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| Dr. Carri LeRoy at Mt. Rainier, WA |
BS, Environmental Science, Oregon State University; BA, International Studies, Oregon State University; MLS, Northern Arizona University; PhD, Biology, Northern Arizona University
My MLS thesis focused on place-based education and the incorporation of bioregional curricula into mainstream elementary science education. Specifically, my advisors, Catherine Ueckert, Paul Rowland and I received two grants from the Flinn Foundation of Arizona to modify locally-used elementary science kits with the help of area teachers. Over 25 local elementary teachers (K-6) were involved in this project over two years and over 60 science kits were modified to include place-based activities, books about the local environment, and local field trip ideas. This hands-on project was accompanied by a thesis on the theoretical underpinnings of place-based education titled, "Integrating Knowledge of Place into Elementary Science Kit Curriculum."
As an alumnus of the MLS program and a PhD candidate in biology at NAU, I had the opportunity to stay involved with the program through taking a course offered by Sandra Lubarsky titled, "Beauty, Ecology and Art" in the fall of 2003. A group research project as a part of this course resulted in the publication of a manuscript: Kovacs, Z.I., C.J. LeRoy, D.G. Fischer, S. Lubarsky and W. Burke. 2006. How do aesthetics affect our ecology? Journal of Ecological Anthropology, 10:61-65. I then went on to complete my PhD in biology with a focus on stream ecology and am now a member of the faculty at Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA.
The MLS coursework was inspiring and thought-provoking. As a member of the Evergreen College faculty, I consistently find myself drawing on concepts we covered in the program. The interdisciplinary nature of the MLS degree has given me great perspective as I create new interdisciplinary courses. I think that both my teaching and my stream ecology research program have benefited indirectly from the critical thinking skills I developed as an MLS student and a PhD student at NAU.
Faculty Member
The Evergreen State College
Lab II, room 3261
Olympia, WA 98505
(360) 867-5483
LeRoyC@evergreen.edu
http://academic.evergreen.edu/l/leroyc
http://www.evergreen.edu/tacamahaca