A Georgia Baptist Institution
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Dr. David Aebisher Assistant Professor of Chemistry, holds a B.S. in mathematics and physiology (1994) and a Ph.D. in physical organic chemistry (2001) from the University of Wyoming. Inhis graduate work, he studied mechanisms of singlet oxygen mediated oxidation of organosulfur compounds. After graduate school, David investigated mechanisms of hydrocarbon oxidation by the enzyme cytochrome P-450 at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The experience gained in graduate school was later applied at CUNY Brooklyn College in the synthesis of antimicrobial benzopolysulfanes and the development of a medical device that employs a combination of dye-embedded glass, laser light, and fiber optics to deliver toxic singlet oxygen to cancer cells. At Shorter University, David will be teaching physical and organic chemistry lectures and laboratories and exploring new ways to present topics in chemistry to students. In his spare time, he enjoys growing and propagating plants and trees, rock collecting, bible study and playing guitar. |
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Dr. Kane Barker Department Chair, Assistant Professor of Chemistry holds a B.S. in chemistry (2004) from King College in Bristol, TN and a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry (2009) from the Georgia Institute of Technology. In his doctoral thesis he studied the adhesion and mechanical properties at the molecular level using an atomic force microscope. The molecules of interest included carbon nanotubes, nano-loops, nanocoils, and block copolymers. As a side project, he worked on the electrochemical decolorization of textile dyebath solutions. This incomplete project still holds great interest for him. His research interests include force spectroscopy theory and application, electrochemistry, and most importantly chemical education. At Shorter, he teaches general chemistry labs and the analytical chemistries. He is very interested in chemical education, and welcomes any student interested in that field. He is always looking for innovative methods to improving student learning in both the laboratory and the classroom. Out of the classroom, Dr. Barker enjoys spending time with his wife, Jana, and their daughters. He is active in his church and enjoys the fellowship that is shared in Christ. He is also an avid Star Wars fan. |
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Dr. Bert Exsted Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry, holds a B.S. in Chemistry (ACS), Biology and German (1986) from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, MN. Dr. Exsted received his Ph.D. in Chemistry with a specialty in polymers and coatings in 1990 from North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND. He has worked as an industrial polymer chemist at Bayer AG (1985) in Germany and Mobay Chemical (1986) in Pittsburgh, PA and a product-development specialist for 3M, from 1991 to 2000, and an adhesive and monomers technical service specialist at the Bayer Corporation in Pittsburgh, PA from 2000 to 2002. After twelve years of applying chemistry into a variety of commercialized industrial products, with patents ranging from surgical garments to automotive or woodworking abrasive hand-pads, Dr. Exsted was recruited from industry by an international 3rd world African school located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. There he assisted in the design and construction of a new science lab building along with the development of an International Baccalaureate (IB) dipoma program (DP) in Chemistry. In 2008, he was hired by a private religious school in Southern Florida to teach AP Chemistry courses and also develop their IB academic science program into a broader Middle Years Program (MYP) format as well. Dr. Exsted transitioned his role from an industrial inventor and secondary educational teacher into that of an Adjunct and Visiting Professor of Organic Chemistry at Nova Southeastern University, where he most recently assisted science majors in their respective pre-professional programs of study, i.e., pre-med, pre-dental, pre-optometry and pre-pharmacy studies. Here at Shorter University, Dr. Exsted will continue to teach both Organic Chemistry I and II courses as an Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry. Dr. Exsted is a devote Christian, enjoys Bible-study and Church and is elated to have this vocational post at Shorter University as a scientist who believes the Bible to be God’s inerrant Word. Dr. Exsted is married, has three young boys and enjoys reading. His three passions in life are Christ, Chemistry and Family. |
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Mr. Clint Helms Instructor of Biology holds a B.S. in Biology from Shorter College (2007), a B.S. in Ecology and Field Biology from Shorter College (2007), and an M.S. in Biological Science from the University of Mississippi (2009). At Shorter, Mr. Helms teaches several sections of General Biology and Anatomy and Physiology. His personal interests include college football, Braves baseball and spending time with his beautiful wife Tabitha. |
