Suzanne Worcester

I am passionate about biology, nature, the outdoors and engaging students in their local environment. My current research interests center around conservation and management of local ecosystems including dunes, coastal grasslands and maritime chaparral. I am also focused on developing and sharing techniques for actively engaging undergraduates and increasing student success. I combine my interests by having projects in all of my courses where students are actively engaged in research and management of local ecosystems or other environmentally-related projects in the community.

While I am chair, I will primarily teach BIO 211 - the 2nd semester of majors-level introductory biology (taught every semester). During some fall semesters I may co-teach ENSTU 349S "Environmental Interpretation". It is about communicating scientific and environmental topics to the public. Included is the opportunity to become a Certified Interpretive Guide through the National Association of Interpretation. When I am able, I also teach ENVS 475 - a group capstone course during spring semesters. Recent projects have focused on the effectiveness of sheep grazing as a management tool for coastal grasslands at the Fort Ord National Monument. (Spring semesters when I am able to teach it)