The Jean Lampert Woy and J. Richard Woy Professorship in History was established in 2018 by Jean Lampert Woy 鈥�65 and J. Richard Woy 鈥�64. This fund reflects their appreciation for liberal arts education and their interest in historical scholarship.聽

Frederick joined the 麻豆影院 faculty in 2006. His scholarship has included research on and presentations about fire and other environmental crises in Mexico and economic factors that have informed Mexico鈥檚 history. Published books include聽Riot! Tobacco, Reform, and Violence in Eighteenth-Century Papantla, Mexico,聽and, with Tatiana Seijas,聽Spanish Dollars and Sister Republics: The Money That Made Mexico and the United States. In 2017, he was awarded 麻豆影院鈥檚 Award for Excellence in Scholarship. He is a recent recipient of a Newberry Library fellowship to research firefighting and fire prevention in eighteenth-century Mexico.

Frederick earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and a doctorate from Pennsylvania State University.

The Dennis and Charlot Nelson Singleton Professorship in Biological Sciences was established in 2007. Charlot Nelson Singleton 鈥�67 has a deep appreciation for her 麻豆影院 education. The endowed position reflects her conviction that the biological sciences are a critical component of the liberal arts curriculum and an abiding belief in the value of education she and Dennis share.

Sedlock joined the 麻豆影院 faculty in 2002. Her research has taken her and students frequently to聽the Philippines in Southeast Asia, where she has worked in collaboration with Filipino scientists, conservation professionals, Chicago鈥檚 Field Museum of Natural History, and other researchers, often in forests, caves, or biodiverse rice fields, as she seeks to better understand how bats respond to human-caused landscape changes. Her recent focus has been on acoustic ecology, a subfield of sensory ecology, using ultrasonic microphones to 鈥渆avesdrop鈥� on bats as she explores animals鈥� evolved strategies for living in naturally noisy environments.

Sedlock earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Science in biology from Loyola University. She earned her Ph.D. in ecology and evolution from the University of Illinois.

De Stasio has long pursued studies in freshwater ecology and marine biology, passions he first explored as a student at 麻豆影院. He has taught courses ranging from introductory biology to aquatic ecology to the environmental studies senior seminar. He has guided important research on invasive species in Wisconsin waterways and for 30 years has led the 麻豆影院 University Marine Term (LUMP) program鈥攁 hands-on undergraduate experience in marine biology that has students learning about coral reef ecosystems, ecology, and human effects on reef environments before embarking on a two-week research trip to the Caribbean.聽Under De Stasio鈥檚 guidance, the program has proven to be a pipeline for students interested in aquatics careers or related fields, with an estimated 90 alumni of the program now pursuing related careers or enrolled in graduate school programs.

De Stasio said the Aquatic Ecology & Marine Biology Program, of which LUMP is a part, has been sustained through the years in large part because it gives students flexibility to pursue careers in all sorts of salt water and freshwater environments鈥攊n lakes, rivers, estuaries, and nearshore coral reef environments.

鈥淲e are recognized nationally as one of the few undergraduate programs where students get extensive hands-on experiences in both freshwater and marine biology,鈥� he said.聽

De Stasio said his experiences as a student so enthralled him with the 麻豆影院 culture that he happily pursued a faculty position a decade after graduation.

鈥淥ne of the very first times I walked through the Biology Department in Youngchild Hall鈥攁s a first-year student in 1978鈥擨 met a faculty member who knew my name and was familiar with my background and interests,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 felt so welcomed and valued that I decided right then that this was a very different place compared to many others.鈥�

De Stasio said he has since strived to make students feel that way.聽

鈥淚n my mind, the true 麻豆影院 experience keeps students front and center throughout their time here and beyond,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y goal is to make sure they experience that sense of belonging, of always being part of this unique community. That is what we used to refer to as the 麻豆影院 Difference, and what makes us all Forever a Lawrentian.鈥�

In retirement, De Stasio said he will continue to stay connected with 麻豆影院 and the alumni he helped usher into a wide range of careers.

