In this edition of our e-newsletter, we celebrate the inauguration of our Saint Michael�s College chapter of the National Honor Society for Biology, bbb.  Dedicated Biology students, Corey Dolbeare, Marie Agan and Randy Breeckner worked tirelessly to organize the chapter and a series of events related to biology this semester, under the guidance of Dr. Declan McCabe.    This society not only honors Biology students with outstanding academic records, it also involves students in activities related to biology throughout their time at college.  With the steadily high enrollments in Biology at Saint Michael�s College, we fully expect that the Omicron Omicron Chapter of bbb will have a large and enthusiastic membership. 

We are also pleased to introduce our newest tenure-line faculty member, Dr. Adam Weaver, to you in this edition of the newsletter.  With the addition of Dr. Weaver to our faculty we have new opportunities for student research in the area of Neurobiology.  The College also has gained new possibilities for students through the development of a new Environmental Studies major and revised minor by a steering committee of faculty from across the College, including biology.

While highlighting these new opportunities and looking forward to our work with 19 student researchers this coming summer, the Biology faculty bid farewell to our Senior class.    Four students in our graduating class were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.  Biology students in this graduating class are headed to interesting jobs (e.g., Alex Miller: Fish and Wildlife Service of Colorado, fisheries technician), healthcare professional school (Adrien Cloutier, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine; Amanda McAllister, Regis University, Graduate Nursing Program) and graduate study of Biology (Alexandra Canepa, Nova Southeastern University, Graduate Marine Biology).  We wish our graduating seniors the best of luck in future endeavors and hope you will stay in touch with your alma mater.

Sincerely,

Valerie S. Banschbach
Chair, Department of Biology
vbanschbach@smcvt.edu