Welcome to my page! I am a community forest ecologist currently working as an Assistant Biology Professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville. I previously was Assistant Professor of Biology at Malone University from 2018-2020.
I received my PhD from UNC Chapel Hill in the interdisciplinary Curriculum for the Environment & Ecology, where I was advised by Robert Peet of the Plant Ecology Lab. Prior to my PhD, I earned my B.S. in Biology at Saint Vincent College. You can see a description of my research on the research page.
Interests:
Long-term forest community patterns and processes, long-term dynamics of complex ecological communities, sustainability, biodiversity, anthropogenic disturbances, climate change, entomology, invasive spotted lanternflies, bats
Intersection of faith and science, personal vocations, deep ecology, Creation care ethics,
environmental stewardship, student engagement,
active learning, and STEM pedagogy
Degrees:
Ph.D. in Ecology, UNC-Chapel Hill, 2018
B.S. in Biology, Saint Vincent College, 2011
Email: cpayne [at] franciscan.edu