Teaching and Mentoring Awards
2015-2016 Sonoma State University Educational Experience Enhancement Award
2009-2010 Sonoma State University Excellence in Teaching Award
2004-2005 Associated Students Educator of the Year Award
Courses I Teach
ANTH 201: Introduction to Biological Anthropology: This course is an introduction to the evolutionary biology of human and nonhuman primates. The course focuses on evolutionary perspectives on form and function, behavior, population and social structure to reconstruct human evolution and explain human adaptations.
ANTH 300: Nature, Culture, and Theory: The Growth of Anthropology: The nature of science, disciplinary inquiry, and the changing intellectual, institutional and material context of the development of anthropology in the modern world. Identification of significant issues, schools of thought and historic persons.Training in scholarly procedure, library research, bibliography, and professional format and style.
ANTH 301: Human Fossils and Evolution:This course reviews the fossil evidence for human evolution in Africa, Asia, and Europe during the Pliocene-Pleistocene epochs. The fossil evidence is treated in temporal, geological, and geographic contexts. The primary focus is on the evolutionary implications of the fossil evidence for understanding the evolution of human morphology and behavior. Implications for the emergence of modern human races are also considered.
ANTH 302: Biological Basis of Sex Differences: An examination of the current theoretical frameworks for explaining the evolution of sex differences in humans. Issues addressed will include: evolution of behavior, sex differences in morphology and behavior, ecological basis of sex differences in hominin evolution.
ANTH 303: Human Behavioral Ecology: This course is an introduction to human behavioral ecology, the application of evolutionary and biological models to the study of human behavioral variation. Topics of discussion will include optimal foraging theory, kin selection, resource transfer, mate choice, and parental investment.
ANTH 313: Primate Behavioral Ecology: This course will familiarize students with our closest living relatives, the primates. Topics will include taxonomy, diets & dietary adaptations, ranging behavior, cooperation & competition, community ecology, and conservation. This course is strongly recommended in preparation for ANTH 414.
ANTH 318: Human Development: Sex and the Life Cycle: An examination of developmental and evolutionary aspects of human reproductive biology and behavior from fetal through adult stages. Sexual selection and life history perspectives on fetal sex differentiation, gender identity, sex role development, puberty and secondary sexual characteristics, and mate choice. Satisfies GE, category E (The Integrated Person).
ANTH 414: Primate Observational Methods: In this research methods course, students will learn how to describe and analyze primate behavior through direct observations of local fauna and captive primates at Bay Area zoos. Completion of ANTH 313 is strongly recommended in preparation for this course.