Guest Blog

A guest blog from Professor Mac Lippert about an alumna, Melissa (Meyer) Perry. Melissa graduated in 2001 with degrees in Biology and Elementary Education. At Saint Mike’s, she performed undergraduate research during the summer of 2000 under the direction of Mac Lippert, and was funded by the Dan Bean Undergraduate Research Fellowship. Since graduating Melissa taught middle school at Chester Academy in NH for 5 years. For two of the five years, she taught both math and science, and focused exclusively on math for the remaining three years. Melissa then taught math at Sanborn Regional High School for 3 years. This summer Melissa completed a Masters of Education, focusing on Technology in Education, at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Currently she is home with her kids, including a new baby. Melissa plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Math Education and is currently in the application process. Below is a picture of Melissa, her husband, SMC 2000 Computer Science graduate, Patrick Perry, and their children.

It's springtime...

.. well, not quite. But we did have some warm weather last week (sunny and high 50s), plus the days are noticeable longer. It's nice to drive in and home with daylight now. This time of year also means we will be seeing some seasonal migrations.... of prospective students and their families to our campus. So welcome!

I'll be meeting with some accepted students interested in biology on February 28, March 7, and March 28; and there are also Open House events planned for April 9 and 16.

If you are interested, please contact our Admissions Office. And, you might also be interested in the following...

Congratulations....

...to Dr. Mac Lippert (Nov 19 guest blogger) and SMC Bio alumni Ryan Larson and Nate Schoenly on the recent publication of some of their research in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Lippert is the first author, with Ryan and Nate among the coauthors, on this collaborative research article titled "Role for topoisomerase 1 in transcription-associated mutagenesis in yeast".

Our biology faculty provide many research opportunities for students, some of which have resulted in students appearing as coauthors on professional research journal publications. In addition, faculty often bring their research students to professional conferences to present and discuss their research. These experiences are quite valuable for students wishing to go on to various professional or research-oriented graduate programs after leaving St. Mike's.

For more about the research opportunities in the Biology Department, visit our website, or issues of our e-newsletter, Biology Matters.