I was born and reared in northern California, and in 1970 I received my undergraduate degree in Nautical Science from the California Maritime Academy in Vallejo, CA. After serving 2 years in the U.S. Merchant Marine and U.S. Navy (Reserve), I enrolled at Occidental College (Los Angeles) and received my Master's degree in Biology in 1975. From there, I enrolled in the University of California, Berkeley, were I received my Ph.D. degree in Zoology in 1979 under the guidance of Professor James L. Patton. That same year, I accepted an appointment as Assistant Professor of Zoology and Curator of Mammals at LSU, and I have been happily employed by LSU ever since. I am an evolutionary biologist with major interests in the areas of molecular systematics, host-parasite coevolution, and science education. Most of my research has focused on mammals, primarily rodents, and I rely heavily, although not exclusively, on molecular evidence to study rodent relationships. For the past 20 years, I have investigated coevolutionary relationships in a fascinating host-parasite system involving pocket gophers and their chewing lice. I am always happy to advise graduate students interested in molecular systematics or host-parasite coevolution, particularly if it involves mammals.
