Mark Class Introduction

Childhood

1979

I was raised in Texas and Oklahoma. No matter the location, I always enjoyed collecting rolly-pollies, splashing in the rain, and traveling.

BS Biology

1998

I earned my Bachelors of Science in Biology from Oklahoma Baptist University

Madagascar research

2001

Two colleagues and I traveled to Madagascar to research the herpetofauna (reptiles and frogs) of the rainforest canopy

MS Zoology

2002

I earned my Masters of Science in Zoology from the University of Oklahoma studying the physiological ecology of cricket frogs.

Director of the Student Learning Center

2002

I started working full-time for the University of Oklahoma in 2002 for their Zoology department.

Married!

2003

I met my beautiful wife, Kelly, at the University of Oklahoma, in a biology class, of course.

Biology teaching

2003

I started teaching biology at the University of Oklahoma in 2003, and have since taught Introductory Zoology and lab, Field Ecology and Entomology, and Contemporary Issues in Biology (online).

Work at UNC-Chapel Hill

2005

From 2005-2007 I managed student services for the Chemistry Department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Back to OU

2007

We moved back to Oklahoma in 2007 so that I could help kick-off then lead the U.C. Action tutoring program at OU.

New frog named

2007

While in Madagascar in 2001, colleagues and I had discovered a new species of frog. The paper came out in 2007 describing this new species, <i>Anodonthyla hutchisoni</i>

Got a puppy

2010

After successfully birthing two kids, our family decided it was time for a puppy. We adopted Darwin, part Beagle, from the Oklahoma Humane Society.

Still enjoying hiking

2012

My wife and I, and the kids, on a hike in Colorado

Move to UCO

2014

I made the move to the University of Central Oklahoma to come be a part of UCO's amazing educational framework called Transformative Learning.

Other hobbies

2018

I manage websites, e.g., http://www.ableweb.org, attend and serve through my church, hang out with my friends and family, travel, and work to try to help the people of Madagascar (e.g. board of directors for PFM, http://www.partners4madagascar.org).