Alison M. Roark (she/her/hers)

Professor of Biology, Program Director of FU-HHMI IE3 Program
Furman University
Greenville, South Carolina, United States

Dr. Alison Roark is a Professor of Biology and the Program Director of the FU-HHMI STEM Inclusive Excellence (IE3) Program at Furman University. As an animal physiologist, Dr. Roark studies how animals respond to environmental stressors such as elevated temperatures and exposure to pollutants. Most recently, her work has focused on cnidarians, a group of evolutionary ancient animals including corals and sea anemones.​​​ These animals play critical roles in reef ecosystems and engage in a symbiotic relationship with intracellular dinoflagellate algae. Using techniques like fluorescence microscopy and histology, Dr. Roark and her students study how exposure to stressors affects development, growth, and reproduction of cnidarian hosts as well as the symbiotic relationship between hosts and symbionts. As Program Director of the FU-HHMI STEM Inclusive Excellence (IE3) Program, Dr. Roark studies persistence, belonging, and academic performance of students who hold various identities and coordinates programs designed to improve the student experience in introductory STEM courses.

Disclosure information not submitted.

Presentation(s):

• Rethinking the "Teaching Assistant" Paradigm: Using Trained Undergraduate "STEM Consultants" to Promote Active, Collaborative, and Inclusive Learning in Introductory Math and Science Courses

  Saturday, November 9, 2024
  8:00 AM – 8:30 AM East Coast USA Time