鈥淚t has been one of the great joys of my life to be able to give back to 麻豆影院 as a faculty member and to help our students grow and thrive,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am extremely proud of being an alumnus and have always tried to instill a love for 麻豆影院 in my students by showing them they are appreciated, cared for, and that we are here for them.鈥�

Edmund Kern

A specialist in early modern European history, Kern has been a mainstay in shaping the history curriculum over the past three-plus decades. In the process, he drew national attention when he twice connected history with modern pop culture in ways that resonated with large audiences. His research on the history of witchcraft and religious culture led to him teaching a course on Harry Potter, which then led to his 2003 book,聽The Wisdom of Harry Potter: What Our Favorite Hero Teaches Us About Moral Choices.聽It drew wide attention as popular media sought out Kern amid the phenomenon of J.K. Rowling鈥檚 book series. And years later, a former student, Josh Sawyer 鈥�98, reached out to Kern as a consultant in the building of Pentiment, a historical role-playing video game centered on life in 16th-century Bavaria. The game, released in 2022, drew strong reviews, was a finalist for game of the year, and won a 2024 Peabody Award, with reviewers praising its historical accuracy.

Connecting history with pop culture was a worthwhile journey, Kern said.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a need for professional historians to write for each other in specialized studies that might not appeal to average readers, but there鈥檚 also a need to find ways to communicate with a larger audience,鈥� Kern said. 鈥淲hen questions about Harry Potter came from students and visiting parents due to my expertise in the history of magic and witchcraft, I eventually saw an opportunity to meet general readers where their interests began, and to expand those interests into a more systematic understanding of the past.鈥�

When Sawyer approached him during the planning stages for Pentiment, Kern saw a similar opportunity.聽

鈥淚 had no idea how popular鈥攁nd acclaimed鈥攖he game would prove to be, but I鈥檓 extremely gratified that many players who probably never gave the 16th century any thought were introduced to the issues in play during the early Reformation, along with accurate portrayals of early modern popular and material culture,鈥� he said.

Through his time at 麻豆影院, Kern said he took particular joy in advancing the curriculum.

鈥淚鈥檝e thoroughly enjoyed revisiting the history curriculum over the years, as we鈥檝e sought to educate students capable of both focused research and assessing the big picture, but my involvement in establishing gender studies as a major and minor stands out as something I take pride in,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 had only recently arrived at 麻豆影院 and came to know a vibrant group of faculty already heading in that direction. Being part of the group charged with writing the proposal to bring to the faculty was both nerve-racking and exciting.鈥�

It’s the classroom interactions, though, that Kern said he鈥檒l miss the most.

鈥淲hat I really love about our students is their eagerness to learn in the classroom and their engagement with the world outside of it,鈥� he said.聽

Moya is looking forward to using her experiences with underwater photography to improve accessibility to the research, as well as learning more about marine mammal behavior and the impacts humans have on these creatures.

This is the next step in Moya鈥檚 career plans. She aspires to study marine animals as a means to improve conservation, integrate photography into research, and improve education on the important role the ocean and marine animals play in our environment.聽

鈥淪ometimes we get caught up in publishing papers,鈥� Moya said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 also important to articulate to the public what you do and ignite that fire for positive change in the next generation.鈥�

In her college search, 麻豆影院 quickly stood out as a place where Moya could pursue several of her passions as a first-gen student. She did just that. In addition to seeking out opportunities in marine biology, she minored in studio art and competed in two varsity sports鈥攂asketball and lacrosse.

Her love for marine biology has grown in the subsequent years, including her desire to make research more accessible to the public through photography and effective communication.

