The Department of Biology is located in Brock Hall. The following areas of study are supported by this department.

Biology Department Chair

Nicholas Ruppel headshot

Nicholas J. Ruppel

Professor

Education

  • Ph.D., Plant Sciences, Indiana University
  • B.S., Botany, Miami (OH) University

Phone: (804) 752-7267
Email: NicholasRuppel@rmc.edu
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Biology Department Associate Chair

Benjamin S. Ramage Headshot

Benjamin S. Ramage

Associate Professor

Education

  • Ph.D., Environmental Science Policy and Management, University of California Berkeley
  • B.S., Botany, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Phone: (804) 752-8626
Email: BenjaminRamage@rmc.edu
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Biology Department Faculty

Liz Burmester Headshot

Liz Burmester

Assistant Professor

Education

  • Ph.D., Biology, Boston University
  • B.A., Biology, Franklin & Marshall College

Email: LizBurmester@rmc.edu
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Elliot Burton headshot

Elliot N. Burton

Lecturer

Education

  • M.S., Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University
  • B.S., Biotechnology, James Madison University

Email: ElliotBurton@rmc.edu
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Stephanie S. Coster stands outdoors in a bright pink cardigan and photo-print shirt, with trees and a path in the background.

Stephanie S. Coster

Associate Professor

Education

  • Ph.D., Environmental Studies, University Of New Hampshire
  • M.S., Natural Resources, University Of New Hampshire
  • B.S., Biology, Trinity University

Phone: (804) 752-7336
Email: StephanieCoster@rmc.edu
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Kimberly Cox headshot

Kimberly Cox

Assistant Professor

Education

  • Ph.D., Neuroscience, University of Virginia
  • M.S., Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin
  • B.S., Biology, University of Virginia

Phone: (804) 752-8982
Email: KimberlyCox@rmc.edu
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Grace E. Fong

Grace E. Fong

The Stephen H. Watts Professor of Physical Sciences

Education

  • Ph.D., Marine Biology, University Of California San Diego
  • B.S., Molecular Environmental Biology, University of California Berkeley

Phone: (804) 752-3725
Email: glim@rmc.edu
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James A. Foster

James A. Foster

The Paul H. Wornom, M.D. Professor of Biological Sciences

Education

  • Ph.D., Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Virginia
  • B.S., Biology, Lebanon Valley College

Phone: (804) 752-3783
Email: jfoster@rmc.edu
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Charles Gowan

Professor

Education

  • Ph.D., Fisheries & Wildlife, Colorado State University
  • M.S., Fisheries Biology, Michigan State University
  • B.S., Forest Biology, SUNY College of EVS and Forestry

Phone: (804) 752-7293
Email: cgowan@rmc.edu
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Melanie R. Gubbels Bupp headshot

Melanie R. Gubbels Bupp

Professor

Education

  • Ph.D., Biophysics and Genetics, University of Colorado at Denver
  • B.S., Biology, Creighton University

Phone: (804) 752-7321
Email: MelanieGubbelsBupp@rmc.edu
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Kate Lewis Headshot

Kate Laws

Assistant Professor

Education

  • Ph.D., Biochemistry, Johns Hopkins University
  • B.S., Biochemistry, Clemson University

Email: Klaws@rmc.edu
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Ray Schmidt headshot

Ray C. Schmidt

Assistant Professor

Education

  • Ph.D., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University
  • M.S., Biology, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
  • B.S., Fisheries & Wildlife, South Dakota State University

Phone: (804) 752-7254
Email: RaySchmidt@rmc.edu
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A woman in blue top.

Rebecca Shepherd

Lecturer

Education

  • Ph.D., Physiology, University of Virginia
  • B.A., Biology, University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Email: RebeccaShepherd@rmc.edu
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Traci L. Stevens

Traci L. Stevens

Professor

Education

  • Ph.D., Moleculer Genetics, Washington University in St. Louis
  • B.S., Biology and Chemistry, University of Northern Iowa

Phone: (804) 752-7203
Email: tstevens@rmc.edu
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Elias Taylor-Cornejo headshot

Elias Taylor-Cornejo

Assistant Professor

Education

  • Ph.D., Microbiology, University of California Berkeley
  • B.A., Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder

Phone: (804) 752-8701
Email: EliasTaylor-Cornejo@rmc.edu
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