Department of Biology Outstanding Students and Graduates

The primary emphasis of the faculty at Saint Joseph's College is our students.  Unlike our colleagues at most universities, we faculty are judged by how well we teach rather than the number of our publications or research grants.  This means that our undergraduates are taught by our best professors and not by graduate students.  If you know of graduate accomplishments that should be added to this page, please contact Fr. William Stang M.D. We take great pride in our students who respond well to our challenges.  Their excellence shows in many ways. - in performing research and co-authoring scientific articles (listed below) that are presented and published at State and National levels. - as Scholar-Athletes. - in acceptance into Medical, Dental, Veterinary, Occupational and Physical Therapy Schools.  - in acceptance into graduate programs at Notre Dame, Purdue and other excellent Universities. Their outreach to serve their local communities and our nation.

Progress in Graduate programs:

Recently completed residency
  - Dr. Derek Serna – now entering hematology / oncology fellowship program at OSU

- Dr. Amanda Bailey Bohleber (picture right)

Recently completed Pharmacy or Veterinary Schools
  - Lori McKinney,  Jared Weller, Amanda Breetzke, Sonia Honkisz
Recently completed Physical or Occupational Therapy
 Rachel (Mahns) Pulver (PT),  Jill Orzehoskie (PT), Jamie Bach (PT), Holly Stefaniak (PT & OT), Graham Gould (PT)
Recently completed Medical or Dental School

- Shannon Cheek – Medicine (MD)

- Leslie Clevenger - Dentistry (DD)

- Chris Cripe (DD)

- Dr. Sarah (Wells) Ragan – (DC) (picture lower right with doctoral diploma)

In Medical Graduate Programs (in alphabetic order)
- Hilary Briggs - Veterinary Medicine

- Melissa Cooper - Physician Assistant

- Zach Erb - Physical Therapy

- Kevin Falk - Osteopathic Medicine

- Marsha Farkaly - Podiatric Medicine

- Nathan Graves - Podiatric Medicine and Surgery

- Ashley Hughes - Physical Therapy

- Mike LaFata - Medicine

- Amy Luksus - Physician Assistant

- Kirstin Magnuson - Veterinary Medicine

- Mike Marshall - Physical Therapy

- Ann Mlynarczyk - Physician Assistant

- Megan Ratterman - Osteopathic Medicine

- Jasmine Roach - Veterinary Medicine

- Joy Trendelman - Veterinary Medicine

Currently in PhD. Graduate Programs: Currently in M.S. Graduate Programs:
- Kristi Zurawski Forensic Science - Krissy Laurie Terry Farkaly

- Bri Franz - David Didion. Matt Scheuer

- Rachel Jarrard - Dane Brown Allison Witucki

- Michael Thompson Biochemistry  - Amy Maile

Recently Completed Graduate School
- Jeanette Jaskula, M.S. Natural Resources, U Wisconsin
- Susan Owenby, Ph.D. Biochemistry, U of Iowa
- Richard Gallo, Ph.D. Medicinal Chemistry, Purdue
- Kim Riccardo, M.S. Forensics, UIC
- Katie (Mack) Mancuso Ph.D. Neuroscience, Medical College of WI

- Shannon Finnerty – Ph.D. Marine Biology

- Kristy Tiede M.S. Forensic Science, New Haven

- Christi McCoy M.S.

- Erin Breetzke M.S.

- Charles Martin M.S.

STUDENT RESEARCH AND PUBLICATION

AMPHIBIAN RESEARCH Dr. Bob Brodman (left) has involved Saint Joseph's College students in important research since he arrived at the College.  All his students gained academic credits and valuable experience.  28 students added to their professional stature as Co-authors of  Peer-Reviewed Published Papers, Technical Reports, and Conference Abstracts.  These students are: Mary Kilmurry (‘96), Denise Falk (‘96), Jill Ogger ‘(97), Tracy (Ziemba) Bogard (‘97), Rachel (Mahns) Pulver (‘97), Amanda (Prather) Long (‘97), Christi (McCoy) Crawford (‘97), Megan Kolaczyk (‘98), Dan Kolezar (‘98), Chris Crum (‘98), Jeanette (Jaskula) Nichols (‘99), Marissa Marlin (‘00), Paula Seth (‘00), Charles Martin (‘00), Katie (Mack) Mancuso (‘02), Heidi (Schwarz) Krouse (‘03), Mike Parrish (‘03), Shannon Finerty (‘03), Randy Hoffman (‘04), Tony Kretz (‘04), Leslie Clevenger (‘04), Ryan Dorton (‘05), Elizabeth Scholl (‘05), Kristi Zurawski (‘05), David Didion (‘06), Amy Luksus (‘06), Kyle Bender (‘06), Krissy Laurie (‘07), Ryan McCoy (‘07), W. Dan Newman (‘08), Cheryl Zakowski (‘09), Sarah Osterfeld (‘09), Nicole Lenzo (‘09), Matt Bennett (‘10), and Jerome Kotel (‘11). Details are below.

