Joy Perry: Candidate for Member-at-Large

University of Wisconsin - Fox Valley
Menasha, WI

joyperry@uwc.edu

Biography:

• B.S. General Biology, 1975, Purdue University
• M.S. in Plant Pathology and Integrated Pest Management, 1978, University of Wisconsin – Madison

Present Academic Position:  Lecturer, teaching courses in environmental biology, botany, ecology, and general biology.

Profession/Research Interests: My professional activities are directed toward developing effective, engaging, active learning experiences (hence my membership in ABLE) and also to promoting more analytical and integrated thinking by my mostly non-major students. These goals have led me to focus on case study teaching and small group projects, and to teach in learning communities that integrate the disciplines of environmental biology, art, and political science. I also am an author of commercial introductory level biology and botany laboratory manuals and constantly struggle with editors and co-authors to incorporate more investigative activities in those products.

Statement:

I have been an ABLE member for about twelve years. In that time I’ve been fortunate to be able to attend seven annual conferences, and to present two major workshops and a minor workshop. No other professional organization comes close to providing me with such valuable teaching/learning resources and support as ABLE. I know that my membership in ABLE has made me a better instructor, and hundreds of former and current UW-Fox Valley students thank the organization as well! There is also no more welcoming organization for a formerly shy person, and I value my ABLE friends across the continent. I would like to give back more to the organization and so offer service as Member-at-Large. The Member-at-Large job is an interesting one, with service in a variety of capacities during the term, and I would enjoy the challenge of working with the board to strengthen membership, to maintain fiscal strength, and to continue to offer excellent diverse workshops.