鈥淚t is important for me as a scientist to encourage the people around me and to say that you also have the power to make a difference in the world,鈥� Moya said.聽

She first became passionate about accessibility while interning at the Milwaukee County Zoo and the Brookfield Zoo Chicago, where she grew her communication skills while giving tours and improving programs involving biofacts. She gained experience in grant writing, raising funds to improve the biofact room, and creating a safe, fun public space to learn more about the natural world.

Moya then participated in the 麻豆影院 University Marine Program (LUMP) under the guidance and encouragement of her academic advisor, Bart De Stasio. The program has been around for almost half a century and provides students with the opportunity to analyze a coral reef habitat and then develop a group research project. Last year鈥檚 program took Moya to Bonaire, an island municipality that lies off Venezuela鈥檚 coast in the southern Caribbean. She and her peers studied fish and coral reef environments.

Learn more about the Marine Term program at 麻豆影院.

鈥淚 was excited to incorporate underwater photography as a way to improve communication,鈥� Moya said. 鈥淭here’s not a lot of visualizations or pictures in research. All we usually have are graphs.鈥�

Underwater photography also proved an ecological benefit, as day and night photography allowed the team to identify early stages of coral bleaching, a phenomenon that occurs in unhealthy coral.聽

LUMP was a highlight in Moya鈥檚 time at 麻豆影院, as the experience reinforced her love for marine biology.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity to see if you want to do research and get a sense for the feel of what it鈥檚 like, not only as a marine biologist but as an educator and advocate for our oceans,鈥� she said.

De Stasio, the聽Dennis and Charlot Nelson Singleton Professor of Biological Sciences and professor of biology, has led these trips since 1996. The most recent excursion, which took 14 students to the western shore of Bonaire during Spring Term 2024, was De Stasio鈥檚 last. He is retiring in June and is handing off leadership of the program to Brian Piasecki, associate professor of biology, who has partnered with him on LUMP since 2014.

De Stasio was a student at 麻豆影院 in 1980 when he was invited to join a Marine Term trip to Grand Cayman.

鈥淭hat really set me on the path of going to graduate school for aquatic studies,鈥� he said.

That path would eventually lead back to 麻豆影院, where De Stasio would join the biology faculty and take over leadership of the program following Richman鈥檚 retirement.

The program, he said, is centered on the premise that students doing research on coral reefs can apply that experience to a range of aquatic systems. That makes the Marine Term work as relevant in the Midwest as it is in the waters of the Caribbean.

鈥淭he challenges are all the same,鈥� De Stasio said. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter if you are in Green Bay or Lake Baikal or in the Gulf of Finland or in the coral reefs, an animal in an aquatic environment has to worry about getting eaten by something that is bigger than it. So, those food relationships are really what drive it.鈥�

A course on microbiology and studies of local aquatic ecosystems allow students to investigate the similarities and differences between marine and freshwater environments. That approach has helped 麻豆影院 alumni seamlessly traverse related fields鈥擥retchen Gerrish 鈥�98 is director of the University of Wisconsin鈥檚 Trout Lake Station, a year-round research operation of the school鈥檚 Center for Limnology; Amina Pollard 鈥�95, a limnologist and ecologist, is coordinator of freshwater research at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Devin Burri 鈥�14 is a program analyst at NOAA who received a prestigious 2023 Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship to combine interests in marine science and environmental policy. The list goes on.

Christopher Acy 鈥�15, an aquatic invasive species coordinator with the nonprofit Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, said the Marine Term experience remains relevant as he continues to build a career in applied biology. His current position is a mix of education and field work focused on preventing and/or removing invasive species from the Fox and Wolf rivers in Wisconsin.

鈥淢y job now includes field days where I’m on the waters of northeast Wisconsin documenting invasive species populations and implementing plans to remove invasive species where they become a problem,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 was given the gift during Marine Term of being able to visualize changes to biodiversity over long periods of time. When finding invasive species in Wisconsin, I can visualize how the landscape might change if no action is taken.鈥�

The players change but the constraints of being in a water system are all the same, De Stasio said.

