Education:

  • Ph.D. Botany, University of California, Berkeley, 1988
  • B.A. University of California, Berkeley, 1980

Before COA

From 1988 to 1991, she was a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Organismal and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. She also was a visiting scholar at the Harvard School of Public Health from 1996-1998, and at the University of California, Berkeley in 2001.

Scholarly and Creative Interests

Suzanne’s research includes plant physiological ecology and evolution, mechanisms of drought tolerance in plants, weed seed banks, effects of changing carbon dioxide concentrations and temperature on plant population dynamics, and the role of dietary fiber in the expression of type II diabetes. She is currently researching the role of the moon in traditional agriculture, methods of teaching participatory action research, and use of alder as an on-form source of soil amendments in vegetable production.  

More Information about my Courses

Suzanne joined the COA faculty in 1991, where she teaches a variety of courses in biology, botany, science and society, and agroecology. She also teaches in a masters program at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU).  Students that have worked with Suzanne at COA have done a wide range of projects, including a radio program on seed saving, an analysis of the impact of the current national organic standards, photographic essays, and research on genetic imprinting in plants.

More About Me

Suzanne’s other interests include Buddhism, gardening, modern dance, Tai Chi, writing, painting, and bicycling.

Community Engagement and Advocacy

At COA, Suzanne has been an active member in Academic Affairs, International Studies, Faculty Personnel, and was acting Academic Dean in 1992.  She also has had the pleasure of managing the COA community garden since 1991. 

Publications

In addition to presenting papers at national conferences, she also has given invited papers on the ethical implications of the Human Genome Project, environmental justice, and the development of sustainable agriculture curricula.