Joe Beattie
Biology Instructor
Departments: Biology, Environmental Science
Office: HH-310C
E-mail: jbeattie@inverhills.edu
Education Credentials:
Master of Arts (MA) -
Majors: Education, General -
St. Mary's University of Minnesota
Bachelor of Arts (BA) -
Majors: Biology/Biological Sciences, General, French Language and Literature -
Saint John's University
Heather Brient-Johnson
Instructor of Biology, Summer
Departments: Biology, Environmental Science
Office: HH-310b
Phone: 651-450-3606
E-mail: hbrient-johnson@inverhills.edu
Bio
Heather Brient-Johnson has nearly two decades of experience teaching biology at Inver Hills. Heather has an M.S. in Biology (Mammalogy and Physiological Ecology) from the University of Minnesota Duluth and a B.S. in Zoology/Animal Biology from Ohio University. She also has a B.F.A. in Theater from Ohio.
Heather began her college teaching career at Hibbing Community College in Hibbing, Minnesota. She has taught the following courses at Inver Hills:
- General Biology I and II (majors)
- Exploring Biology (non-majors)
- Forensic Science
- Anatomy and Physiology I and II
- Critical Issues in Human Biology
- Environmental Science
Her professional work in the biology field includes service as a naturalist and DNR field technician in Erskine, Minnesota. In the latter role, she surveyed small mammal populations in western Minnesota, preparing small mammal specimens, mapping field locations and entering field data into computer files.
While at UMD, Heather educated the public on recreational activities in the outdoors, giving formal presentations on plants and other wildlife. She also conducted small mammal research, trapping and preparing small mammal specimens and surveying small mammal populations over several areas in northeastern Minnesota.
Awards / Accomplishments
- Awards for Excellence (2006 and 2008)
- Golden Apple Award (2013 and 2014)
- Began Phage Hunters joint project with the University of Minnesota Bacteriophage Institute (2013- present)
- Supervised Undergraduate Research Projects presented at the Inver Hills Annual Research Conference.
Published work
Brient-Johnson, Heather and Donald P. Christian, 1998, "Lack of Effect of Tannic Acid on Sodium Balance in Microtus pennsylvanicus" Journal of Mammalogy, 79 (3):992-998.
Hummon, William T., and Heather Brient, 1991, "Morphological characteristics of a marine Gastrotrich, Musselifer profundus," Proceedings of the American Society of Zoologists, Sept.
Teaching philosophy
"Success is highly influenced by how much a student is engaged in the learning process. Create a learning environment in which students are highly engaged and they will discover their own motivation and drive their own success."
Hobbies, interests or other information
In her spare time, Heather raises and trains Australian shepherds to work stock. During the spring and summer, she enjoys competing in working trials for herding cattle, sheep and ducks. Outside the trial arena, she trains her dogs in obedience, rally and agility. She also enjoys canoeing, camping and hiking with her family along the North Shore during the summer.
Education Credentials:
Master of Science (MS) -
Majors: Biology, General -
Minors: Unknown CIP -
University Of Minnesota-Duluth
Bachelor of Science (BS) -
Majors: Zoology -
Ohio University Main Campus
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) -
Majors: Acting/Directing -
Ohio University Main Campus
Rod Dalager
Biology Instructor
Departments: Biology, Environmental Science
Office: B-222
Phone: 651-450-3560
E-mail: rdalager@inverhills.edu
Education Credentials:
Master of Science (MS) -
Majors: Zoology -
Iowa State University
Master of Science (MS) -
Majors: Zoology, General -
Iowa State University
Bachelor of Science (BS) -
Majors: Biology, General -
Minors: Biology, General, Chemistry, Gen -
Winona State University
Kristin Digiulio
Biology Instructor
Departments: Biology, Environmental Science
Office: HH-302A
Phone: 651-450-3272
E-mail: kristin.digiulio@inverhills.edu
Education Credentials:
Master of Public Policy (MPP) -
Majors: Public Policy Study -
Georgetown University
Bachelor of Science (BS) -
Majors: Animal Sciences, Resource Econonics -
University Of Connecticut
Nat Hemstad
Biology Instructor-Summer
Departments: Biology, Environmental Science
Office: HH-310A
Phone: 651-450-3723
E-mail: NHemstad@inverhills.edu
Education Credentials:
Doctor of Philosophy (PHD) -
Majors: Water Resources Science -
Minors: Supporting Program -
University of MN - Twin Cities
Master of Arts (MA) -
Majors: Biology, General -
St Cloud State University
Bachelor of Arts (BA) -
Gustavus Adolphus College
Courtney Hickey
Biology Instructor
Departments: Biology, Environmental Science
