Dusty Perkins was selected as the Faculty of Distinction for May. He has been teaching biology and ecology at College of Western Idaho (CWI) since 2009, and loves the opportunities it has given him to work alongside a diversity of amazing students, staff, and faculty. Perkins coordinates research and internship activities for CWI’s NSF-supported undergraduate research program. He also mentors several undergraduate research students on projects at CWI that focus on conservation biology and organismal habitat suitability. This work seeks to understand how anthropogenic landscape alterations affect biological communities and ecosystem services. Perkins hopes his actions and work inspire others to embrace the value of life and to protect the diversity of nature that supports all life on earth.
Perkins was nominated by a colleague who appreciates the time, effort, and caring that he puts into mentoring students involved in undergraduate research. His nominator talked to each of the students that worked under him during the summer, and they all said they have found new avenues for interest and success under Perkins’ mentorship.
On a personal level, he is fascinated with nature and loves to connect it to life through gardening, hiking, rock climbing, and being outside with his family and friends. Please congratulate Perkins for being selected as the May Faculty of Distinction.
