2011 Assembly of Delegates:
Baccalaureate Colleges Director

2011 Sigma Xi Annual Meeting & International Research Conference

November 10-13, 2011
Raleigh Convention Center
Raleigh, North Carolina

Name: Terry Douglas Schwaner

Present Position: Professor of Biology and Dean, College of Sciences
Organization: The University of Findlay

Address: 1000 North Main Street
Findlay, OH 45840
United States

Chapter Affiliation:The University of Findlay (UF)

Candidate's Statement: I agree with the current Director of the Constituency Group, that significant research experience is an important part of the transition from undergraduate student to professional scientist, an idea that gradually has become part of the agendas of funding agencies through STEM initiatives and the task many colleagues at both smaller and larger institutions. Reminding others of the challenges we face in trying to combine high quality teaching with active undergraduate research programs, with the goal to identify ways by which we may work together, is an important task. As director of your Constituency Group, I offer continued support for the efforts of Dr. Lever to bring your interests and concerns to the Board of Directors, with the goal of strengthening the research component of the undergraduate curriculum.

Sigma Xi and Other Activities: Terry Schwaner joined the LSU chapter of Sigma Xi, in 1979. He transferred memberships to UGA, ONU and most recently UF following appointment to different academic and administrative positions. He is a member of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Herpetologists League, Society for Systematic Biology, Society for the Study of Evolution, and American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Ohio Academy of Science. He served as Invited Panelist, Teacher Enhancement Workshops, National Science Foundation (1990), Invited Member, Australasian Reptile and Amphibian Group, Species Survival Commission, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (1991-1993), member of the Kennedy Awards Committee of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (1992- present), Division Chair for the Utah Academy of Science, AP Reader in Biology, ETS, and member of the Board of Directors, Western Alliance to Expand Student Opportunities (1999-2002), Tournament Director, Georgia Regional Science Olympiad (2004-2005), Councilor-At-Large of Georgia Academy of Science (2006-2007), and member of the Organizing Committee, Georgia State of the Art in Biology, or SOTAB, (2003-2005).

Biographical Information:A.A. Palomar College – 1964; B.S. Southeastern Louisiana University – 1967; M.S. Auburn University – 1969; Ph.D. University of Kansas – 1979; Post-doctoral Appointment, Department of Biochemistry, Louisiana State University Medical Center – 1979-1980 with Herb Dessauer; Senior Curator of Reptiles and Amphibians, South Australian Museum – 1980-1989; Scientific Officer, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston, Tasmania – 1989-1990; Associate Curator of Herpetology, Virginia Museum of Natural History – 1990-1991; Inaugural Professor, Alabama School of Mathematics and Science – 1991-1995; Associate Professor of Biology, Southern Utah University – 1995-2002; Department Head, Harry B. Forrester Endowed Scholar Chair, and Professor of Biology – North Georgia College and State University – 2002-2007; Professor of Biology and Dean of College of Sciences, The University of Findlay – 2007- present; elected to Phi Kappa Phi in 2003, and Tri-Beta Biological Honors Society, Psi Rho Chapter in 2003. Schwaner has received over 60 individual grants from many different funding agencies, including the Australian Research Grants Committee, National Science Foundation (ILI), and the W.M. Keck Foundation for teaching and research activities, mostly involving undergraduates, on projects involving the systematics, ecology, genetics and evolutionary biology of plants and animals (mostly reptiles and amphibians). He is author or co-author of 60+ scholarly articles and has given 50+ invited presentations on his work since 1989.