South Atlantic (NOAA), the effects of lipid composition on nitrogen gas dynamics in diving mammals
(ONR), chemical defenses and pumping activity of Caribbean invertebrates (NSF), and funding for the
acquisition of a transmission electron microscope (NSF).
d. CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
The number of presentations by faculty and students continues to increase, up 22% since our last
program review, again highlighting the broad impact of departmental research at regional, national and
international scales. The department averaged 166 conference presentations annually for a total 1,161
presentation over the 7-year period.
During the review period, UNCW also hosted 4 conferences: (1) the 32nd Annual Southeastern
Phycological Colloquy in October 2010, (2) the 35th Annual Larval Fish Conference in May 2011, (3) the
39 th Annual Benthic Ecology Meetings in March 2010 , and (4) the 21st Annual Southeast and Mid-Atlantic
Marine Mammal Symposium in March 2014,
e. LEADERSHIP ROLES
Faculty members in the department take on active leadership roles within their professions. They
have served on numerous advisory boards, hold several editorships, participate in review panels, and act as
officers for many scientific societies. Many of the faculty have served in noteworthy leadership positions
during the review period, including serving as President of the American Chemical Society (Eastern NC
Section), Chapter Vice President of the Carolinas Society of Toxicology and Chemistry, AAAS Bioscience
Educational Network Scholar, and President and Treasurer of the Society of Integrative and Comparative
Biology. A listing of each faculty member’s current (2013- 14 ) professional leadership activities is
provided in Appendix 9.
f. HONORS AND AWARDS
Many of the faculty members in the Department of Biology and Marine Biology have been
recognized for their extraordinary contributions to the teaching and research mission of UNCW during the
review period. Two faculty, Drs. Posey (2008) and Cahoon (2010) earned the Graduate Mentor Award,
recognizing their outstanding contributions to the UNCW graduate program. Drs. Emslie (2008) and
Kinsey (2010) each received the Faculty Scholarship Award. Dr. Ballard (2011) received the Chancellor’s
Award for Teaching Excellence and Ms. Diane Melroy (2011) earned the UNCW Lecture of the Year
Award. Several members of the faculty have also been recognized by professional societies and other
outside groups for their contributions to their respective fields.
g. COMMUNITY SERVICE
Service to the community has historically been an important goal of the department mission and
the orientation towards service demonstrated by many of the faculty and graduate students contributes to
the success of the graduate program. Each year, several members of the faculty, as well as numerous
graduate students, offer their skills to assist in the education of students from area public schools and
integrate public involvement into their research activities. Outstanding examples during the program
review period include the roles of both faculty and graduate students in the Oceans ROCK Outreach Event,
regular faculty participation in and organization of local and regional Science Olympiads, and the
considerable number of volunteers who participate in the Marine Mammal Stranding Program.
10. STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS
a. STRENGTHS
The graduate programs in the Department of Biology and Marine Biology are a UNCW success