Directory

Employee Bio

Dr. Dina Kovarik has nearly twenty years of experience in molecular biology, and science education and outreach.  She was a Teaching Associate at Sonoma State University while completing her biology Masters thesis on peroxisomal genes in tobacco.  Her doctoral work included development of a pre-clinical HIV vaccine at the University of Washington. At the same time, she completed her Masters degree in Epidemiology, identifying tumor markers in HPV-related cancer.  Dina was a founding member of FOSEP, the Forum for Science, Ethics and Policy. She was the bioinformatics Program Manager at NWABR, a Curriculum Developer and Instructor at Digital World Biology, and a Project Manager for the Systems Education Experiences program at the Institute for Systems Biology.  She Chairs the Biotechnology Program at Shoreline, runs the PROJECT BIOTECH high school summer camps, and is the PI for an immuno-biotechnology grant funded by the National Science Foundation.

Education & Training

B.A., M.A., Sonoma State University
M.S., Ph.D., University of Washington

Permalink: https://app.shoreline.edu/campus-directory/name/dina-kovarik

Employee Bio

Dr. Sandra Porter is a digital biologist, web architect, entrepreneur, bioinformatics instructor, and writer.  She received her PhD in microbiology from the University of Washington, worked as a post-doctoral researcher at Fred Hutch, and spent ten years leading a biotechnology education program at Seattle Central Community College.  She left Seattle Central to work at a bioinformatics software company, Geospiza, Inc., which was purchased by PerkinElmer.  In 2009, Porter started Digital World Biology (DigitalWorldBiology.com), with the mission of developing novel educational materials that use bioinformatics tools to explore biology. Porter is the PI on Bridge to Bio-Link’s Future (DUE 1764225), an NSF ATE grant that supports the Biotech-Careers.org website, a Co-PI on START Immunobiotech (DUE 1700441), and a member of the leadership team for the InnovATEBIO National Center for Biotechnology Education.

Education & Training

B.S., University of Minnesota
M.S., Ph.D., University of Washington

Permalink: https://app.shoreline.edu/campus-directory/name/sandra-porter

Employee Bio

Loretta Rafay is a part-time biology faculty member at SCC. She received her MS in Environmental & Forest Sciences at the University of Washington (UW), with a research focus on the biochemistry and chemical ecology of grassland plants. She also holds a BA from UW in Asian Languages & Literature, with expertise in both Mandarin and Classical Chinese.

Permalink: https://app.shoreline.edu/campus-directory/name/loretta-rafay

Permalink: https://app.shoreline.edu/campus-directory/name/rachel-rawle

Education & Training

B.S., M.S., Ph.D., University of California Davis

Permalink: https://app.shoreline.edu/campus-directory/name/john-rudell

Employee Bio

I received my BS in Biology and MS in Marine-Estuarine Sciences at WWU.  My emphasis focused on the intertidal ecosystem and the adaptations of marine invertebrates.  I am a strong advocate for conservation and preservation of sensitive habitats, especially in and around Puget Sound.  I have been An instructor at the college level since 1996.  I have taught Biology for majors and non-majors, Zoology, Environmental Science, Oceanography and Marine Biology.  My research aspirations is focused on life in the intertidal zone and the adaptations of the species that live there.  I am always looking for students who are interested in being a part of Marine explorations

Education & Training

B.S., M.S., Western Washington University

Permalink: https://app.shoreline.edu/campus-directory/name/brian-saunders

Employee Bio

Kira Wennstrom joined the Shoreline Biology Department in 2005 after three years as associate professor of biology at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock and a four-year postdoctoral position at the University of Washington. Her research interests center on the structural and functional relationships among hormones, the brain, and behavior. While at the University of Washington, she studied the neuroendocrinology of song in white crowned sparrows. Her doctoral work focused on sex determination and sexual differentiation in whiptail lizards.At Shoreline, her teaching style is interactive and inquiry-based, with a focus on building strong study skills. She has served in a number of leadership roles on campus including Faculty Senate Chair, Chair of the Strategic Planning/Budget Committee, and First Vice President of the faculty union.

Education & Training

B.S., Oregon State University
Ph.D., University of Texas

Permalink: https://app.shoreline.edu/campus-directory/name/kira-wennstrom

Permalink: https://app.shoreline.edu/campus-directory/name/sarah-white