Faculty

Dr. Michelle Mabry (1999) is Chairperson of the Department and holds a Ph.D. in Zoology from Washington State University. Her research interests include salamander courtship behavior and ecology. Part of her research was recently published as "Stifled sex in sympatry: patterns of sexual incompatibility among desgmognathine salamanders". She received the 2003 Lois Latham Award for Teaching Excellence from Davis & Elkins College, and an Innovation Grant from WV-EPSCoR. She also serves as curator for the Davis & Elkins College Herbarium that includes the West Virginia state fungus collection, is the director of the Tolstead Greenhouse, and is the advisor for the Zeta chapter of Chi Beta Phi, the National Science Honorary.
E-mail: mabrym@davisandelkins.edu

Mr. Russ McClain (2004) is completing a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Memphis. His professional interests include ecological restoration, avian ecology, and aquatic entomology. He serves as coordinator of the Department's Environmental Science Program.
E-mail: mcclainw@davisandelkins.edu

Dr. Shawn Stover (2000) holds the Ph.D. in Biological Education from the University of Northern Colorado. His research focuses on the effects of physical training on oxidative stress in skeletal muscle. He is also the director of the Flynn Planetarium and of the Summer Enrichment Program for Pre-health Students at Davis & Elkins.
E-mail: stovers@davisandelkins.edu

Dr. James J. Van Gundy holds a Ph.D. degree in Aquatic Ecology from the University of Utah. He has served as a member of the West Virginia Water Quality Advisory Committee, and is currently a Director of The West Virginia Public Lands Corporation. He has also served two terms as a Director of the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy and is a past President of the West Virginia Academy of Science. He is the recipient of several awards for excellence in teaching including Davis & Elkins' Lois Latham Award, and the Appalachian Scholars Award from the University of Kentucky. Dr. Van Gundy's research interests lie in water pollution biology, aquatic ecology, and the ecology of caves.

James Dearien is Head Athletic Trainer/Compliance Drector at Davis & Elkins College. He holds a B.S.E. in Sports Medicine from the University of Kansas and a M.S. in Sports Medicine from Marshall University. He is certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association. He is currently Vice President of the WVIAC Athletic Trainers Association.