Department of Natural Sciences

(Including Biology, Geology, and Natural Resource Management)
College of Agricultural, Life & Physical Sciences
Office: Everett. E. Turner Range Animal Science 111 and Warnock Science Building 216
Phone: (432) 837-8112 or (432) 837-8488
E-mail: naturalsciences@sulross.edu
Chair: Ryan S. Luna, Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor Emeritus: A. Michael Powell, Ph.D. and David Rohr, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus: Martin K. Terry, Ph.D., D.V.M.
Professors: Dan H. Foley III, Ph.D., Louis A. Harveson, Ph.D., Robert J. Kinucan, Ph.D., Ryan S. Luna, Ph.D., Elizabeth Measures, Ph.D., Christopher Ritzi, Ph.D. Kevin Urbanczyk, Ph.D., Bonnie J. Warnock, Ph.D.
Associate Professors: Maureen G. Frank, Ph.D.,Thomas Shiller, Ph.D.
Assistant Professors: Justin T. French, Ph.D., Carlos E. Gonzalez-Gonzalez, Ph.D., Jessica Kelsch, Ph.D., Thornton R. Larson, Ph.D.
Lecturer: Anne Marie Hilscher, M.S.

The Department of Natural Sciences offers course work leading toward the Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology, Geology, and Natural Resource Management, as well as Masters of Science degrees (thesis and non-thesis) in Biology, Geology, and Range and Wildlife Management and Masters of Agriculture in Natural Resource Conservation (non-thesis). The department also offers minors in Biology, Geology, and Natural Resource Management. Teacher certification is available in the sciences through the Composite Science Teaching Certification, as well as subdisciplines in Life or Physical Sciences.

The Department of Natural Sciences educates students in the art and science of gaining and applying ecological knowledge to understand and manage natural resources and systems with a focus across the entire ecosystem, both biotic and abiotic. Our goal in the Department of Natural Sciences is to provide the best education and training available for future scientists and managers. We meet this goal with a curriculum solidly grounded in scientific principles that stresses hands-on experience.

The countryside around Alpine is characterized by rugged mountains interspersed with high plateau grasslands and lowland deserts. The area is generally referred to as the Trans-Pecos and represents the northern part of the great Chihuahuan Desert. The tremendous diversity of wildlife, plants, landscape, soils and geology makes the entire area a huge natural outdoor laboratory unmatched elsewhere for the study of the natural sciences. To support the outdoor lab experience, the Department of Natural Sciences has access to the SRSU Alpine Ranch, which includes over 400 acres adjacent to the university and the 14,700-acre SRSU Sierra Blanca Ranch, as well as numerous state, federal, and private properties. We help students take advantage of this natural laboratory through field trips, class projects and undergraduate and graduate research opportunities. Together, this background provides the opportunity to gain a thorough, well-rounded education. Our undergraduate students often have the opportunity to assist and participate in graduate and faculty research projects, which provides first-hand experience.