Candidate for Member at Large:
Kelly Bohrer

Department of Biology
University of Dayton
Dayton, OH 45420
(937) 781-9338

Kelly.Bohrer@notes.udayton.edu

Education

BS in Environmental Biology, University of Dayton, 1996
MS in Biology, University of Dayton, 2001

Present Academic Position

• Since 2001: Biology Laboratory Coordinator, University of Dayton
• Since 2001: Instructor, University of Dayton:
  • Introductory biology labs and courses
  • College Teaching Seminar - required course for graduate TA’s; experiential and problem-based
  • Ecology Lab - required lab for biology majors; field-based outdoor lab investigations
  • Environmental Instrumentation Lab - required capstone course for senior environmental biology and geology majors; project-based field activities with GIS components
  • Introductory biology lab for education majors

Research Interests

• Developing and using innovative teaching methods in undergraduate biology courses and labs, including inquiry-based learning, problem-based learning, and educational technology.
• Preparing graduate students for their roles as teaching assistants and for their roles as future faculty.
• Developing curricula for undergraduate education majors

Statement

I have been a member of ABLE since 2003 and have attended three ABLE conferences. I have presented two mini-workshops, and last year I presented a major workshop on blackworms (inspired by Charlie Drewes). I feel that I hit a "pot of gold" when I started attending the ABLE conferences three years ago. I was immediately welcomed by the other members, delighted by all of the curriculum ideas I received, and thrilled to meet so many people who understand the triumphs and trials of being a lab coordinator, a teaching assistant supervisor, and an instructor. The collaborations I have made with ABLE members have greatly influenced me both personally and professionally in so many ways. ABLE members have inspired me and supported me in my desire to make biology labs more meaningful and beneficial for undergraduate and graduate students. With this inspiration and support, I have written several awarded grants for enhancing lab curriculum and for preparing graduate teaching assistants to teach. I have also helped develop and am a co-instructor for a Chautauqua Short Course on helping faculty enhance the way they teach by using inquiry. I think I am very lucky to have these opportunities, to work with such a diversity of people as a lab coordinator here at the University of Dayton, and to be a member of ABLE. ABLE has much to offer biology laboratory educators, including many innovative ideas and a welcoming presence in the midst of our busy careers. My desire is to promote these aspects of ABLE and to share with others the support and inspiration that I have received from ABLE members; hence I would love to be more involved with ABLE as a member-at-large.

If you would like to know more about me, please feel free to visit my faculty page at the University of Dayton. Thanks!