President: James Markman

Hi, my name is James Markman and I am a senior biology major and chemistry minor here at Hillsdale College.  I am honored to serve as the 2011-2012 president of the Beta Beta Beta honorary.

I am currently completing my senior biology thesis under the guidance of Dr. Daniel York, Ph.D.  The research focuses on sequencing the mitochondria ND2 gene of the Southern Ground Hornbill.  I examined forty blood samples from zoos across the United States and then spent a month at South Africa’s Pretoria Zoo.  While there, I applied a protocol I developed to 180 Hornbill specimens collected from wild population across the African continent.  I am performing this analysis with the aim ultimately of identifying the geographical distribution of their haplotypes.  This research will be published and will hopefully contribute to the success of Hornbill repopulation efforts.

Before coming to Hillsdale, I served four years in the United States Army as a Field Artilleryman and Medic.  I now serve as the house director for the Sigma Chi Fraternity house, serve as a firefighter and emergency medical technician for the Hillsdale City Fire Department, and mentor through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program.  I am applying to medical school with the intent of reentering the Army as a primary care physician.

Vice President: Cat Nass

Hi, I am Catherine Nass, a senior biology major from Minnesota. This is my second year serving as the vice president and coordinating tutoring for biology students. I have already completed my senior thesis work involving the effects of exogenous taurine on hepatic tissue of chick embryos. Most of my time outside of the classroom is spent competing with the Hillsdale track and field team, volunteering at the hospital, and job shadowing.  I also enjoy learning Spanish, scuba diving, travelling, and camping and hiking in the national parks. I am currently applying to medical school, and I hope to eventually work as a primary care physician.

 

 

Secretary: Amanda Putt

Hi!  My name is Amanda Putt, and I'm a biology major here at Hillsdale College.  I am a senior and currently serving as the secretary of Tri-Beta.  I have just started my senior thesis through the LAUREATES program, which consists of exploring the antioxidant potential of tart cherry extract using the SOS chromotest.  Besides Tri-Beta, I am a member of the Hillsdale College Cross-Country and Track teams; running fulfills my love of being active and enjoying the outdoors.  After college, I plan on attending graduate school and obtaining a master's of public health.

Treasurer: Courtney Gushrowski

Hi! I am Courtney Gushrowski, a senior from Michigan City, Indiana, and the current treasurer for the Iota Psi chapter of Beta Beta Beta. I became involved with BBB as a sophomore and served as social chair my junior year.  My current research examines if exogenous N-acetylcysteine can ameliorate ethanol-induced increased homocysteine levels in chick embryos. I will be applying to medical school in the fall, and hope one day to be a pediatrician. I love to be with my family and friends, especially hanging out on Lake Michigan!

Social Chairman: Sami Ward

Hi! My name is Sami Ward and I am a junior biology major with a politics minor. I am currently serving as Social Chair and became involved with BBB as a sophomore. I have not yet begun my biology research or decided upon my field of study because I am only a junior. I am very excited to start the research process though! Currently, I am a member of the Hillsdale Swim Team, Pi Beta Phi Sorority, and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. After graduation I hope to attend medical school and work as a Navy doctor.

Historian: Kelsey Brakel

I am a senior biology major.  In an ideal world, I would also be a philosophy minor.  I am working with Peromyscus maniculatus (Deer Mice) for my LAUREATES research, and will be examining the relationship between fitness and heterozygosity.  After Hillsdale, I plan to attend vet school and eventually become a small animal veterinarian, with an emphasis on exotic pets.  As historian for ßßß I am responsible for our website, so if you see anything that needs to be fixed, please bring it to my attention.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. David Houghton

I was born and raised in Minnesota, attended college in Wisconsin, Texas, and Minnesota, and taught in Virginia for three years before accepting a position at Hillsdale College in 2005.  My research and teaching interests involve field and organismal biology, particularly the use of aquatic organisms to assess pollution in lakes and streams.  In addition to being the Tri-Beta advisor, I am also the science director of the G.H. Gordon Biological Station near Cadillac, MI.  In my free time I am usually hiking wilderness trails, climbing mountains, scaling rock faces, or paddling wild rivers.