PERSONAL PROFILE OF DENISE LEONARD

Education

I was awarded my Bachelor of Science Degree in Biological Sciences and a Minor in Chemistry at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, IL in May 1997. From 1997-2000, I was a graduate student at Southeast Missouri State University pursuing the Master of Natural Science Degree in Biology with a minor in psychology.  My thesis, entitled “Social Dominance, vocalizations, and habitat utilization in a captive colony of Petaurus breviceps,” was completed under the leadership of Dr. John Scheibe, Professor of Biology at Southeast Missouri State University.

Work Experience

During my tenure at Southeast, I served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in human anatomy and physiology under the direction of Dr. S. Trautwein and Dr. Overmann. During the summers, I worked as a Project Upward Bound Instructor in Biology, developing intensive five-week biology programs for academically talented high school students from the Southeast Missouri region.

Interests

At Southeast, I participated in the Choral Union and the annual Martin Luther King Day celebration planning committee. My academic interests include animal behavior, mammalogy, and conservation biology.  My future goals are to continue studying and researching in these areas. Currently, I am assisting in the genetics department in the Conservation Research Center at the Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, IL.

Southeast Missouri State University

Coming from a large undergraduate institution, Southeast provided a more personal and intimate educational experience.  I had excellent professors and advisers who were very giving of their time, knowledge, and other resources that I needed as a graduate student. In this supportive climate, which is crucial for graduate studies, I excelled academically and personally. With the support of Dr. J. Scheibe, I learned how to study and research.  With the support of Drs. S. Trautwein, Overmann, and Waterman, I became skilled at teaching.  With the support of the Upward Bound Program, I discovered how to reach out to others. And with the financial support of the Graduate School through an assistantship, I could be about the process of growing instead of worrying about my tuition.