SCHOLAR ATHLETES

The "SJC Scholar-Athlete Award" is given for excellence in both athletics and academics.  The Award is presented to Senior Varsity Athletes who have compiled a grade point average of 3.5 or higher during their years at Saint Joseph's College.  Fifteen Saint Joseph's College student athletes qualified for this honor.  Of these, six major in Biology or Biology-Chemistry.  When student athletes consider coming to Saint Joseph’s College to major in Biology, they sometimes wonder if they can achieve high grades while participating in varsity sports. These six students show that you can build a strong mind while building a strong body.

They are (upper left to lower right):

- Zachary Erb,

- Amy Harmening,

- Ashley Hughes,

- Olivia Klosterman,

- Ann Stupic

- Brittany Wikierak.

ABOVE AND BEYOND:

Heather Mikus is one of those students that a school loves to have show up at their door.  In her four years in our Biology program she has achieved outstanding grades.  Even as she studied, she always looked for ways to give to others.  Her peers crowned her years of work in student government by electing her Student Association President for 2005. She was a tutor for struggling students and promoted science in middle and high schools with her volunteer work in our College Science Olympiad. 

In 2005 & 2006 Heather was chairperson of the Gallagher Charitable Society. The Society provides a Christmas party for the poor children in our area who otherwise might have no Christmas.  She has been MS Santa Claus to over 200 children each year for four years.  This is her in her “Santa’s Helper” outfit of green shirt and red cap. Good job Heather!

While he was a Biology Major at Saint Joseph's College, David Ritchie (left) was also Corporal David Ritchie in the Indiana Army National Guard. Dave served in the 1-293 Infantry Battalion of the 76^th Separate Infantry Brigade.  September 11, 2001 affected many lives.  It affected Dave's when America mobilized him for Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Dave served our country for a year in Iraq before returning to Saint Joseph's College to finish his studies.  Thus Dave joined the rolls of Saint Joseph's College alumni who served our country in the Armed Forces in time of war.  He follows in the footsteps of Dr. Robert Monfort (class of 1972 - right) who was mobilized during Operation Desert Storm and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps before returning to teach here at our College.  Thank you Dave & Bob; God bless you.

LIST OF PUBLICATIONS:

Peer-Reviewed Papers:

Brodman, R., D. Newman, K. Laurie, S. Osterfeld, and N. Lenzo. 2010. The interaction of an aquatic herbicide and predatory salamander density on wetland communities. Journal of Herpetology: in press.

Brodman, R., and H. Krouse. 2007. How blue-spotted salamander and smallmouth salamander larvae coexist with their unisexual polyploid counterparts. Herpetologica 63:135-143.

Brodman, R. M. Parrish, H. Krouse, and S. Cortwright. 2006. Amphibian Biodiversity Recovery in a Large-Scale Ecosystem Restoration. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 1:101-108.

Brodman, R, R. and R. Dorton. 2006. The Effectiveness of Pond-Breeding Salamanders as Agents of Mosquito Control. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 21:467-474.

Brodman, R., T. Anton, K. Glennmeier, P. Seth, D. Didion, and A. Luksus. 2005.  Status of Amphibians and Reptiles in Savanna Habitats and Savanna Mosaic Communities of the Chicago Wilderness Region.  Chicago Wilderness Journal 3:38-44.

Brodman, R., J. Ogger, A.P. Long, T. Ziemba-Bogard, R. Mahns-Pulver, D. Falk, K. Mack-Mancuso. 2003. Multivariate analyses of the influences of water chemistry and habitat parameters on the abundances of pond-breeding amphibians.  Journal of Freshwater Ecology 18: 425-436.