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Dr. Leah Howell Assistant Professor of Biology holds a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Shorter University (2005). She obtained her Ph.D. in Genetics from Clemson University (2010). Her dissertation focused on the genetics of metal uptake in the freshwater microbe, Caulobacter crescentus. She teaches the Microbiology and Genetics courses here at Shorter. |
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Hunsucker, Kim Ms. Hunsucker holds a B.S. in Biochemistry with a minor in Animal Science from Berry College (1998) and a M.S. in Organic Chemistry from Emory University (2000). She has worked at a biopharmaceutical company in Maryland. There she worked in a synthesis group trying to discover new cancer drugs. Here at Shorter she teaches Gen. Chem. Labs. Outside of Shorter, she spends time with friends and family, reading, or hiking (and this year more than likely a fair share of home improvement projects). The hiking includes trying to convince a large dog to walk around with her on the trails (it gets much easier in cooler weather). |
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Ms. Lisa Keith M.S., Wright State University Associate Dean, Sciences and Mathematics Associate Professor of Physical Science PH: 706-233-7250 lkeith@shorter.edu ASSOCIATE DEAN, Associate Professor of Biology holds a BS in Biology (1990) from Berry College and a MS in Biology (1996) from Wright State University. Her thesis dissertation topic was “The Use of a Skin Graft Chamber to Evaluate Rejection of Murine Skin Equivalents.” This research involved the histopathological evaluation of the immune response that occurred when a skin equivalent was grafted onto a murine host within an isolation chamber. The purpose of this research was to determine whether rejection could be prevented or delayed by isolating the graft from surrounding skin. |
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Lu, Qiang Dr. Assistant Professor of Physics holds a B.S. in Physics from Dalian University of Technology and a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from Nankai University in China, Dr. Lu's dissertation centered on the lattice gauge theory on variational cumulant expansion. He served as a postdoctoral fellow at University of California at Irvine, and Stony Brook University, where using molecular modeling and computational methods, he studied protein-protein binding upon conformational change, specifically on cancer related protein p53, Ras, and signaling protein Cdc42 and Calmodulin. Dr. Lu's personal interest includes, Bible study fellowship, sharing Gospel with non-believers, spending time with his family and friends, composting and growing plants, playing soccer. |
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Dr. Anthony Luyai Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, Dr. Luyai earned his PhD from Emory University in 2009 where he studied Biochemistry and Glycobiology. He is interested in Glycoconjugate vaccines and diagnosis of tropical parasites. At Shorter University he teaches Biochemistry. Dr. Luyai is married and loves to spend time with family. He loves to play and watch soccer. |
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Dr. Jessica L. Mason Assistant Professor of Biology holds a B.S. in Biology from Jackson State University (1996) and earned her Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) degree from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine (OCPM in 2002) in Cleveland, Ohio. She has completed a Primary Podiatric Medical Residency (PPMR-12) and Podiatric Surgical Residency (PSR-12) at the Hunter-Holmes McGuire VAMC in Richmond, VA (2004-2006). Dr. Mason has a ten year old daughter she loves to death and enjoys spending time with her family. She loves the Lord, enjoys football (Go Steelers), basketball, and has recently volunteered as a cheerleader coach (Go Cowboys). Dr. Mason’s teaching responsibilities include or have included Medical Terminology, General Biology, and Anatomy & Physiology. |
