Kevin Smith

Chair & Herman Brown Professor of Biology

Education

  • Postdoctoral Washington University (Biology and Environmental Studies)
  • Postdoctoral North-West University (Zoology)
  • Ph.D. University of Tennessee (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology)
  • M.S. Auburn University (Zoology)
  • B.A. Colby College (Biology)

Areas of Expertise

  • Conservation Biology
  • Biodiversity
  • Ecology
  • Data Analysis
  • Inclusive Pedagogy

Background

My teaching at Davidson focuses on general biology, conservation biology and biodiversity, and data analysis.

My research focuses on analyzing biodiversity and biodiversity loss and understanding how people interact with, value, and manage biodiversity as a natural resource. My recent past research has focused on experimental studies of extinction. Our group’s current and future work focuses on documenting biodiversity in local forest habitats and developing management plans to ensure that local forests continue to provide value as sources of biodiversity and as natural resources to people. This work takes place in the Davidson College Ecological Preserve and in partnership with local private landowners, state parks, conservation organizations, and other entities.

Teaching

  • BIO 114 Integrated Concepts in Biology II (and lab)
  • BIO 227 Conservation Biology and Biodiversity (and lab)
  • BIO 240 Biostatistics for Life Scientists
  • BIO 265 Knowing Nature