Office: HH-302D
E-mail: CHickey@inverhills.edu
Education Credentials:
Master of Science (MS) -
Majors: Zoology -
North Dakota State University Main Campu
Bachelor of Science (BS) -
Majors: Zoology/Animal Biology -
Minors: Chemistry, General, Spanish Language and Literature -
North Dakota State University Main Campu
Bob Iwan
Biology Instructor-summer
Departments: Biology, Environmental Science
Office: HH-310D
Phone: 651-450-3607
E-mail: biwan@inverhills.edu
Education Credentials:
Master of Science (MS) -
Majors: Molecular Biology -
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Master of Science (MSC) -
Majors: Biological/Phys Sci -
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Bachelor of Science (BS) -
Majors: Genetics, Plant/Animal -
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Stacey Jennings
Biology Instructor-Summer
Departments: Biology, Environmental Science
Office: HH-302B
Phone: 651-450-3304
E-mail: SJennings@inverhills.edu
Education Credentials:
Doctor of Philosophy (PHD) -
Majors: Chiropractic -
Northwestern College Of Chiropractic
Bachelor of Science (BS) -
Majors: Human Biology -
Northwestern College Of Chiropractic
Mariella Mackes
Lab Manager
Departments: Biology, Environmental Science
Phone: 651-450-3694
E-mail: MMackes@inverhills.edu
Robert Ruliffson
Departments: Biology, Environmental Science
E-mail: rruliffson@inverhills.edu
Education Credentials:
Master of Science (MS) -
Majors: Curriculum/Instruct, Environmental Studies -
Bemidji State University
Master of Science (MS) -
Majors: Environmental Science/Studies -
Bemidji State University
Bachelor of Arts (BA) -
Majors: Anthropology -
Minnesota State University Moorhead
James Schneider
Biology Instructor-Summer
Departments: Biology, Environmental Science
Office: HH-302C
Phone: 651-450-3781
E-mail: JSchneider@inverhills.edu
Bio
James Schneider began teaching at Inver Hills in 2003. The courses James typically teaches are Exploring Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, and Microbiology. He has an M.A. in Education from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. At SMU, he focused on curriculum design and admissions policy.
He has a B.S. in Zoology/Animal Biology from St. Cloud State University. While at St. Cloud, he attended the British Studies Center in Alnwick, England. His focus areas at St. Cloud were zoology and aquatic ecology. James also completed two years of biology graduate studies and research at Bemidji State University, where he conducted a field study on the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe's White Earth Reservation using funds he received from a Clean Lakes Program (EPA) grant. At BSU, he focused on shallow lake ecology and invertebrate zoology.
His professional experience in the biology field includes teaching at several area colleges. He also worked as a naturalist at the St. Cloud Heritage Nature Center, as an environmental officer assistant for Benton County Planning and Zoning, and as a research assistant investigating the hyporheic zone, or the interface of groundwater and stream surface water.
In his free time, James pursues SCUBA diving, beer brewing, biking and aquaculture.
Education Credentials:
Master of Arts (MA) -
Majors: Art -
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota
Bachelor of Science (BS) -
Majors: Biology, General, Curriculum/Instruct, Zoology -
Saint Cloud State University
Tanya Smutka
Biology Instructor (summer)
Departments: Biology, Environmental Science
Office: LA-117
Phone: 651-450-3797
E-mail: TSmutka@inverhills.edu
Education Credentials:
Master of Science (MS) -
Majors: Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior -
University of MN - Twin Cities
Bachelor of Science (BS) -
Majors: Biology, Chemistry -
Valparaiso University
Jason Strandberg
Biology Instructor
Departments: Biology, Environmental Science
Office: HH-310C
Phone: 651-450-3837
E-mail: JStrandberg@inverhills.edu
Education Credentials:
Unknown (UKN) -
Majors: Chiropractic -
Northwestern Health Sciences University
Bachelor of Arts (BA) -
Majors: Music -
Luther College
Lisa Tracy
Biology Instructor
Departments: Biology, Environmental Science
Office: H302e
Phone: 651-450-3780
E-mail: LTracy@inverhills.edu
Bio
Lisa Tracy has been teaching biology at the college level since 2009. Besides Inver Hills, Lisa has taught biology courses at Minnesota State University Moorhead, North Hennepin Community College and Normandale Community College. She has an M.S. in Zoology from the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, and a B.A. in Biology from the University of St. Thomas. Her area of research at Otago was avian population genetics and their implications in wildlife management.