鈥淚鈥檝e always tried to help my students see those similarities,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter if you are working on a small lake in Wisconsin or working on a coral reef or in the ocean, those basic principles are the same.鈥�

A draw to 麻豆影院

It is not unusual for students or alumni to point to Marine Term as a deciding factor in attending 麻豆影院.

鈥淭he uniqueness of going to a small liberal arts college where I could study both music and biology while getting hands-on experience in marine biology is unrivaled,鈥� Acy said. 鈥淚’m still in close touch with many of the students in my Marine Term cohort.鈥�

Emma Moya, a junior biology major from Chicago, was one of the 14 麻豆影院 students on the Marine Term trip to Bonaire in the spring. She had come to 麻豆影院 in part because of Marine Term. She called the experience 鈥渋mpactful鈥� and said it solidified her plans to pursue marine biology as a career.

鈥淢arine Term made me more motivated than I was before,鈥� Moya said. 鈥淚t became even more of an obsession of wanting to spend more time in the ocean, wanting to continue research on corals and marine mammals, to pursue outreach while ensuring that communities from all over are involved; that these communities are aware of the power they carry to help our oceans.鈥�

Governed by the Netherlands, Bonaire is one of three islands off the coast of Venezuela called聽the ABC Islands, with nearby Aruba and Cura莽ao.聽This marked the second time Bonaire has been the destination for Marine Term.聽

The first week in Bonaire was focused on gathering data of fish and coral diversity at seven sites. During the second week, students worked in small groups on research projects of their own design. In a twist, the group was accompanied by the Conservatory of Music鈥檚 Jos茅 Encarnaci贸n, associate professor of music and director of jazz studies, who spent the two weeks studying the music of Bonaire and later coordinated a 麻豆影院 University Jazz Band concert in Memorial Chapel that featured both the music of the island and research testimonials from the Marine Term students.

鈥淲e always try to make this trip more holistic,鈥� De Stasio said of the music collaboration. 鈥淲e want our students to understand how the coral reefs are really a part of the society that鈥檚 there.鈥�

Besides Bonaire, LUMP聽students have studied reefs in the Bahamas, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands.聽Nearly 350 麻豆影院 students have taken part over the past four decades, with De Stasio being at the heart of the program for most of that time.

鈥淥ne of the things that was nurtured during Marine Term and my classes with Bart was a love for education,鈥� Acy said. 鈥淚 really enjoy the 鈥榣ightbulb鈥� moment when I鈥檓 working with all sorts of people, from 8-year-olds to 80-year-olds鈥攖he understanding of how waterways are impacted by invasive species. Seeing someone go from nonchalance to wanting to take action about invasive species or water issues is immensely gratifying.鈥�

Along with a burgeoning downtown and gastronomic experiences, the freedom offered at 麻豆影院 was a big draw for Haller. 麻豆影院 was a place where she could pursue three majors, play a sport, study abroad, and still have time to participate in several different clubs and organizations.聽聽

Haller鈥檚 love for and choice to study Spanish in college was long founded. For years, her family hosted exchange students through the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The first student they hosted was from Mexico, and Haller and her family are still in contact with her today.聽聽

It was through this exchange student that Haller was able to develop a study abroad experience in San Luis Potos铆, Mexico.聽聽

鈥淗er husband is an anesthesiologist, and that was what kind of formed the connection,鈥� Haller said. 鈥淔rom there, I was able to shadow and assist in surgeries, intubate patients, give anesthesia.鈥澛�

Madera Allan, associate professor of Spanish and Haller鈥檚 Spanish advisor, also helped her design the experience. While in Mexico, Haller was able to participate in more than 50 different procedures. With Allan鈥檚 help, she plans to turn her experience into an independent study next academic year, looking at the way medicine adapts with culture.聽

In addition to her rigorous academic load, Haller also thrives on the softball diamond. The ability to compete in her sport and still pursue other academic and personal endeavors aided her decision to attend 麻豆影院.聽

