Dr. Magdalene Ngeve informally joined the faculty shortly after she began her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Maryland with Dr. Maile Neel. She started out by picking up a few classes on the side with The Masters of Professional Studies in Applied Entomology Program, teaching “Pollinator Health” and “Native, Invasive, and Exotic Species”. From there, her teaching at UMD snowballed.
Following her postdoctoral program in 2021 Magdalene started a full time Lecturer position teaching “Principles of Ecology and Evolution” and “World of Biology.” To date she has instructed over 1400 students and advised approx 200, leaving a lasting impact on their education and career paths! This Fall she is concluding her time with us as both Lecturer and the Director of The Masters of Professional Studies in Applied Entomology Program, bringing her contributions full circle. Magdalene has also continued her research throughout her tenure with UMD, studying how different global change phenomena alter landscapes and the distribution of genetic variation in species. We are proud to say she will carry on with this important work in her new role as Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. To keep track of what Magdalene gets up to on the next leg of her professional journey you can follow her on LinkedIn and ResearchGate and connect with her at [email protected]. Dr. Tammatha O’Brien's energetic personality and dedication has been deeply missed this term. Tammatha joined the Department of Entomology as a Ph.D. student in 2004 in the Ray St. Leger Lab, cementing a presence in our hallways and marking 20 years of invaluable contributions to our community. Following her graduation, Tammatha joined our faculty as a Lecturer where she demonstrated an unmatched commitment to the educational mission of our University. She taught foundational classes, advanced classes, seminars, established our Masters of Professional Studies in Applied Entomology Program and advised students. Beyond her work in the classroom Tammatha served on the Sexual Assault Prevention Committee and as a Title IX liaison for CMNS, did education outreach to the public, and contributed extensively to the broader university community. Her outstanding teaching and service have been recognized with numerous accolades, across the campus:
We are excited to see Tammatha’s outstanding dedication to science extend beyond the walls of the University. At the end of August, Tammatha embarked on an exciting new professional chapter, joining the USDA to advance scientific research. Dr. Marcia Shofner has had an exceptional career as a Lecturer at the University of Maryland. After earning her Ph.D. in Margaret Palmer’s lab, she officially joined the faculty in 2003. Over her tenure, Dr. Shofner has consistently demonstrated excellence in teaching and a commitment to innovating the learning experience. At the end of this term, we will be wishing her all the best in retirement. Throughout her career, Marcia taught a variety of courses, including Principles of Ecology and Evolution, where her engaging teaching style earned her consistently high evaluations from students. She continually looked for ways to improve teaching techniques and the learning environment for students. Marcia attended conferences and seminars to learn innovative techniques and share her insights. In the pursuit of enhancing teaching in higher ed, Marcia obtained funding to promote and study active learning in her courses. In 2022 Marcia published some of her findings on peer-to-peer interactions in online environments, in the Journal of Science Education and Technology. Marcia’s commitment to teaching extended beyond the undergraduate classroom, reaching learners at all stages of their educational journeys. At the inception of the Terp and Eagle Science Club, an undergraduate led tutoring program for elementary school students, Marcia served as Faculty Advisor. She even hosted an annual lecture on UMDs campus for the 6th graders who participated in the tutoring program. Marcia played key roles in the Office of Extended studies programs: she served as co-director of the Masters of Professional Studies in Applied Entomology Program, and when the position of Director of Chemical and Life Sciences Master’s program became vacant, she picked up the baton ensuring the program continued, further supporting the university's mission of professional development. Marcia’s tireless efforts to advance teaching practices, educate future leaders, and serve her community exemplify the very best of academic service. As she enters retirement, we wish her all the best in this new chapter. Comments are closed.
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