Brodman, R., J. Ogger, M. Kolacyzk, A.J. Long, R. A. Mahns-Pulver and T. Ziemba-Bogard. 2003.  Mosquito Control By Pond-Breeding Salamander Larvae.  Herpetological Review 34(2): 116-119.

Brodman, R. and J.M. Jaskula. 2002.  Microhabitat Use and Activity of Five Species of Salamander Larvae.  Herpetologica: 58:346-354.

Jaskula, J.M. and R. Brodman. 2000. Density-Dependent Effects on Microhabitat Selection and Activity of Two Species of Larval Ambystoma Salamanders. In: Investigating Amphibian Declines: Proceedings of the 1998 Midwest Declining Amphibian Conference.  Kaiser, H., G.S. Casper and N. Bernstein  (eds).  The Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science, Special Issue 107 (3,4): 146-150.

Brodman, R., and M. Kilmurry 1998.  The Status of Amphibians in Rural Northwest Indiana, pp 125-136. In: The Status and Conservation of Midwest Amphibians. M.J. Lannoo (ed.). Iowa University Press, Iowa City, Iowa.

Technical Reports:

Brodman, R., N. Lenzo, S. Osterfeld, J. Kotel. 2008. The effect of aquatic herbicides on amphibian communities. Final Report: Indiana Academy of Science, Indianapolis, IN.

Brodman, R. and R. Dorton. 2004. The Effectiveness of Pond-Breeding Salamanders as Agents of Mosquito Control. Indiana Academy of Science, Indianapolis, IN.

Brodman, R, M. Parrish, H. Schwarz and M. Marlin.  2002. The Amphibian Biodiversity Recovery in a Large-Scale Ecosystem Restoration: final report. TNC Indiana Field Office, Indianapolis, IN.

Brodman, R. and H. Schwartz. 2002. How blue-spotted and smallmouth salamander larvae coexist with their unisexual polyploid counterparts. Indiana Academy of Science, Indianapolis, IN

Brodman, R., J. Ogger, T. Ziemba, A. Prather-Long, and R. Mahns. 1997.  Effects of Breeding Pond Chemistry on Amphibian Abundance and Species Richness.  Indiana DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife, Indianapolis, IN.

ABSTRACTS & SCHOLARLY PRESENTATIONS

Brodman, R., N. Lenzo, S. Osterfeld, J. Kotel. 2008. The effect of aquatic herbicides on amphibian communities. Poster presentation Midwest PARC meeting, Iowa; IAS Southern Indiana University.

Brodman, R., W.D. Newman, K. Laurie, S. Osterfeld, N. Lenzo and M. Bennett. 2007. Ecological effects of an aquatic herbicide on amphibians. Paper presented by Osterfeld to Midwest PARC at Indiana Dunes.

Brodman, R., K. Laurie, D. Newman, R. McCoy, C. Zakowski and K. Bender. 2006-2007. The ecological effects of an herbicide on tiger salamanders and their prey. Poster presented to PARC at University of Southern Illinois, oral presentation by Newman and Laurie at the SJC Colloquium.

Didion, D., K. Laurie, and R. Brodman. 2006. The use of amphibians and reptiles to determine habitat quality in savanna habitats. Presented by Didion as an invited seminar speaker at University of South Alabama and by Laurie at the SJC Colloquium.

Didion, D., A. Luksus and R. Brodman. 2005. Status of Amphibians and reptiles in savanna habitats and savanna mosaic communities of the Chicago Wilderness Region.  Paper presented by Didion and Luksus at the Butler Undergraduate Research Conference and SJC Colloquium Day and by Didion at the Indiana Academy of Science, Saint Mary of the Woods.

Scholl, E., and K. Zurawski. 2005. Rate of Decay in Amphibian Population in Jasper County, IN.  Poster presented  at the Butler Undergraduate Research Conference and SJC Colloquium Day.

Ragan, S., and S. Honkisz. 2005.  Processing and assembling an equine skeleton.  Poster presented at the Butler Undergraduate Research Conference and SJC Colloquium Day.

Kretz, T.  2004. Natural history observations of the Lesser Siren (Siren intermedia) populations in Northwest Indiana. Poster presented at the Butler Undergraduate Research Conference and SJC Colloquium Day.

Kretz, T. 2004. A 10-year Study of Amphibian Populations of Northwest Indiana. Paper presented at the Butler Undergraduate Research Conference and SJC Colloquium Day.

