Sonoma State University Biology Department

09/01/2026

SSU Biology undergraduate and graduate students joined the Center for Environmental Inquiry, Department of Kinesiology, and community partners to celebrate the unveiling of the newly improved SSU Native Plant & Butterfly Garden and Copeland Creek Trail on August 29!

This collaborative project brought together more than a dozen SSU departments and local organizations to create over 40 interactive activities, accessible through QR codes along the trail. The revitalized garden also features new seating and presentation spaces, restored trails, and enhanced native vegetation creating an engaging outdoor space for education, research, and our community.

Representing Biology were graduate students and alumni from Drs. Nathan Rank’s lab (Oliver Elm, Kerry Wininger-Alum, Kandis Gilmore-Alum), along with Biology Department Chair, Dr. Derek Girman (Olivia Kalogiannis).

A wonderful example of SSU students, faculty, and community partners working together to support hands-on learning, environmental education, and our local ecosystem on this beautiful campus!

08/31/2026

We have a beautiful performance center on campus - students often have access to near free or reduced price tickets…..

The Green Music Center’s 2026–27 season is just around the corner, and single tickets are now on sale for performances within Weill Hall and Schroeder Hall!. September and October highlights include the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (Sept. 26); jazz, Latin, and pop vocalist Lucía (Oct. 2); celebrated Hawaiian vocalist Raiatea Helm (Oct. 16); singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson (Oct. 18); award-winning guitarist Gaëlle Solal (Oct. 24); and Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Lyle Lovett and his Small Large Band (Oct. 29).

SSU students can purchase $10 tickets, and faculty and staff receive 25% off tickets for most performances. Visit gmc.sonoma.edu for event details and tickets.

08/31/2026

Graduate student achievements!! Congratulations Sabrina and Omar….
Don’t miss Omar’s colloquium presentation this Monday (8/31, noon, Dar 103) as he closes out his masters program here at SSU.

Congratulations to Hua Lab Members Omar Akhtar and Sabrina Piana Cervantes for their recent Summer achievements:

08/30/2026

Peep our newest bio faculty member, Dr. Gina Chaput!

“Six educators join SSU faculty ranks
Sonoma State University welcomed six new faculty during Convocation ceremonies at the Green Music Center on Friday, August 21. Clockwise from top left are:

Willie Leung, Kinesiology
Gina Chaput, Biology
Alfonzo Robinson, Nursing
Ben Siegel, Applied Human and Environmental Studies (also see item below)
Saugat Adhikari, Engineering and Computer Science
Naomi H**p, Nursing
Congratulations and welcome to our new Faculty Seawolves!”

08/30/2026

The road to fall 2027 starts now. 💙🐺

As Sonoma State prepares for the return of NCAA Division II athletics, interim Director of Athletics Joan McDermott is looking ahead to one of the first big steps: building the coaching teams who will lead our 10 returning sports programs.

Read more about what’s ahead for Seawolf Athletics: https://www.sonoma.edu/articles/2026/ssu-athletics-director-hiring-coaches-early-priority

08/29/2026

Did you know?

08/29/2026

Our colloquium presentations are starting out with one of SSU Biology’s own graduate students!

Omar is a graduate student in Dr. Lisa Hua's lab.Hosted by Dr. Lisa Hua* This presentation is co-sponsored by MESA: https://stb.sonoma.edu/mesa

08/29/2026

08/28/2026

Our own Dr Lisa Hua recognized for her excellence!

“Three faculty honored at Convocation
In addition to kicking off the 2026-27 academic year, Faculty Convocation 2026 on August 21 included recognition of three standout faculty for teaching, service, and research and creative activity. Awardees were presented with a certificate and $2,500.

Dr. Rachel Napoli from the Department of Nursing was presented with the Teaching Award, which honors a faculty member who has made outstanding contributions to educating students, whether that occurs in classrooms, labs, on field trips, walks around campus, or Zoom office hours. Napoli was recognized for putting students first and for developing nurses who think critically, advocate for their patients, lead with confidence, and are prepared to improve the healthcare system. Her core principles: Be fair. Be respectful. Be kind.

Dr. Emily Asencio, Chair of the Department of Sociology, Criminology, and Criminal Justice Studies, received the Excellence in Service Award, which goes to a faculty member who has made outstanding contributions to their department, school, college, university, discipline, and/or community. Asencio was lauded for service as Chair of the Educational Policies Committee while serving on the Senate Executive Committee and Faculty Senate. She also has been president of the Sonoma State chapter of the California Faculty Association since 2024, chairs Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies, and leads the combined Department of Sociology, Criminology, and Criminal Justice Studies.

The Research and Creative Activity Award, which reflects the intellectual vibrancy across SSU faculty, was given to Dr. Lisa Hua. For the past six years, she has worked closely with undergraduate and graduate students in her Molecular Cell Biology lab, where they have advanced research projects, contributed to grant proposals, and conducted high-level scientific research. Hua credited students for their dedication, flexibility, and enthusiasm, and wanted to recognize Biology staff members, as well as faculty mentors Dr. Dan Crocker and Dr. Richard Whitkus.”

08/28/2026

💙💙💙 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT 💙💙💙

Marjorie Cox

Marjorie graduated with her MSc in 2024 from the Crocker Lab at SSU.

Her research investigated northern elephant seal pups during the post weaning fast, and how their access to water affected their blood oxygen development. This research was presented at the Society of Marine Mammology Conference in Perth, Australia.

Previously, Marjorie worked as a technician with elephant seals at Point Reyes National Seashore, Hawaiian monk seals in the Northwest Hawaiian islands, and in marine mammal stranding and necropsy at California Academy of Science and The Marine Mammal Center.

Currently, Marjorie is employed as a wildlife research biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, working on moose physiology and ecology. Her current research is investigating moose physiology on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, specifically with reproduction and a separate project with contaminants.

Working with a harvested species that has great conservation, cultural, and economical importance to the communities of Alaska has been amazing.

At SSU, Marjorie cherished her time as a TA in the intro to biology labs where she learned a ton and enjoyed getting to know the amazing undergrads!