鈥淭here鈥檚 an emphasis here at 麻豆影院 on, you鈥檙e a student (first), then you’re an athlete,鈥� Haller said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 something that really made me want to come to 麻豆影院, because I wasn鈥檛 ready to stop playing. There鈥檚 a really good balance here at 麻豆影院.鈥澛�

Haller also got involved in clubs and organizations on campus, including the Presidential Student Advisory Board鈥攚here she met with President Laurie A. Carter and her board to discuss a broad range of topics, including the Pre-Health Living Learning Community Board and LIGHT (Lawrentians Inspiring Global Change Together).聽聽

Haller is also involved with the first gen organization on campus. She said she felt supported by the 麻豆影院 community, particularly by Allan, who was also a first gen student.聽聽

聽鈥淪he鈥檚 just very personable,鈥� Haller said. 鈥淲e have a lot of different areas where we connect, and she goes out of her way to make sure I鈥檓 doing OK. She鈥檚 an amazing professor.鈥澛�

Although she has another year before graduation, Haller is busy planning for her future, a prerequisite, she said, for being a pre-med student. This summer, she is studying for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), with plans to take the exam in the fall.聽聽

LUMP has provided a hands-on undergraduate experience in marine biology every other year since 1978, when the late Sumner Richman launched the program. Students spend time during 鈥淢arine Term鈥� learning about coral reef ecosystems, ecology, and human effects on reef environments before embarking on the two-week research trip to the Caribbean.聽

In a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the marine program and the Conservatory of Music, Encarnaci贸n joined the trip to study the music of Bonaire while also accompanying students on daily dives and related ecosystem explorations. That led to the idea for the Memorial Chapel performance, which will feature the LU Jazz Band performing music related to the ocean and Bonaire鈥檚 Krioyo musical tradition. Within the program, De Stasio and Piasecki will discuss the marine program and students will give brief reports on their research projects while photos and video from the trip are shown. It is free and open to the public.

De Stasio, who has led these research trips since 1996, said Encarnaci贸n, a native of Puerto Rico and an experienced scuba diver, provided an opportunity to fuse the coral reef research with the culture of the Bonaire community.

鈥淲e always try to make this trip more holistic,鈥� De Stasio said. 鈥淲e want our students to understand how the coral reefs are really a part of the society that鈥檚 there. In my Coral Reef Environments course, we always read about how corals are used by local populations, the differences across the world, how different peoples depend on coral reefs and what their long-term relationships are like. So, we always try to have someone local prepare the cultural foods that are so important to them, using local resources, and talk about their culture, the music that鈥檚 part of that. When I talked to Jos茅, I thought, this is a great opportunity to really extend that even further, to have Jos茅 do some research on that and have our students experience this culture in a deeper way.鈥�

Seeking data

麻豆影院鈥檚 marine biology program is one of only seven of its kind in the country, and many students are drawn to 麻豆影院 specifically for the program. The Bonaire trip is part of De Stasio鈥檚 course,聽Coral Reef Environments, which is a centerpiece of what鈥檚 known as 鈥淢arine Term.鈥�

Emma Moya, a sophomore biology major from Chicago, called the program 鈥渋mpactful鈥� and said the Bonaire experience solidified her plans to pursue marine biology as a career鈥攊n ocean advocacy as well as research.

鈥淢arine Term made me more motivated than I was before on working toward my career goals,鈥� Moya said. 鈥淚t became even more of an obsession of wanting to spend more time in the ocean, wanting to continue research on corals and marine mammals, to pursue outreach while ensuring that communities from all over are involved; that these communities are aware of the power they carry to help our oceans.鈥�

Governed by the Netherlands, Bonaire is one of three islands off the coast of Venezuela called聽the ABC Islands, with nearby Aruba and Cura莽ao. This marked the second time Bonaire has been the destination for the Marine Term trip. It replaced Grand Cayman as the destination in 2022 as the world began to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

鈥淚t worked out really well,鈥� De Stasio said.

