Dr. Howerton is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Nevada State College. Dr. Howerton is actively involved in undergraduate research both as independent studies during the school year and as a mentor in summer NSF-INBRE. Her research centers around sporulating bacteria (Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium difficile). Her students have studied germination kinetics to identify activation and inhibition compounds, synthesized potential spore germination inhibitors and studied the inflammation response initiated by these bacterial toxins and spore proteins. Also, as a researcher of C. diff, she is interested in the microbiome of the intestine before and after antibiotic use. Her students have studied bile salt hydrolases and their expression before and after rodents are treated with antibiotics. It is possible these enzymes play some role in the observable different susceptibility of rodents to C.diff. She is always up for new adventures if students present me with a workable research proposal!
Lawrence Rudd
Dr. Rudd’s professional interests are in the areas of science education and geomorphology. By following these interests throughout his life, Dr. Rudd has been involved in a delightful combination of learning, researching, and teaching. Regardless of what he is teaching, Dr. Rudd never fails to use science examples and demonstrations to keep learning active. An ardent believer in inquiry-based learning, students in Dr. Rudd’s classes learn science and science teaching methods through active participation in class activities.
Dr. Rudd has wide-ranging experience in education, including 20 years of teaching high school earth science, physics, and geology in Portland, Maine, Pinon, Arizona, and Tucson, Arizona. In Pinon, Arizona Dr. Rudd taught in the first high school built in a remote part of the Navajo nation. Working with diverse student populations is one of Dr. Rudd’s lifelong interests.
In addition to teaching education classes at Nevada State College Dr. Rudd maintains an active interest in the study of landslides and other Earth surface processes and thoroughly enjoys being able to do field work in Southern Nevada and the nearby Colorado Plateau.