Standing Committee Nominations

Willy Bemis (EEB)

I use comparative anatomical and paleontological approaches to explore vertebrate evolution. I graduated from Cornell in 1976 and completed my MS and PhD at Michigan and Berkeley, respectively. After a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Chicago, I joined the biology faculty at UMass Amherst, where I taught many courses and lead the development of a new graduate program in organismal biology. In 2005, I came to Cornell to serve as director of the Shoals Marine Lab; for the last ten years, I have been a regular member of the faculty in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. I teach courses in vertebrate biology, ichthyology, digital morphology, and vertebrate paleontology. My current research focuses on the anatomy of fossil and living fishes, although I have studied other groups of vertebrates and coauthored two textbooks on vertebrate anatomy and biology. I am faculty curator of ichthyology in the Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates and have close ties to the Museum of the Earth, where we teach vertebrate paleontology. As an entering member of the CALS Nominating Committee, I look forward to learning more about CALS faculty and helping to engage members in service to the college. 

• Willy Bemis's Bio

Mabel Taracena (ENTOM)

I joined Cornell four years ago as a Postdoctoral Associate, and I have been a Research Assistant Professor since 2023. Currently, I hold a research appointment and participate in various service activities with my department in CALS and externally to my field. These include service on the Admissions and Awards and Nominations Committees. I am excited to have the opportunity to serve on the CALS Faculty Executive Committee, as this is a great opportunity to broaden my knowledge of college decision-making that can help me to better contribute to the College through the years. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to be at diverse institutions in Latin America and the US, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), before joining Cornell. Therefore, I think I will bring a unique, fresh, and inclusive vision to this committee. My research focuses on the search for sustainable methods to control insects that vector diseases to humans and, therefore, are important for public health. I am committed to contributing to our society by doing research that improves the lives of people across the globe. I have the time to commit and the disposition to learn and contribute to making an impact with this position.

• Mabel Taracena's Bio

Charlie Walcott (NBB)

I have been at Cornell for 43 years not counting 3 as a graduate student 1956-59. I came as Director of the Ornithology Lab and Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior, trying to figure out how homing pigeons find their way home. After 14 years at the Lab, I returned to teaching and research, became Director of the Division of Biology, then Chair of NB&B, Associate, then Dean of the Faculty, and retired in 2008. I then served 10 years as University Ombudsman. I have taught in the Animal Behavior course and Introductory biology as well as seminars in Animal Orientation and Navigation. I still advise students, serve on the Faculty Senate and the University Faculty Committee.

• Charlie Walcott's Bio

Ginger Allington (DNRE)

I am an Assistant Professor in the Dept of Natural Resources and the Environment. I joined Cornell in Jan of 2023, after five years in a faculty position at another institution. In my current and previous roles I teach a combination of a large introductory-level course, graduate seminars and mid-size quantitative courses. I have had to handle violations of the academic integrity code in these courses, but they present in different circumstances and formats and are sometimes not black & white cases. The rise of the use of AI tools by students is presenting additional pitfalls that we as instructors need to contend with.  I am interested in serving on the CALS Academic Integrity Hearing Board so that I can learn more about the procedures in place for handling violations and contribute to the just handling of these cases.

• Ginger Allington's Bio

Rui Hai Liu (FDSC)

I am a professor in the Department of Food Science at Cornell with a research and teaching appointment. Since 1997, I have served as members of many different committees at the College and University levels, respectively. I recognize the importance and value of the CALS Academic Integrity Hearing Board and take its calling and commitment seriously. I am devoted to the wellbeing of our students, as well as to upholding the high level of academic rigor and excellence that is the hallmark of Cornell University. It is my honor to be nominated to run for CALS Academic Integrity Hearing Board.  I will be happy to serve and contribute constructively if elected.

• Rui Hai Liu's Bio

Heidi Mouillesseaux-Kunzman (GDEV)

I am a Senior Extension Associate in the Department of Global Development where, after years of working with communities to pursue their development goals, I serve as Engaged Learning Coordinator and direct the Cornell Education Minor. At the intersection of my work in community development and engaged learning is a long-standing interest in how we prepare young people to nurture community. This nurturing, as I see it, involves (1) an understanding of the need to work together to care for our finite planet and the interconnected community of species that shares it; and (2) a commitment to doing so. Fulfilling this commitment, in turn, requires that we live ethically and with integrity.  With this in mind, I co-chaired the CALS Curriculum Committee subcommittee responsible for framing our new ethics distribution requirement. I now welcome the opportunity to serve on the Academic Integrity Hearing Board, through which I hope to both better understand how we guide our students to act with integrity and support them in doing so, even (and perhaps especially) when they are struggling in this regard.