Lisa has taught the following courses at Inver Hills:
- BIOL 1120 Exploring Biology
- BIOL 1117 Environmental Science
- BIOL 2201 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
- BIOL 2202 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
Lisa is actively involved in undergraduate research at Inver Hills, including Amphibian Pathogen Studies and Wildlife Studies with the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Three Rivers Park District. Prior to her teaching career, she lived and worked in New Zealand and Alaska, managing avian conservation genetics and animal behavior research projects and working in aquatic field biology.
Lisa’s awards and accomplishments include:
- Golden Apple Teaching Awards: IHCC (2014) and Normandale Community College (2012)
- Human Anatomy and Physiology Society Annual Conference Robert Anthony Scholarship (2011)
- Supervised undergraduate research presentations
- Posters at the MN State Capitol
- CCURI Student Colloquium in Pittsburgh
- Minnesota Academy of Science Winchell Symposium
- HHMI Student Showcase
- Minnesota Undergraduate Scholars Conference
- Inver Hills Annual Research Conference
Published work
Wolff BG, *E Wurm, LN Tracy (2013) Pseudacris crucifer (Spring Peeper) Myiasis. Herpetological Review 44(3): 498-499. * Denotes research student advisee
Tracy LN, MG Efford, GP Wallis, IG Jamieson (2011) Preserving genetic diversity in threatened species' reintroductions: how many individuals should be released? Animal Conservation 14:439-446.
Tracy LN, IG Jamieson (2011) Historic DNA reveals contemporary population structure resulting from anthropogenic factors, not pre-fragmentation patterns. Conservation Genetics 12:517-526.
Jamieson IG, LN Tracy, SS Taylor, H Kokko, D Armstrong (2009) Why some species of birds do not avoid inbreeding: insights from New Zealand robins and saddlebacks. Behavioural Ecology 20(3): 575-84.
Jamieson IG, LN Tracy, D Fletcher, DP Armstrong(2007)Moderate inbreeding depression in a reintroduced population of North Island robins. Animal Conservation 10:95-102.
Tracy LN, DE Nelson (2004) The Biology of Behavior: Circadian Neuroscience. Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science 68:33.
Langseth AJ, LS McNamara, LN Tracy, DE Nelson (2003) Changes in the photic responsiveness of the mouse circadian pacemaker during initial cycles in constant darkness. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 29:511.11.
Tracy LN, LA Hruby, PA Stahler, AJ Langseth, DE Nelson (2002) Responsiveness of the circadian photic entrainment pathway in mPer2 mutant mice. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 28:577.23.
Teaching philosophy
"Teaching courses in the biological sciences at the college level allows me to engage students and inspire a deeper curiosity about life. Beyond ensuring that students learn important fundamental concepts of each course, as an educator I strive to fulfill several other objectives:
- Cultivate commitment to improving our community through meaningful service learning opportunities
- Encourage life-long learning through active learning techniques
- Foster critical thinking and promote engagement in the process of science through novel undergraduate research
"I hope this approach helps develop considerate, creative and capable contributors to society."
What do you like best about being an Inver Hills instructor?
"I chose to pursue this career because I enjoy the opportunity to help students achieve their goals. I feel honored to be in a position to help students with tools for success, and I enjoy working with a diverse student body at Inver Hills. We represent and celebrate a variety of cultures, races and life experiences. I find my work most rewarding when students have made great gains in their outlook and motivation and are on their way to achieving their goals."
Lisa is an outdoor enthusiast. She enjoys a number of activities, including canoeing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, rock climbing, backpacking and cross-country skiing.
Education Credentials:
Master of Science (MS) -
Majors: Zoology/Animal Biology -
University Of Otago
Bachelor of Arts (BA) -
Majors: Biology, General -
University Of St Thomas
Jenne Westberry
Departments: Biology, Environmental Science
E-mail: jenne.westberry@inverhills.edu
Education Credentials:
Doctor of Philosophy (PHD) -
Majors: Neuroscience -
Florida State University
Master of Science (MS) -
Majors: Biology/Biological Sciences, General -
Florida State University
Bachelor of Science (BS) -
Majors: Psychology, Other -
Wofford College
Samantha Whalen
Biology Instructor
Departments: Biology, Environmental Science
Phone: 651-450-3604
E-mail: samantha.whalen@inverhills.edu
Education Credentials:
Master of Science (MS) -
Majors: Biological/Sciences -
University Of Houston-Clear Lake
Master of Education (MED) -
Majors: Curriculum/Instruction-Science Education -
University Of Houston-Downtown
Bachelor of Science (BS) -
Majors: Zoology -
Texas A&M University