Department of Biology

Dr. Marshall Andersen
Professor

Courses: Gross Anatomy, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, Embryology and Histology

Research interests: Evolution and embryonic development of vertebrate limbs

Phone: (816) 501-4045
Office: SCI 220A
e-mail: marshall.andersen@rockhurst.edu

Dr. Janet Cooper
Associate Professor, Department Chair

Courses: Microbiology, Immunology, Cell Biology, General Biology I, Women and Science and Biology for the Contemporary Scene

Research Interests: Heat shock protein expression and antimicrobial susceptibility testing

Other Interests: Genealogy and tennis

Phone: (816) 501-4237
Office: SCI 220E
e-mail: janet.cooper@rockhurst.edu

Faculty Web Page

Dr. Elizabeth I. Evans
Assistant Professor, Veterinarian

Courses: General Physiology, Anatomy and Physiology and Animal Behavior

Research Interests: Animal behavior and welfare of research animals

Other Interests: Sewing, crafts, music and reading

Phone: (816) 501-3193
Office: SCI 220G
e-mail: elizabeth.i.evans@rockhurst.edu

Dr. Lisa Felzien
Associate Professor

Courses: Genetics, Immunology, Molecular Biology and General Biology I

Research Interests: Chromatin regulation during zebrafish development

Phone: (816) 501-4046
Office: SCI 220F
e-mail: lisa.felzien@rockhurst.edu

Dr. Mary Haskins
Professor

Courses: General Biology II, Invertebrate Zoology, Ecology, Field Trips, Parasitology and Advanced Principles

Research Interests: Analysis of the distribution of blister beetles in alfalfa, studies of lichen distribution, insect/plant interactions, pollination ecology, spiders and science education

Other Interests: Community outreach activities including working with home schooled children, Girl Scouts, Lakeside Nature Center and KC Wildlands, camping, hiking, animals and debunking pseudo-science

Phone: (816) 501-4006
Office: SCI 220H
e-mail: mary.haskins@rockhurst.edu

Dr. Ed Kos
Professor Emeritus

Research Interests: Pigmentation in microbes

Other Interests: Artificial intelligence and extremophiles

Phone: (816) 501-4049
Office: SCI 220I
e-mail: edward.kos@rockhurst.edu

Dr. Laura Salem
Associate Professor

Courses: General Biology I, Biology for the Contemporary Scene and Biotechnology

Research Interests: Host cell factors required for retroviral stability

Phone: (816) 501-3239
Office: SCI 220F
e-mail: laura.salem@rockhurst.edu

Dr. Chad Scholes
Associate Professor, Science Division Chair

Courses: Botany, Environmental Science, Biology Field Trip and General Biology II

Research Interests: Exotic and invasive plant species in native forests and prairies, interactions between oak, weevils and tannins and describing tree architecture with fractals

Other Interests: Outdoor activities, Boy Scouts and reading

Phone: (816) 501-4160
Office: SCI 220B
e-mail: chad.scholes@rockhurst.edu

Dr. Mindy Walker
Assistant Professor

Courses: Biology of the Contemporary Scene, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Lab, Evolution, Human Anatomy & Physiology I, Cell Basis for Anatomy & Physiology, General Biology II and Biology Field Trip

Research Interests: Conservation biology of reptiles, vertebrate genetics, systematics, phylogeography, cytogenetics, biodiversity and evolutionary biology

Other Interests: Hiking, camping, fieldwork and traveling

Phone: (816) 501-4047
Office: SCI 220C
e-mail: mindy.walker@rockhurst.edu

Dr. Christina Wills
Assistant Professor

Courses: General Biology I, Biology of the Contemporary Scene, General Biology II and Accelerated Human Anatomy and Physiology

Research Interests:  Physiological ecology and evolutionary biology of ectotherms, natural history of Drosophila melanogaster and service learning

Other Interests:   Middle Eastern dance and martial arts

Phone: (816) 501-4380
Office: SCI 220J

e-mail:  christina.wills@rockhurst.edu