Faculty
Jennifer Anderson
Jennifer Anderson is an instructor in the biology department at Nashville State Community College and primarily teaches microbiology courses. She also serves as the biology program coordinator. Jennifer attended Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois for her undergraduate degree earning a B.A. in biology in 1998. While an undergraduate, Jennifer also served as an intern in the DNA analysis section of the Illinois State Police Crime Lab. For her graduate studies, she attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, earning an M.S. in Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry in 2000. As part of her thesis project, Jennifer spent one month in Antarctica collecting samples of photosynthetic microbes from permanently frozen lakes. Three years of additional graduate study was completed at Vanderbilt University in Molecular Pathology.
Jeff Green, 615-353-3266
Jeff Green is an instructor in the Biology Department at Nashville State Community College and teaches Introduction to Biology I and General Biology I. Jeff attended The University of Tennessee, Knoxville for his undergraduate degree, earning a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Psychology. While an undergraduate, Jeff spent considerable time conducting both field and laboratory research in Herpetology. For graduate studies, Jeff attended Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro where he earned a M.S. in Biology with a minor in Quantitative Psychology in 2002. His thesis topic dealt with the thermal ecology of the black racer and how the thermal preferences of this snake impacted its behavior when moving through various habitats, each having their own thermal properties. One year of additional graduate study was completed at Vanderbilt University in Ecology and Evolution. Jeff is recently married to his wife, Nicole. They enjoy spending time with their two dogs, an American Bulldog and a Black Lab/Chow mix. When not on campus, Jeff enjoys hiking, camping, playing Frisbee golf, and attending live music events with his wife as well as pursuing his growing interest in photography.
Jennifer Knapp , Dean, Associate Professor, 615·353·3237
Jennifer Knapp received her B.S. in Zoology at Clemson University in Clemson, S.C., and her Ph.D. in Cell Biology from Vanderbilt University. Following graduation from Vanderbilt University, she conducted two years of Post-Doctoral Research at Meharry Medical College in the field of Neurophysiology. Dr. Knapp came to Nashville State Community College in 1999 as an instructor in the Biology Department. She teaches Introduction to Biology I and II as well as General Biology I and II. In addition, she designed and teaches the Introduction to Biology I and II Web courses. Dr. Knapp has served as the Biology Coordinator and is currently the Dean of Mathematics and Sciences.
Roger Lightner, 615-353-3609
Roger Lightner is a biology instructor on the main campus at Nashville State Community College. He first attended Mesa Community College in Mesa, AZ and received an AA in general studies. Roger then transferred to Northern Arizona University (NAU) in Flagstaff, AZ where he received both a BS in Environmental Microbiology and a MS in Biology. His background specialty is water quality. After Grad school Roger worked for Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) at their Environmental Research Center in Muscle Shoals, AL performing alternative fuel research with their Biomass team. Next, Roger took a teaching position with Westark College in Fort Smith, AR which eventually transitioned into the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith. Roger taught at UA - Fort Smith for 10 years before coming to Nashville State.
Lindsay McWilliams, 615-353-3398
Lindsay McWilliams earned her B.S. in Poultry Science from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She then earned a M.S. in Poultry Nutrition and Ph.D. in Animal Physiology from Mississippi State University. Her research focused on the effects of isoleucine deficiency on growth and immunological parameters in broilers and the effects of stress and hematocrit level on broiler physiology. Dr. McWilliams currently teaches Introduction to Biology I and Anatomy and Physiology I. She enjoys spending time with her husband and child, swimming, and riding horses.
Kevin Ragland, 615-353-3384
Kevin Ragland received his B.S. in Animal Science from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Breeding and Genetics from Iowa State University. Upon completion of the Ph.D., Dr. Ragland taught courses in Animal Science and conducted public service activities at Middle Tennessee State University. Dr. Ragland, joined the faculty at Nashville State Community College in 2005 as an instructor of Biology. He teaches courses in both Biology and Anatomy and Physiology.
Mary Rosenthal, 615-353-3497
Mary Rosenthal joined Nashville State Community College as a member of the biology faculty in 2007. She received her B.S. in Biology from the University of Missouri – St. Louis, and her M.S. in Biological Sciences from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, where she studied the distribution of wetland spider species. Mary teaches Introductory and General Biology. As a former pastry chef, she still enjoys baking; she also likes to work in the garden.
Mary Womack, 615.353.3361
Mary Womack received a B.S. in the Integrated Sciences Program and in Mathematics from Northwestern University, Evanston, IL and a Ph.D. in Neurobiology from Harvard University. She worked for over 20 years conducting research on the physiology of neurons. Dr. Womack began teaching at Nashville State Community College in 2007. She teaches Introduction to Biology, and Anatomy and Physiology I.
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