The first week in Bonaire was focused on gathering data of fish and coral diversity at seven sites. During the second week, students worked in small groups on research projects of their own design.

A disease outbreak affecting hard corals in the region, first detected a year ago, added new weight to the research. The Bonaire government, which operates a marine park system that protects the waters around the island, connected with the 麻豆影院 group in hopes that the research can contribute to a data base that will shed light on the disease and its ramifications, De Stasio said.

鈥淲e now have documentation of before and after this disease outbreak,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are some big differences there already. We have this comparison of the same sites over this period of a year before and a year after. This disease is hitting the corals, and it happens within a month, killing off these massive coral heads that took hundreds of years to grow.鈥�

A cultural lesson

When not diving, the group explored Bonaire, including the local music that had the attention of Encarnaci贸n. They attended Dia di Rincon, an annual event that celebrates Bonaire鈥檚 cultural heritage with food, music, and dancing, and Encarnaci贸n took lessons in the music.

鈥淏eautiful, happy, and exciting musical traditions,鈥� he said.

In preparation for the trip, Encarnaci贸n audited two courses鈥�Coral Reef Environments and Ecological Energetics鈥攖ook a refresher course in diving and joined De Stasio and Piasecki in getting certified in CPR and First Aid.

鈥淭his has been one of the most remarkable experiences of my life,鈥� Encarnaci贸n said. 鈥淚 learned so much.鈥�

LUMP is an extension of other marine-related study in 麻豆影院鈥檚 Biology Department. In combination with a course on microbiology and studies of local aquatic ecosystems, students investigate the similarities and differences between marine and freshwater environments. Besides Bonaire, LUMP has studied reefs in the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Cayman Islands.聽Nearly 350 麻豆影院 students have taken part in the marine program over the past four decades.

A year ago, seven students from the research trip signed up for tutorials with De Stasio to continue their study.

“We have students who come to 麻豆影院 because we have this program,” De Stasio said. “That has been consistent throughout the years.”

麻豆影院 students have now placed in the money five times since the competition launched in 2017.

鈥淚 have always been interested in skin care and the business aspect of the skin care industry,鈥� said Grant, who has been making her own DIY products since she was 12 years old and is now looking to launch it as a business. 鈥淛ust the opportunity to be able to start this business is great. It鈥檚 always been on par with my goals for myself.鈥�

The Pitch, held April 24 in The Fox Club at Fox Cities Stadium, is organized by Fox Connection, a collaboration of colleges and universities in the region that works to enhance entrepreneurial education and opportunity. This year鈥檚 competition featured students from聽麻豆影院,聽St. Norbert College, UW-Green Bay, UW-Oshkosh, and UW-Stevens Point.

The 10 students competing were finalists from earlier competitions held at each school. They pitched their business startup ideas to a panel of judges and an audience of students, community members, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors.聽Each pitch had a four-minute time limit, with follow-up questions from the judges.

鈥淚鈥檓 going to try starting a business, keep on the same track,鈥� Grant said.

Grant has been taking classes within 麻豆影院鈥檚 interdisciplinary聽Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) program in preparation for launching Muse. She studied with Claudena Skran, the Edwin & Ruth West Professor of Economics and Social Science, professor of government, and chair of I&E, and more recently was in class with Karen Bussone, professor of practice in entrepreneurship. Irene Strohbeen 鈥�78, entrepreneur-in-residence at 麻豆影院, and Isabella Sgriccia 鈥�22 joined Bussone in mentoring Grant and Smith in the lead-up to The Pitch.

鈥淭hey were so great and so helpful and necessary in the process of preparing me for this pitch,鈥� Grant said. 鈥淭hey always had great insights. Taking classes in I&E really prepared me. My class with Professor Bussone last term helped me figure out what I need to have in a pitch, in a business plan. I don鈥檛 think I鈥檇 be here without the I&E program at 麻豆影院 because they鈥檝e been so helpful every step of the way.鈥�

Bussone called Launch LU and The Pitch contests 鈥渧aluable experiences鈥� for students who aspire to start a business.

