Verna Case

I joined Davidson's Biology Department in 1974 after completing my Ph.D. at The Pennsylvania State University. I served as chair of Davidson’s Department of Biology for 16 years from 1993 to 2009. During that time my time as chair, I was the program director for three Howard Hughes Medical Institute undergraduate science education grants at Davidson and directed the Davidson Research Initiative from 2007-2017. In these roles, I expanded research opportunities for undergraduates across all disciplines.

In 2009-10, I was selected as an American Council on Education Fellow, a higher education leadership training program and spent part of that year as a fellow at Washington and Lee University.

In 2011, I became Davidson’s first Associate Dean for Teaching, Learning and Research and was the college’s first Associate Dean of Faculty from 2016- 2018. During my 7 years as an Associate Dean, I continued to expand opportunities for students and faculty, including developing Davidson’s new Center for Teaching and Learning.

In July 2019, I retired from Davidson, but continue to direct the Davidson in Zambia summer program that focuses on the cultural, economic, environmental, and political factors that influence health in Mwandi, Zambia.

I served as as Interim John and Ruth McGee Director of the Dean Rusk International Studies Program during the Fall Semester of 2021.