Professor of Biology, Chair, Science Division
Invertebrate Zoology/Aquatic Ecology
Phone: (919) 508-2348 || Email: lbonner@peace.edu
Office: Pressley 201a

Teaching interests: "My teaching interests include aspects of zoology, such as ecology, evolution, anatomy, physiology and behavior of animals. I also enjoy teaching anatomy and physiology to students interested in allied health professions."

Research or creative interest: "My primary research interest is aquatic ecology with emphasis on assessing the ecological integrity of Crabtree Creek in Wake County. The widespread application of biological surveillance in conjunction with other assessment protocols, such as water chemistry analysis, provides a strong tool for monitoring aquatic ecosystems, and perhaps more importantly, implementation of corrective measures when necessary. Therefore, I monitor physicochemical parameters and evaluate the changing community structure of resident benthic macroinvertebrates, which are the most commonly used targets of surveillance and monitoring in fresh water, because they are a diverse group of sedentary species that are differentially sensitive to many biotic and abiotic factors in their environment and can be greatly affected by anthropogenic factors."

Personal interests: "I enjoy outdoor activities with my family — camping, hiking, kayaking, biking — also gardening and travel. I have taken trips to the Pacific Northwest and hiked the Hoh Rainforest; hiked California’s Big Sur, Monterrey Bay, and redwood forests; gone on whale watching expeditions in Cape Cod and with the World Wildlife Federation to Baja, Mexico; visited Italy, Montserrat, Tortola, and Central Mexico; studied Tropical Marine Ecology at Hostra University Marine Laboratory in St. Anne’s Bay, Jamaica; and most recently traveled to Quito, Ecuador, and the Galapagos Islands."

Credentials:
• Recipient of the McCormick Distinguished Teaching Award,
Peace College, 1993.

• Ph.D., Zoology, Mississippi State University.
Minor: Botany.
Ph. D. Dissertation: Ecological and limnological study of five temporary forest pools located in Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, Noxubee County, Mississippi.

• M.S., Biology, Middle Tennessee State University.
Minors: Chemistry, Environmental Science, English
Master's Thesis: Ecological and limnological study of a first-order, rheocrene springbrook in Cannon County, Tennessee.

• B.S., Biology, Middle Tennessee State University

• A.S., Science, Motlow State Community College

Closing comment: "We all mentor by example. We are enthusiastic about our discipline and instill that passion and appreciation for learning in our students. We challenge students and prepare them for graduate and professional programs by offering rigorous coursework, laboratory, and research experiences. Each semester I get an email or phone call from a former student in medical school or vet school who thanks me for holding them to a high standard, because it prepared them for their experience in those programs. Our ultimate goal is the success or our students."

Lecturer of Biology
Vertebrate Zoology
Phone: (919) 508-2268 || Email: pmyer@peace.edu
Office: Pressley 100a

Teaching interests: "My teaching interests revolve around vertebrate zoology with concentrations in evolutionary relationships and functional morphology."

Research or creative interest: "My primary interests are 1) exploring the dynamics of hybrid zones in lower vertebrates, 2) studying various feeding specializations found in snakes, 3) relating human disturbance to snake population decreases in venomous snake species, and 4) examining the comparative applicability of various quantitative and qualitative stream survey sampling methods for use in ecological studies."

Personal interests: "I enjoy raising happy children and the husbandry and breeding of rare amphibians and reptiles."

Closing comment: "My most interesting impact on students has been how my courses changed their biases and fears towards creatures found in nature. Many of our students who were scared of their own shadows when it had to do with wildlife ended up waist deep in mud netting fish and turtles and were fighting for their turn to pull the nets. I continuously have past students emailing me about animals they have seen and recognized and just wanted me to know about it."

Associate Professor of Biology
Botany and Terrestrial Ecology
Phone: (919) 508-2308 || Email: pweigant@peace.edu
Office: Pressley 100b

Teaching interests: Ecology and environmental biology

Research or creative interest: "I study the plant and lichen diversity of high mountains, especially of alpine tundra. I have research sites in the Appalachian Mountains and also in Colorado at the Mountain Research Station near Boulder and in Rocky Mountain National Park."

Personal interests: "I really enjoy “the great outdoors” — hiking, camping, nature photography and “eco-tourism.” I have visited the high Andes Mountains of Peru, Machu Picchu, Ecuador, and the Galapagos Islands."

Credentials:
• Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, May, 1993.
Major: Botany (Ecosystematics).
Dissertation: "High Elevation Heath Communities in the Blue Ridge of North Carolina."

• M.S., Oklahoma State University, 1979.
Major: Botany (Plant Taxonomy)
Thesis: "A Numerical Analysis of the Morphological Variation in the Genus Aletris L. in North America."

• B.S., Oklahoma State University, 1974.
Major: Botany and Plant Pathology

Closing comment: "In Summer 2007 I'm looking forward to taking a group of students to the Galapagos to experience the unique ecosystems and also to interact with the school children and their families."