public, providing lifelong learners with opportunities to experience science as exploring the unknown, making a research university campus a destination for lifelong learners

Planned Conference Participation

Attending :: Developing science-based professionals who can communicate effectively with public audiences
May 11-16, 2009