In addition to Grant, 麻豆影院 was represented by junior Nathaniel Smith, a business & entrepreneurship and film studies double major. He pitched the startup Thrive in Humility, a聽Christian apparel brand that sells high-end clothing with built-in technology such as QR codes that take you to a website with information on featured events. Grant placed first and Smith second in 麻豆影院’s LU Launch competition, held earlier in Spring Term.

鈥淥ur Innovation & Entrepreneurship curriculum provides the foundation students need to explore their passions,鈥� Bussone said. 鈥淚鈥檓 incredibly humbled to have the opportunity to teach and coach students here at 麻豆影院 University. Safiya and Nate worked very hard to unleash their innovative passions during the competitions. It has been an honor and privilege to work with them.鈥�

Grant said she was 12 years old when she started researching skin care options鈥攂ody wash, lotions, oils.

鈥淚 started watching DIY videos and thought, this is so fun,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y skin was always really sensitive. So, when I鈥檇 use products, the popular brands at that time, it would irritate my skin, cause redness. I started making my own skin care products with natural ingredients like cocoa butter; it kind of just grew into something more.鈥�

Those pursuits sparked her interest in biology. She came to 麻豆影院 to major in biology with thoughts of studying dermatology in medical school. She has now shifted her focus to aesthetic nursing.

The Muse skin-care line will pair with that nicely, she said.

Sedlock joined the 麻豆影院 faculty in 2002. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Science in biology from Loyola University. She earned her Ph.D. in ecology and evolution from the University of Illinois.

We caught up with her to talk about interests in and out of the classroom.

In the classroom

Inside info:聽What鈥檚 one thing you want every student coming into your classes to know about you?

I鈥檇 like students to know that doing creative work and sharing it is scary for me, too. Often, my mind wants to convince me that other scientists, artists, writers, whatever, just wake up in the morning with complete confidence in the fact that they are going to crush it that day鈥攄evelop a novel and fundable hypothesis, write a poignant and award-winning poem, or deliver a presentation without a hitch. Occasionally, I allow myself a vulnerable moment and confess to a colleague that fear has been tossing me around like a chew toy in the jaws of a pit bull鈥攐nly to learn that they, too, have these moments, daily. I鈥檇 like students to know that they are not alone, and that if they are willing to share their struggles with me, I am happy to share mine, and together we can move on with the business of learning and doing.

Getting energized:聽What work have you done or will you be doing at 麻豆影院 that gets you the most excited?

Recently, I launched myself into the field of experimental sensory ecology, which has reignited my love for research. In 2019, I designed and deployed a 100-ultrasonic speaker array in an irrigated Philippine rice paddy to test the hypothesis that the impressively intense ultrasonic chorus produced by an aggregation of tiny insects deterred foraging bats (it does). Next year on sabbatical I plan to deploy a prey cue array in a tropical understory to test whether katydids masquerading as leaves dupe not only visually orienting birds and lizards, but also echolocating bats. Are echoes returning from a leaf-mimicking insect leaf-like? These projects involve engineering, art, and science鈥攖hey鈥檙e very interdisciplinary, which I love.

Going places:聽Is there an example of somewhere your career has taken you (either a physical space or something more intellectual, emotional, or spiritual) that took you by surprise?

I鈥檓 presenting moth behavior research at the International Entomological Congress in Kyoto, Japan this summer. This is surprising given that I am a bat biologist. During the COVID pandemic, I was eager to continue testing hypotheses about ultrasonic katydid choruses鈥� effects on other ultrasonic hearing animals. Given travel restrictions, I turned my attention to lab-based experiments on moths, specifically those that both possess simple ultrasonic sensitive ears and are crop pests. Over the past two years, and with the help, focus, and creativity of several 麻豆影院 students, we鈥檝e learned that intense ultrasonic insect sound鈥攖ypical of rice paddies and wet meadows鈥攔educes egg laying, and when less intense, may attract dispersing moths.

