Dr. Charles Mcclaugherty

Biography

DR. CHARLES MCCLAUGHERTY Teaching Area(s): Biology Title: Professor of Biology, Director of the Nature Center and the Dr. John D. Brumbaugh Chair in Environmental and Ecological Sciences Courses Taught: Environmental Science, Biology Career Growing up in the mountains of southwestern Virginia, I spend as much time as possible outside hiking and camping. My grandmother, who was a school teacher, taught me about nature and I have spent the rest of my life sharing that interest with others. Teaching Style There is no single best teaching style. The pedagogy needs to match the level and interest of the students and the nature of the material being taught. The underlying technique in all of my teaching is to keep my own level of interest high. I do this by constantly reworking, evaluating, changing and re-evaluating my teaching. Whenever possible, hands-on, active learning is best. Research I have really enjoyed developing, along with my colleagues, the environmental science major at Mount Union. My long-term research has concentrated on carbon cycling in ecosystems. A very different but somewhat related line of work has focused on a survey of breeding birds in Ohio. Best Part of the Job My favorite part is observing the academic growth of students. During Commencement, it is so exciting to be reminded of how much students have developed during their time at the University. Dewald Chapel My favorite building is Dewald Chapel because it is a place apart. Mount Union United Mount Union has a really great group of people gathered together for a common purpose. Preparing Students Mount Union balances intense professional development within a discipline with a strong core of liberal arts that focuses on critical thinking and communication skills. Research Interests Carbon cycling in ecosystems, breeding birds in Ohio Education B.S., Wildlife Ecology and Entomology, Cornell University M.S., Environmental Science, University of Virginia Ph.D., Forestry, University of Wisconsin

Research Interest

Carbon cycling in ecosystems, breeding birds in Ohio