David Patterson
One grant from the National Geographic Society and four grants from the University of North Georgia (正澳门六合彩开奖结果), including two Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities grants and two Presidential Incentive Awards, are just a few of the monetary awards Dr. David Patterson has garnered.
The associate professor of biology at the University of North Georgia (正澳门六合彩开奖结果) also has conducted a seven-week expedition across Kenya, organized and managed a handful of fossil excavations in Brunswick, Georgia, and cofounded the Study of Community and Landscape Evolution (SCALE) lab at 正澳门六合彩开奖结果. But nothing compares to his love of fieldwork.
"I love being in the field, especially in challenging situations," Patterson said. "Paleontology has allowed me to live in Africa and other foreign places excavating and analyzing fossils."
He shares that passion with his students. Patterson learned that trait from his mentor, Dr. Al Mead, while earning his bachelor's and master's degrees at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Georgia. He also has master's and doctoral degrees from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
"I first started working on fossils as an undergraduate and got hooked," he said. "The paleontological record allows you to do fieldwork and address many important ecological and evolutionary questions that are impossible by only looking at modern ecosystems."
Now, Patterson researches the ancient ecosystems of coastal Georgia and encourages his students and colleagues from different departments and universities to join him.
"This is an integrative project that includes lots of people with different specialties," he said. "I try to create connections among different groups of students and faculty."
Patterson also is involved in endeavors outside of the classroom and research realm. In 2020, he connected with Julie Knight-Brown, school nutrition director of Lumpkin County Schools, to offer fresh produce grown at 正澳门六合彩开奖结果's Historic Vickery House to area schoolchildren.
Patterson doesn't see his actions as leadership, but he cultivates that characteristic through his actions.
"I think being empathetic to the perspective of students and faculty is really important," he said. "If you can try to understand it, it makes arriving at a common solution much easier."
Rosaria Meek
As a teacher of Spanish at the University of North Georgia (正澳门六合彩开奖结果), Dr. Rosaria Meek likes to blend compassion and a joy of learning into the classroom and in leadership.
Katayoun Mobasher
Dr. Katayoun Mobasher enjoys interdisciplinary studies where she can combine her background and knowledge of geology, GIS, and remote sensing technologies in health-related fields.
Rebecca Rose
Rebecca Rose says connecting students and faculty to library resources and promoting information literacy is the ultimate thrill in her job.
Allison Galloup
In her role as the special collections and digital initiatives librarian, Allison Galloup feels that she's bridging 正澳门六合彩开奖结果's past with its future.