2009 Assembly of Delegates:
Baccalaureate Colleges Constituency Associate Director

2009 Sigma Xi Annual Meeting & International Research Conference

November 12-15, 2009
The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel
The Woodlands, Texas (near Houston)

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
USA

Telephone: 419-434-5377
E-mail: schwaner@findlay.edu

Chapter Affiliation: Ohio Northern University

Candidate's Statement: I agree with the 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 of 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 assistant director of your Constituency Group, I would support the efforts of the director 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, and most recently to ONU, 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, 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. He was elected to Phi Kappa Phi 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, 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. He is author or co-author of 60 + scholarly articles and has given 45 invited presentations on his work since 1989.

Name: Joanne Kivela Tillotson

Present Position: Associate Professor of Biology
Organization: Purchase College, State University of New York

Address: 735 Anderson Hill Road
Purchase NY 10577
USA

Telephone: 914-251-6677
E-mail: joanne.tillotson@purchase.edu

Chapter Affiliation: SUNY at Purchase

Candidate's Statement: Undergraduate research can be a valuable part of science education. I have been mentor to numerous undergraduates since coming to Purchase, since a two-semester project is required of all seniors. I have seen how the research experience pulls together their undergraduate education, contributes to their maturity and their decision-making about their future, and helps to persuade employers or graduate admissions committees to accept them. Sigma Xi is strongly supportive of such educational opportunities, and for that, I have been pleased to be an active member. Meetings of the Sigma Xi Baccalauareate Constituency Group at the annual meeting have been invaluable to me, providing a forum for exchange of ideas and allowing me to meet others from a similar educational environment. I am interested to have the opportunity to serve this group as associate director, to assist the director as needed, to represent the baccalaureate colleges' point of view in directors' meetings when asked, and to work with even more of the chapters while in that role.

Sigma Xi and Other Activities: Sigma Xi member (1996- present), BCCG Associate Director (2007-present), SUNY at Purchase Sigma Xi Chapter, treasurer (2002- present), Chapter Delegate to Annual Meeting (1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008), Sigma Xi Credentials Committee (2003). Premedical Advisory Committee Chair, Purchase College (1997- present). Instructional Technology Advisory Committee, Purchase College (2003- present). Natural Science Student Awards Committee, Purchase College (1996- present). Student Science Symposium Committee (1996-2001, 2003- 2006). Merck/AAAS Research Grant Faculty Committee Chair, Purchase College (2000-2003). NIH Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Mentor, Purchase College (2001- 2009). American Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, attendance and poster review (2000), abstract review (2001-2003), sponsor of student participants (2000-2009). NSF Research & Science Visions Preparation Program Grant co-PI and mentor, Purchase College (2005-2010)

Biographical Information: B.S., Biology: University of Dubuque (1968). Ph.D., Biochemistry: Michigan State University (1987). Postdoc.: New York Medical College, American Health Foundation. Adjunct Assistant Professor, Manhattanville College, Mercy College, College of New Rochelle. Associate Professor of Biology, Purchase College SUNY (1996-present).