College of Arts and Sciences

Faculty & Staff Profiles

I teach a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in cell biology, genetics, and cancer biology. I facilitate my students' development as independent, critical thinkers who are passionate about discovery. The inclusive, challenging, and dynamic nature of my learning environment reflects my view of science as a provocative and ongoing journey.

My research interests lie in understanding the molecular pathology of human cancers. Cancer is a collection of diseases in which cells abandon their normal roles within a tissue as they unleash molecular programs that promote cell division. This process involves a loss of balance between the effects of growth-inhibiting genes (called tumor suppressors) and growth-promoting genes (called oncogenes). One important driver of tumor progression includes the epigenetic changes that deregulate gene expression, which in turn disrupts the careful balance between tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes. Students in my lab investigate the role of epigenetics in the progression of breast and prostate cancers and glioblastoma.