Our diverse faculty includes nine professors with Ph.D.s in areas ranging from platelet cell biology to aquatic ecology. Our focus is to provide a well-rounded science education and encourage learning outside the classroom (through teaching assistantships, research and job opportunities). Completing the biology major requires that you take a concentration of courses in biology together with supporting courses in chemistry and mathematics. We hope that you will find a home within the Biology Department at Augustana and take advantage of our small class sizes (8-30 students for Jr/Sr level classes), careful advising, and faculty who challenge students—as well as nurture and support them.

Dr. Maureen Diggins-Hutcheson
Professor, Emeritus, Reproductive Biology
605.274.4809
maureen.diggins@augie.edu
Web site

Dr. Diggins teaches Physiology, Endocrinology, and introductory biology courses. Her research focuses on the relationship between increasing obesity and decreasing fertility and the involvement of the hormone leptin. She is also the program coordinator for the South Dakota INBRE grant from the National Institutes of Health, and she serves as the pre-physical therapy advisor. She received her Ph.D. in biology from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

Dr. Paul Egland
Assistant Professor, Microbiology, Cell-Cell Interactions
605.274.4719
paul.egland@augie.edu
Web site

Dr. Egland teaches Introductory Biology, Introduction to Microbiology, Cell Biology and General Microbiology. Dr Egland’s research focus is interspecies signaling between bacteria in the dental plaque biofilm. In addition, Dr. Egland serves as the chief health professions advisor and is the pre-professional advisor for pre-dentistry and pre-medical students. He is also the faculty advisor to the Pre-Med Club. Dr. Egland received his Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Iowa and worked as a post-doctoral fellow at the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

Dr. Jennifer Arens Gubbels
Assistant Professor, Physiology, Cancer Immunology
605.274.4728
jennifer.gubbels@augie.edu
Web site
 

Dr. Gubbels teaches introductory biology, human physiology, general physiology, and immunology. Her research focuses on mechanisms of metastasis and immune escape in epithelial ovarian cancer. Dr. Gubbels received her bachelor’s degree in biological research from Loras College in Dubuque, IA, and her Ph.D. in endocrinology and reproductive physiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Catherine E. King
605.274.4818
libby.king@augie.edu

Prof. King is a faculty associate and the laboratory coordinator for the Biology Department. She teaches labs for Introduction to Biology Principles I, Genetics, Cell Biology, Introductory Microbiology, and General Microbiology. She received her bachelor’s degree in medical technology from Southwest Missouri State and her master’s degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. She has been certified in medical technology by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.

Dr. Mark Larson
Assistant Professor, Cell Biology
605.274.4700
mark.larson@augie.edu
Web site

Dr. Larson teaches Introductory Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Cell Biology, and a capstone class on race and representation with Dr. Lindsay Twa of the art department. His research focuses on platelets, platelet function, and platelet biogenesis. He is also the pre-professional advisor for occupational therapy and clinical lab science. He received his bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry at Concordia College and his Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and he worked as a post-doctoral research fellow at the Centre for Cardiovascular Research at the University of Birmingham (U.K.).

Dr. Amy R. Lewis
605.274-4714
amy.lewis@augie.edu

Dr. Lewis teaches Biology and Human Concerns, Introduction to Biological Principles I, Introduction to Environmental Science, Principles of Ecology, and Ornithology. She received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Bowdoin College, her master’s degree in ecology from The Pennsylvania State University, and her Ph.D. in biological sciences (wildlife) from South Dakota State University.
 

Dr. Steve Matzner ’90
Associate Professor, Plant Physiology, Plant Ecology
Department Chair
605.274.4821
steven.matzner@augie.edu
Web site

Dr. Matzner teaches Introductory Biology, Environmental Science, Plant Ecology and Plant Physiology, and an interdisciplinary capstone class entitled Is Globalization Sustainable?. His research is focused on the ability of plants to adjust their water-conducting systems in response to the environment (termed hydraulic acclimation). He is the faculty advisor to GREEN, the Augustana student environmental awareness group, and he is the pre-optometry advisor. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California at Davis and worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

Dr. Valerie Olness
Associate Professor, Science Education
605.274.4720
val.olness@augie.edu
Web site

Dr. Olness teaches Biology and Human Concerns, Life Science for Elementary Teachers, Science Methods for the Elementary Teacher, Science Methods for Secondary Teachers, and Mathematics, Science, and Technology for Elementary and Middle School Teachers. Her interests include writing-to-learn science and cooperative learning. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Craig Spencer
Professor, Aquatic Ecology
605.274.4716
craig.spencer@augie.edu
Web site

Dr. Spencer teaches General Ecology, Aquatic Ecology, and introductory biology courses. He leads a course to Guatemala and Belize during interim called Coral Reefs, Tropical Forests, Mayan Ruins, and Spanish Language Immersion. During the summers, Dr. Spencer is an adjunct faculty member at the Flathead Lake Biological Station (University of Montana), where he studies lakes and streams and the effects of wildfire, timber harvest, and non-native species introduction. He received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University.

Dr. Ann Vogelmann
605.274.4739
ann.vogelmann@augie.edu

Dr. Vogelmann teaches Introduction to Biological Principles I, Biology and Human Concerns and Introduction to Environmental Science, and Human Anatomy. In addition, she is the main laboratory instructor for Human Physiology. She received her Ph.D. in biology/botany from Indiana University.
 

Dr. Michael Wanous
Associate Professor, Genetics
605.274.4712
Mike.Wanous@augie.edu
Web site

Dr. Wanous teaches Genetics and Molecular Biology. His research focuses on gene expression in the wheat seed. He is also the pre-professional advisor for physical therapy and veterinary medicine. Dr. Wanous received his Ph.D. in genetics from the University of Missouri–Columbia and did post-doctoral work there.