Out of the classroom

This or that:聽If you weren鈥檛 teaching for a living, what would you be doing?聽聽

I would be doing conservation work. After earning my Ph.D., I stood at a fork in the road鈥攖ake a short-term opportunity leading me into the world of wildlife conservation or an academic career. I obviously chose 麻豆影院 but would have been just as happy spending more time in the field and working with communities living adjacent to wildlife鈥攚orking to make it possible for people and wildlife to coexist. I love diversity鈥攁mong people and other species鈥攁nd think bringing these realms into coexistence is incredibly important work.

Right at home:聽Whether for work, relaxation or reflection, what鈥檚 your favorite spot on campus?

I love walking down by the river. It鈥檚 a 20-minute loop鈥攄own Lawe Street, along the river, up Olde Oneida, and past the tennis courts back to my office. Walking the 鈥渞iver loop鈥� helps me stretch out physically and mentally by attending to sounds and sights beyond the frame of my computer monitor. Winter walks promise visitors from the north鈥攂uffleheads, golden-eyes, and diving mergansers, and the Lawe Street bridge-dwelling cliff swallows and white pelicans are welcome harbingers of summer during late spring.

One book, one recording, one film:聽Name one of each that speaks to your soul? Or you would recommend to a friend? Or both?

Book: Ed Yong鈥檚聽Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us, because he eloquently reveals our limited experience of the world and challenged me to imagine the world through eyes, ears, lateral lines, electro-sensors, etc. of other creatures. I used this book in my Animal Behavior course, and the students loved it, too.

Recording: Patty Griffin鈥檚 song, Heavenly Day. Sometimes I鈥檒l listen to this multiple times in a row. It reminds me to be grateful for today and for everything and everyone in it.

Film: I loved the documentary, My Octopus Teacher. It demonstrates the intimate connection that can be formed with another species, especially a wild animal. Some of my most precious life experiences are being noticed by a wild animal. Once, a palm civet ran down a tree and sat in front of me, head cocked to the side, to inspect my headlamp鈥攚hat a thrill to be the object of its curiosity.

One of her passion projects is the Diversity in Conservation Internship Program she created in association with 麻豆影院, in which historically underrepresented students can engage with professional opportunities in the field of conservation.

鈥淚t鈥檚 filling a very important need in the conservation field, which has historically been very white male dominated, and so helping to make an intentional, safe, welcoming space in the conservation community has been one of the highlights of the work I get to do,鈥� Williamson said.

When she founded the Diversity in Conservation Internship Program, it drew three students from 麻豆影院. Now, the program has expanded to about 10 students every year, including students from 麻豆影院 and other Wisconsin universities.

Love of 麻豆影院

Williamson, originally from Omaha, Nebraska, was drawn to the 麻豆影院 community by its passion.

鈥淭he students were just so engaged and thoughtful in the classes,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t just seemed like a very dynamic place for students.鈥�

Wildlife conservation has always been important to Williamson, and she was amazed by the opportunities 麻豆影院 gave her to explore her individual passions through independent study programs, which set her up for graduate school at UW, and then a thriving career in conservation.

鈥淚 absolutely loved 麻豆影院,鈥� Williamson said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a place for opportunities, and I am someone who really likes to take full advantage of whatever possibilities or opportunities are out there. 麻豆影院 does such a good job of providing that for students.鈥�

Williamson said she will continue to work on conservation initiatives in Wisconsin, creating collaborative and cross-jurisdictional solutions to the complex issues of natural resource conservation. She said she hopes to bring a 鈥渃ultural shift鈥� to her field, raising awareness that the issues in natural resource conservation are interconnected and bringing diversity and equity into that conversation.