Dr. Allee's interests include hunting, fishing, camping and taxidermy (he owns and operates Doc's Taxidermy Shop). On a more personal note, his three sons also graduated from Shorter. One is a practicing psychiatrist, one teaches social sciences and one works for the Georgia Department of Human Resources as the Environmental Health District Director for the Northwest Georgia Health District.

Assistant Professor of Biology holds a B.S. in Zoology and Geology (1999) from Auburn University, a M.S. in Geology (2001) from the University of Nebraska, and a Ph.D. in Entomology/Ecology (2005) from the University of Georgia. Dr. Campbell has a broad background in science and has conducted research dealing with limnology, sedimentology, entomology, and mammalogy. He has presented his research at numerous professional meetings and has published several papers. Dr. Campbell is interested in any research that involves an applied outlook. He spent the last several years working part-time with the U.S. Forest Service as a research ecologist.

Other interests include hunting, fishing, and hiking…anything that takes him outside.

Dr. Jennifer Davis
Ph.D., Mississippi State University
Professor of Biology 
Office: 310 Rome Hall
PH: 706-233-7292
jdavis@shorter.edu

Professor of Biology, holds a B.A. in biology (1969) from Elmhurst College in Illinois, a M.S. in biology (1971) from Emory University, a M.Ed. in special education (1985) from West Georgia College with an emphasis in audiology and learning disabilities, and a Ph.D. in biology (1994) from Mississippi State University.

Her specialty is cytogenetics. Dr. Davis's dissertation research was concerned with the study of chromosome abnormalities and their consequences in a laboratory stock of a cranefly species. She has presented her research at several professional meetings.

Additional professional endeavors include: 1) participation in Shorter's study abroad programs, May Term 1997, 2001 and the Asia Program 2003; 2) the development of two new courses over the last several years, "Issues in Bioethics" and "Issues in Biodiversity Conservation"; 3) is involved with the Americas Program 2007; 4) is a member of the Ethics Committee at Floyd Medical Center; 5) she has just completed a three year term as a member-at-large of the Executive Committee of the Association of Southeastern Biologist (ASB).

Dr. Davis, who has been at Shorter since 1976, has had teaching responsibilities that included General Biology, Genetics, Zoology, Developmental Biology, Histology, Cell Biology, Physical Science, Bioethics, and Science Education.

Interests include reading, music, traveling, walking, cooking, and being a grandmother.

Mrs. Keith has conducted research in various areas of biology and education including paleontology, cryobiology, gene therapy, molecular biology, immunology, histology and science education. She has continued involvement with an NSF funded project which educates teachers about addressing accessibility issuers in the laboratory setting. The project, previously known as C.L.A.S.S. (Creating Laboratory Access for Science Students), is based out of Dayton Ohio at Wright State University.

Lisa Keith’s current teaching responsibilities include the General Introductory Biology, Immunology and Human Anatomy & Physiology II courses.

Mrs. Keith’s interests include scuba diving, camping, rock collecting, cooking, art and being a good mom.

Dr. Dinty Musk
Ph.D., University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
Office: 308, Rome Hall
dmusk@shorter.edu

Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, holds a BA in Biochemistry (2001) from Taylor University and a Ph.D. in chemistry (2006) from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Musk has conducted research spanning the areas of biochemistry, organic and medicinal chemistry, and microbiology, and is interested in the roles that small molecules, both natural and synthetic, can play in elucidating complex biological systems. Specifically, his research has uncovered molecules that modulate/prevent the development of bacterial bio-films in the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. He has presented findings from his research at numerous professional meetings, and also composed a thorough review of anti-bio-film small molecules.

Dr. Musk is slated to teach courses in Biochemistry, General Chemistry and Physical Science.

In his spare time, Dr. Musk enjoys tournament bass fishing, playing with yo-yos, singing as a lyric tenor, and watching Grey’s Anatomy. His unwavering contention is that the 1980’s were the zenith of popular music.

Assistant Professor of Physics, holds a B.A in physics from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (1993), and his doctorate in biophysics from the Ohio State University in 1999. His doctoral research concerned classical mechanics methods of modeling the interaction of electron transfer proteins, particularly plastocyanin and cytochrome f, in the light reactions of photosynthesis. The general problem of protein-protein interaction remains his primary research interest; when he's had time to consider proteins, he has studied other proteins and complexes involved in the light reactions of photosynthesis (cytochrome c6, photosystem I) as well as erythropoietin and its receptor, and troponin complexes.

At Shorter, Dr. Pearson concentrates on physics teaching, but is likely to have an opinion on just about anything in the natural sciences. He is a strong believer in the Christian life of the mind and a diligent explorer of the interfaces between faith and scientific questioning.