Clevenger, L. 2004. The Effect of Climate on a 10-year Study of Amphibian Populations in Northwest Indiana. Paper presented at the Butler Undergraduate Research Conference.

Brodman, R. and R. Dorton. 2003-2004. Tiger Salamanders 144 Mosquitoes 0: The Effectiveness of Pond-Breeding Salamanders as Agents of Mosquito Control. Paper presented by Brodman to IAS at Anderson University, IN and ASIH/SSAR at University of Oklahoma and presented by Dorton to the Butler Undergraduate Research Conference and SJC Colloquium Day.

Kretz, T., R. Hoffman and R. Brodman. 2003. Lesser Siren Populations in Northwest Indiana. Paper presented by Hoffman at IAS, Anderson University, IN.

Kretz, T., R. Hoffman, S. Finerty and R. Brodman. 2003.  Does soil pH effect Lesser Siren populations in Northwest Indiana? Paper presented by Kretz at the Butler Undergraduate Research Conference.

Hoffman, R., S. Finerty, T. Kretz and R. Brodman. 2003. Population Dynamics of the Lesser Siren in Disjunct Populations. Paper presented by Hoffman and Finerty at the Butler Undergraduate Research Conference.

Brodman, R, M. Parrish and H. Schwarz.  2002-2003. The Amphibian Biodiversity Recovery in a Large-Scale Ecosystem Restoration.  Paper presented by

Brodman to the IAS at Butler University, SSAR/ASIH in Manaus, Brazil.

Brodman, R. and H. Schwarz. 2002.  How blue-spotted and smallmouth salamander larvae coexist with their unisexual polyploid counterparts.   Paper presented by Brodman to Animal Behavior at Indiana University and SSAR/ASIH in Kansas City, and  presented by Schwarz to the Indiana Academy of Science at Butler University and the Butler Undergraduate Research Conference.

Martin, C and R. Brodman. 2001.  Siren (Siren intermedia) Population Study of Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area.  Paper presented by Martin at the Butler Undergraduate Research Conference.

Mack, K and R. Brodman. 2001.  The Effects of Wetland Classification, Distribution, Abundance, Water Regime, and the Distance Separating Wetlands on Pseudacris crucifer (Spring Peeper) Populations.  Paper presented by Mack at Butler Undergraduate Research Conference.

Brodman, R. and J.M. Jaskula. 2000-2001.  Microhabitat Use and Activity of Five Species of Salamander Larvae. Poster presented at the ESA meeting in Madison, WI, and a paper presented by Jaskula to the Butter Undergraduate Research Conference.

Kolezar, D., C. Crum and R. Brodman. 2000. The Ecology of the Lesser Siren in a Disjunct Population in Northwest Indiana.  Paper presented by Koleszar to the Butler Undergraduate Research Conference.

Brodman, R. and M. Kolaczyk.  1998-1999.  Biological Control of Mosquitoes by Pond-Breeding Salamander Larvae. Paper presented by Brodman to the IAS at Park Tudor, Indianapolis, and to SSAR/ASIH at Penn State University 

Brodman, R. and  J. Jaskula (SJC '99). 1997-1998. Density-Dependent Effects on Microhabitat Selection and Activity of Two Species of Larval Ambystoma Salamanders. Paper  presented by Jaskula to the IAS at Saint Joseph's College and by Brodman to DAPTF at Milwaukee, WI.

Ogger, J., T. Ziemba, A. Long, R. Mahns and R. Brodman. 1996.  Effects of Pond Chemistry on Amphibian Species Richness. 1996. Paper  presented by Long , Ogger and Ziemba to the IAS at Depauw, DAPTF at Indiana Dunes, and the Argonne Undergraduate Symposium in Illinois.

Brodman, R. and C. McCoy. 1996.   The Use of an Anuran Breeding Call Index in a County Amphibian Survey.  Invited symposium paper presented by Brodman to SSAR at University of Kansas and presented by McCoy to the Butler Undergraduate Research Conference, IN.

Brodman, R. and M. Kilmurry . 1995.  The Use of Breeding Indexes in Amphibian Surveys.  Paper presented by Kilmurry  to the IAS at IUPUI.

Brodman, R., R. Mahns, J. Ogger and T. Ziemba. 1995.  Physical and Chemical Influences on Amphibian Populations in Northwest Indiana. Paper presented by Mahns, Ogger and Ziemba to the IAS at IUPUI.

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