Biology department gains new professor

Beginning in August, the Fort Hays State University Department of Biological Sciences will have a new professor, who will advise Rangeland Management and teach various biology courses.

The department has hired Mitchell Greer from Oklahoma State University where he recently completed his Ph.D. in Range Ecology.

We did a national search that included the Chronicle of Education and other national outlets as required by FHSU, as well as the Society of Range Management, which is an international organization or range ecologists/range managers, said Elmer Finck, professor of biological sciences.

I received an email from my Ph.D. advisor about the position. She received the announcement as she used to work at FHSU, Greer said.

Each candidate had to meet specific requirements to be considered for the position.

The person is required to teach Range Management and its lab, Plant Taxonomy and its lab, and other courses in range management and expertise allows. The position also need to teach General Education or lower division biology course as negotiated with the Chair, Finck said.

I had to submit an application package containing my CV, transcripts, teaching statement, research statement, and letter of interest. I was then asked to attend a two day interview process where I met with faculty, staff, and graduate students. I was also required to prepare a research presentation including how I involve students in my research and a class lecture on photosynthesis that was presented to an actual class, Greer said.

After the references and resumes were reviewed, the department was finally able to bring their top picks onto campus.

The candidates were then interviewed by graduate students from our department, faculty from our department, the Chair of our department, our Dean, the Provost, and the Department of Biological Sciences Selection Committee, Finck said.

Finally, after the candidates were interviewed, the department and committee made their final decision.

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Biology department gains new professor