[ Biology ]

Faculty

Elmhurst's distinguished biology faculty members are first and foremost dedicated teachers, but their valuable real-world experience enriches classroom discussions as well. What's more, our program draws on the experience and knowledge of a dedicated group of well-qualified and experienced adjunct faculty.

Want to know more? See our faculty profiles, below. Or, contact a professor directly.

Full-time Faculty
James F. Berry
Paul E. Arriola
Tamara Marsh
Earl Meseth
Frank Mittermeyer
Stacey L. Raimondi

James F. Berry, J.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Biology and Department Chair; Environmental Attorney
Dr. Berry's combined interests have focused his research on the biology of freshwater reptiles, endangered species conservation, and the preservation of wetlands. He authored The Environmental Law and Compliance Handbook and Wetlands: Guide to Science, Law and Technology. He also has served as a biological and legal consultant to many governmental and private organizations.

Paul E. Arriola, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology
Dr. Arriola is a botanist with strong interests in the population genetics and ecology of invasive plant species. His most recently published articles have discussed the consequences of engineered genes escaping into wild plant populations.

Tamara Marsh, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
Dr. Marsh joined the Elmhurst faculty with experience as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Oklahoma and at the Environmental Protection Agency. A specialist in environmental microbiology, Dr. Marsh focuses her research on the removal of hexavalent chromium from aquifers by microorganisms.

Earl Meseth, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology
Dr. Meseth teaches comparative anatomy, vertebrate natural history, zoology, invertebrate zoology, and developmental biology. A strong believer in the value of field work, Dr. Meseth spent many years researching the behavior of the black-footed albatross (or gooney bird) on Midway Island.

Frank Mittermeyer, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology
Dr. Mittermeyer is the chief health professions advisor and oversees the premedical/allied health program on campus. His specialty areas are microbiology and virology, and his research interests have focused on the epidemiology of salmonellae, viruses and diatoms in freshwater habitats, and the microflora of the Illinois tallgrass prairie.

Stacey L. Raimondi, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor 
Dr. Payne is a cancer cell biologist interested in determining the molecular mechanisms of tumor progression. Specifically, her research has focused on the study of genes and proteins capable of promoting tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Dr. Payne's hope is that a better understanding of these mechanisms will lead to the development of improved therapeutics in the treatment of aggressive cancers.