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Dr. Susan Monteleone Associate Professor of Biology holds a B.S. in biology (1988) from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, an M.S. in biology with a focus on aquatic biology (1994) from SUNY at Fredonia in Fredonia, NY, and a Ph.D. in Ecology (1997) from University of North Texas in Denton, TX. In her doctoral thesis she investigated relationship of light quality to conifer seedling regeneration in forest gaps, H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest, Oregon; a long-term ecological research facility and the relationship of light quality to seedling regeneration and species diversity in Andean montane cloud forest in Venezuela. Her research interests currently include phenology (a study of recurring life-cycle stages of plants), and watershed ecology (a landscape-scale study of plant and animal ecology). Dr Monteleone works to integrate undergraduate research experiences into her classroom dynamics to provide experiential learning opportunities for biology students. She is a member of ABLE (Association for Biology Lab Education) and ESA (Ecological Society of America). At Shorter, she teaches botany, conservation biology, aquatic biology, and biostatistics. Out of the classroom, she enjoys inductive bible studies, reading, baking, crafting, gardening, spending time with family and friends, and playing with and loving on her pups Cooper and Rosie – her rambunctious, sweet Yorkies. |
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Dr. Nicole Vanderbush Assistant Professor of Biology and Chemistry holds B.S. degrees in Biology (2006) and Field Biology/Ecology with a minor in Chemistry from Shorter College (2006) and a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Arkansas (2012). Her research focused on mutagenesis of proteins called cytochromes to elucidate how the environment surrounding the iron heme of the protein influences properties of the proteins such as midpoint potential, pKa, and thermal stability. Her research had been presented both in the across the US and in Europe. |
| ADJUNCTS | |
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Mrs. April Mathews Adjunct Instructor of Natural Sciences, holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from Shorter University (2000), and a M.S. in Geosciences from Mississippi State University (2010). Currently, Mrs. Mathews teaches NAS 1510. Upon graduating from Shorter, she worked for Georgia Power Company as an Environmental Analyst for four years, until changing careers to go into the high school classroom. Teaching in Cobb County Schools for seven years, she led students through various science subjects, including Biology, Meteorology, Botany, Physical Science, Chemistry, and Earth Science. Last year, she left high school teaching to become the Student Music and Creative Arts Ministry Assistant at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, as well as tackling the collegiate level of online teaching. Mrs. Mathews enjoys spending time with her husband, Josh, who also graduated from Shorter (2001), and their rat terrier, Allie. They live in Woodstock, and enjoy serving in their church and community, attending and watching athletic events, and spending time with family and friends. |
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Mr. Henry Pollitz Holds a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry, (1972) from Piedmont College and a M.S. in Plant Physiology from West Georgia College (1975). Currently, Mr. Pollitz teaches Biology 1010 and 1020. Though his undergraduate degree focused only on Cell Biology, he decided to focus his Master’s research on the adhesion and cohesion factors affecting xylem and phloem in the process of transpiration in plants. After receiving his M.S. degree Mr. Pollitz attended Shorter University where he took education courses in order to become certified to teach Middle School in Georgia. Mr. Pollitz has just recently retired from 30 years of being a middle grades educator, assistant principal and principal. He worked in both the Floyd County and Rome City School Systems. Mr. Pollitz enjoys spending time with his family including his wife Connie Pollitz (Myers) who graduated from Shorter, (1975) and with his daughter Shannon who teaches at Pepperrell Middle School and with his other daughter Allison and husband Chris and their new son Hank. |
| STAFF | |
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Mrs. Dixie Lea Norman is the Administrative Assistant to the Associate Dean, Mrs. Lisa Keith. Dixie hails from Little Falls, Minnesota where she worked for the Little Falls School District for 18 years. She moved to Cartersville, GA to be near her family. Ms. Dixie has been with Shorter since March of 2005. Her love of students paired with exceptional faculty makes her job, one, everyone would want to have. She assists in the daily function of the department of Natural Sciences (Biology/Chemistry) working for faculty/students/staff and administration. Ms Dixie lives in Cartersville with her husband, Eddie and their 4 dogs, Bell, Shay, Chico and Roxy. She has three daughters, two of which live in Cartersville, and are married, and one, lives in Brainerd, MN. Ms. Dixie has also been blessed with two granddaughters Avery 4 ½ and Zoey 7 months. Ms. Dixie loves to take care of her grandbabies and play with them as often as she can. She loves reading, loves hanging out with her husband and they both enjoy going to the beach, watching football (GO FALCONS! GO DOGS!) four-wheeling and playing online games. This year, she is going to attempt to understand the fun in fishing….wish her luck! |
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