Department NewsAdministration
Chairs and associate chairs
Deborah E. Goldberg, chair of EEB, is responsible for the overall leadership of the department, including faculty recruitment and development, undergraduate and graduate curricular oversight, long-range planning, and acting as the administrative liaison with the LSA Dean's Office. The department chair determines departmental policies and procedures along with the Executive Committee, which she chairs.
Paul E. Berry, associate chair for museums collections and director of the Herbarium, is responsible for managing all aspects of the Herbarium, including including promoting museum‐related projects and grants, ensuring stewardship of the collections and databases, oversight of daily operations, supervision and evaluation of curatorial activities by faculty and of collections staff, and ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations.
L. Lacey Knowles, associate chair for graduate studies, is responsible for all
aspects of the Ph.D. and master's programs in EEB. The associate chair is responsible for
the admissions, recruitment, financial aid, and progress towards degree for all graduate
students in our programs, and chairs the Graduate Affairs Committee as well as the Graduate
Admissions Committee.
Diarmaid Ó Foighil, associate chair for museums collections and director of the Museum of Zoology, is responsible for managing all aspects of the museum, including including promoting museum‐related projects and grants, ensuring stewardship of the collections and databases, oversight of daily operations, supervision and evaluation of curatorial activities by faculty and of collections staff, and ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations.
Priscilla Tucker, associate chair for undergraduate curriculum, shares
responsibility for the undergraduate Program in Biology with the associate chair in
molecular, cellular, and developmental biology. The associate chair works with the faculty
to determine teaching commitments, resolves student and curriculum issues, and chairs
the department curriculum committee.
Paul Dunlap, space and facilities coordinator, is responsible for coordinating
laboratory renovations, assessing department facilities and shared equipment, recommending
upgrades and allocation of equipment and space, and coordinating with the MCDB associate
chair on mutual space and facility issues.
Administrative staff
In addition to those listed here, we have many other talented and dedicated staff supporting our academic and research endeavors. Please see the administrative staff directory page for a complete list.
Department administrator
Nancy Smith, department administrator. The support staff is under the general supervision of the department administator. She assists the chair in administrative matters in the department, and provides
oversight for all financial and personnel issues.
Norah Daugherty, Museum of Zoology administrator
Michael Ehnis, Herbarium administrative specialist, is responsible for the business and communication aspects of the Herbarium including payroll, staffing, book sales, inventory and supplies, website management, and all other Herbarium financial matters.
Secretaries
Sonja Botes, executive secretary, provides administrative support to the department chair
and the administrative manager, as well as staff support during faculty and Executive Committee
meetings. She coordinates dossiers for faculty reviews, promotions and hires, and compiles
department submissions of faculty and student awards.
Cindy Carl, senior secretary, provides general departmental support for our faculty,
students and staff and coordinates the faculty recruitment process and the Thursday Seminar
Series. She updates the departmental directory and coordinates special events.
Fritz Paper, clerk, Ruthven Museums, provides purchasing support for the Museum of Zoology staff.
Finance and research grants
Amber Stadler, business manager, is responsible for all financial aspects of the department,
including budgets, financial reporting and projections and problem resolution.
Cheri Brooks, contracts and grant specialist, provides research proposal submission and grant financial management.
Janet Bell, senior accountant, is responsible for department financials, including budgets, financial reporting, projections, and problem resolution.
Robbin Murrell, senior accountant, is responsible for department financials, including budgets, financial reporting, projections, and problem resolution.
Student services
Jane Sullivan, graduate coordinator, supports the graduate programs in EEB, and is responsible for all aspects of the recruitment, admission, and student progress in our Ph.D. and master's programs.
Bethany Christoff, graduate program assistant and recruiter, supports the graduate programs in EEB, and is responsible for all aspects of the recruitment, admission, and student progress in our master's programs.
Anna Cihak, student administration manager, coordinates the undergraduate Program in Biology,
providing a wide range of support to students and coordinating the administrative aspects of the
undergraduate program.
Jill Beeson, student services assistant, coordinates the undergraduate Program in Biology,
providing a wide range of support to students and coordinating the administrative aspects of the
undergraduate program.
Tony DeRuiter, student services assistant, coordinates the undergraduate Program in Biology,
providing a wide range of support to students and coordinating the administrative aspects of the
undergraduate program.
Biology information technology (for EEB and MCDB)
Robert Heller, desktop support specialist senior, provides information technology (IT) support,
coordinates all computer purchases, installations and troubleshooting. BIO IT help page.
Rita Barvinok, system administrator, provides information technology (IT) support,
coordinates all computer purchases, installations and troubleshooting. BIO IT help page.
Yonah Drazen, desktop support specialist, provides computer deployment and maintenance, in addition to full support for other departmental information technology resources. Contact Biology IT by emailing bio-it@umich.edu or 763-9530.
Communications, graphic design and photography
Gail Kuhnlein, communications specialist, manages and writes
for the EEB website, writes and edits the alumni newsletters, coordinates alumni development, and is liaison to the U-M News Service.
John Megahan, graphic artist and illustrator, designs departmental flyers, newsletters and brochures,
does Web development, and assists faculty, students and staff with other graphic projects.
Dale Austin, photographer, takes portraits and event photos, prints seminar posters, journal
covers, and assists faculty, students, and staff with other photography and graphics needs.
Technical services, facilities and buyers
Gary Phillips, technical services supervisor, provides
support with building renovations and facility and equipment maintenance.
Ed Grant, facilities assistant, provides
support with building renovations and facility and equipment maintenance.
Sheila Dunn, buyer intermediate, dispensary, is responsible for purchasing, shipping, transportation and receiving for the department as well as building safety. Send requests and information to bio-orders@umich.edu.
Jackie Glebe, buyer assistant, is responsible for purchasing, shipping, transportation and receiving for the department. Send requests and information to bio-orders@umich.edu.
Classroom / laboratory services
Dennis Drobeck, lab/classroom services supervisor
Mark Brahce, lab/classroom services technician, purchases, prepares, and distributes the chemicals, materials, and equipment used in undergraduate biology labs.
Charles Davey, lab/classroom services technician, purchases, prepares, and distributes the chemicals, materials, and equipment used in undergraduate biology labs.
Chris Davis, lab/classroom services technician, purchases, prepares, and distributes the chemicals, materials, and equipment used in undergraduate biology labs.
Manish Patel, lab/classroom services technician, purchases, prepares, and distributes the chemicals, materials, and equipment used in undergraduate biology labs.
Carrie Stevens, lab/classroom services technician, purchases, prepares, and distributes the chemicals, materials, and equipment used in undergraduate biology labs.
Committees
The Executive Committee serves as the body recommending policy for the organization and operations of the department.
Many other administrative committees are responsible for coordinating key areas in the department such as the seminar series, faculty promotions, diversity, and department retreats.