• Heidi Mouillesseaux Kunzman's Bio

Yousoon Baek (SIPS-HORT)

Since joining the School of Integrative Plant Science as a lecturer, I have been deeply committed to enhancing teaching quality within our department. I have developed and taught pioneering courses in both in-person and online formats, necessitating the delivery of up-to-date scientifically evident information in the rapidly growing field of cannabis science. Through my teaching experiences, I am able to offer insight into teaching scientific concepts in this emerging area to a diverse range of students, including master professional students and non-academic professionals, in addition to traditional undergraduate students from various majors. Additionally, I bring valuable experience in interacting with the eCornell system, facilitating collaboration and integration. I look forward to leveraging these skills to contribute to the committee's objectives of improving teaching proficiency and fostering connections among academic programs.

• Yousoon Baek's Bio

Marvin Pritts (SIPS-HORT)

I view teaching as a major component of scholarship within the university and am willing to work to ensure that our curriculum meets the needs of today's students, that our classes are engaging, and our instructors respected.  Serving on the Committee for Support of Teaching and Learning is one way to contribute to these goals. I can bring creativity and experience to the table to address the challenges we face. I've been on the college curriculum committee for almost 10 years in my role as DUS. I've been a department chair for 13 years, served on the committee to develop new college learning outcomes, chaired the Academic Achievement and Petitions Committee, co-managed a 5-year active learning grant, published papers on pedagogy, and am a Weiss Presidential Fellow.  I teach classes for non-majors, majors, and graduate students, and have led travel courses to many countries over breaks. I have used undergraduates in my lab and as teaching assistants. I am passionate about improving the experience for our students and am eager to learn from others as we explore new paths forward.  

• Marvin Pritts's Bio

Jonathan Russell-Anelli - Incumbent (SIPS-SCS)

In my last 20 years in CALS, I have experienced the evolution of our students and our relationships with them. As our programs have evolved, so too have our roles and curricula within the university. Yet our mission stays the same: “an institution where any person can find instruction in any study.” The CSTL committee serves as liaison to advise and support teaching and learning competencies in the college. It isn’t a curriculum committee, nor does it instruct. Its role is to identify and elevate issues and opportunities while providing counsel on effective and acceptable techniques and approaches. It does this through the experiences and insights of our instructors and staff. It is a committee whose primary goal is to engender excellence in teaching and learning. As do many of my colleagues in CALS, I embrace this goal. I teach one large field class and several smaller upper level and graduate level courses always striving to provide both traditional and innovative pedagogical approaches to improve learning outcomes. Through advising, mentoring, and employment of undergraduate and graduate students in my research, teaching, and extension roles, I hope to enhance this excellence and these outcome in myself and our students. Our diversity of students, ideas, and approaches presents us with opportunities within the CALS educational ecosystem. Yes, there are hurdles, but this is the landscape that Cornell and our community must navigate. If elected, I will bring my experiences, knowledge and commitment to supporting CSTL’s role to 1) promote tools of efficacy in knowledge development pedagogy, 2) provide timely and meaningful opportunities for learning and improving our instructional skills and tools, 3) advance a unified academics communication framework across units and colleges to reduce disengagement and email fatigue while improving efficiency and elevate knowledge and news transfer, and 4) promote for better recognition and support of our teaching mission and those who accomplish it.

• Jonathan Russell-Anelli's Bio

Aubryn Sidle (GDEV)

Through both my position as a lecturer in Microbiology and student advisor, I have observed many successes and challenges faced by students and faculty alike. As a member of the support of teaching and learning committee, I will work hard to advance policies that address these challenges most effectively.

I look forward to learning from the other committee members and contributing my ideas and perspective in support of our educators and students. 

• Aubryn Sidle's Bio

Lee Humphreys (COMM)

• Lee Humphreys's Bio

Parfait Eloundou Enyege (GDEV)

• Parfait Eloundou Enyege's Bio

No open seats for 2024

No open seats for 2024  

Mark Constas (Dyson)

• Mark Constas's Bio

Mike Sheehan (NBB)

• Mike Sheehan's Bio

John Sipple (BEE)

• John Sipple's Bio