Dr. Pearson holds an 'E' level coaching license from the Georgia State Soccer Association (he wants to go higher!) and enjoys just about everything about "the other football." He is also a popular music scholar, and can talk intelligently about any style, from boy-bands and divas to hip-hop to country to classic CCM to emo. (Among his favorites are The Juliana Theory, Emmylou Harris, White Heart, Vigilantes of Love, Josh Joplin, The Echoing Green, and Taking Back Sunday.)

Lab Instructor and Biology Coordinator, holds a M.S. in Biology (2007) from the University of Louisville and a B.S. in Applied Biology from the Georgia Institute of Technology (2002). He is primarily responsible for teaching General Biology labs but is also the lab instructor for microbiology and human anatomy.

Trained as an aquatic ecologist, his research focused on the association between trihalomethane formation potentials and watershed level dynamics in two small drinking reservoirs (a portion of this work was published in Environmental Information Archives). He also has had a research note published in Ecological Restoration that addressed leaf breakdown rates of reintroduction of native river cane in a restored stream (which acts as an assessment tool to determine the functional health of a stream). Currently, Mr. Pirkle is actively involved in the development of an up and coming Undergraduate Research Program at Shorter College with Dr. Joshua Campbell.

Mr. Pirkle has 7 years of experience working in various laboratory settings (oceanography, poultry parasitology, and aquatic ecology labs) as well as several y ears of lab teaching experience. His personal interests include fishing, hiking, watching Atlanta Braves baseball, and spending time with his wife and their Jack Russell Terrier (Sadie), and his soon-to-be-born first son (September 2008)!

Dr. Jason Ritchie
Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology
Assistant Professor of Physical Science
Office: 303, Rome Hall
PH: 706-233-7263
jritchie@shorter.edu

Assistant Professor of Physical Science, holds a bachelor’s degree in Earth Science from Frostburg State University (1994) and earned his Ph. D. in geochemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology (2005). He was fortunate to co-author with Dr. Mike Perdue a chapter on the chemical and physical properties of freshwater organic matter for the Treatise on Geochemistry series (2003).

Dr. Ritchie is an avid viewer of Law & Order, Law & Order SVU, and Law & Order CI, as well as classic Hanna-Barbera and Warner Bros. cartoons.

Dr. Dean Turner
Ph.D., Boston College
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Office: 302 Rome Hall
PH: (706) 233-7265
dturner@shorter.edu

Associate Professor of Chemistry holds a B.S. (1979) from Muskingum College in Ohio and a Ph.D. (1987) from Boston College. He taught at Alfred State College in New York and Murray State University in Kentucky before joining the faculty at Shorter in 1993. He teaches general and analytical chemistry and he serves as the department’s coordinator for environmental health and safety. Students who are interested in teaching science are welcome to participate in projects to improve lab experiments and to use technology to help teach chemistry.

His interests include reading, backpacking, and mountain biking.

Dr. Theunis Van Aardt
Ph.D., University of Orange Free State, South Africa
Assistant  Professor  of Chemistry
Office: 302 Rome Hall
PH: (706) 233-7364
tvaardt@shorter.edu

Assistant Professor of Chemistry holds a Ph.D. from The University of the Orange Free State in the republic of South Africa. He has received the Gold medal from the South African Academy of Art and Science and the General Service Medal and Extended Service Medal from the South African Defense Force.

Dr. van Aardt taught at Mercer University as a visiting professor prior to coming to Shorter College. He has done extensive research on flavonoids and has had his work published in several journals. Dr. van Aardt has also presented his research in both South Africa and the United States.

Dr. Matthew Waters
Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Assistant Professor of Biology
Office: TBA
Phone: TBA
mwaters@shorter.edu

Assistant Professor of Biology, holds a BS in Environmental Science, a BA in Christianity and a minor in Mathematics from Mercer University (1997), a MS in Aquatic Sciences from the University of Florida (2000) and a PhD in Environmental Sciences and Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2007). He is a paleolimnologist whose research investigates the effects of biogeochemical cycles, land-use change, anthropogenic stressors and climate on primary producer community structure in aquatic ecosystems. He has conducted research on the coast of North Carolina, central Florida, Brazil, California, Florida Bay and the Chesapeake Bay. Prior to arriving at Shorter College, Dr. Waters was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of South Florida where he conducted research on historic plant communities in the Florida Everglades and taught environmental science.

Dr. Waters is a singer/songwriter who has recorded four albums with his former band, Cord of Three and is a tennis fanatic.

Mrs. Dixie Lea Norman
Administrative Assistant to the Dean
PH: 706-233-7355
dnorman@shorter.edu

Ms. Dixie is the Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the School of Sciences and Mathematics, Dr. Craig Allee. She originally hails from Little Falls, Minnesota. Ms. Dixie lives in Cartersville with her husband Eddie, two daughters and two dogs.

Ms. Dixie’s interests are taking care of her granddaughter (as often as she can) cooking, reading, playing video games and spending time with her family. She likes to travel when she can and she loves working with the science majors and faculty at Shorter College.