Service and community outreach are a key component to my teaching curriculum. I love engaging local communities and young students with science-related projects. Please, contact me with any opportunities or ideas. I look forward to continued outreach!
Due to our small size and distance from Storrs, engaged faculty at regionals wear many hats outside of their official appointment. I consider myself part of the Avery Point community. I participate in all campus open house events. Students know I will take part in all campus events (cardboard boat race, pie-in-the-face, polar plunge, etc.). My working relationship with nearly all faculty and staff allows me to easily direct students for the help they need. As the only biology faculty, I am the ambassador for all biology departments.
Helping early career faculty succeed is another priority to me, which is why I started the Avery Point faculty mentoring program. Additionally, I helped develop and was chosen as one of two teaching faculty mentors for the entire CLAS for the past three years. My dedication to Academia extends beyond teaching – I have served on 26 committees since my appointment, which helps me shape student success initiatives.
Most notable, I created the campus change peer mentor program to help our regional huskies succeed when they transition to Storrs. See: https://dos.uconn.edu/campus-change-mentoring-initiatives/
over 1,000 students must transition from a regional campus to Storrs to finish their degree. These students face a new learning and social environment that can make it challenging to excel. I use the peer-mentor model, in which students who have successfully come from a regional then mentor upcoming campus change students. I’ve grown the program from just biology to now the entire University of Connecticut.
some news: https://today.uconn.edu/2022/09/campus-change-mentoring-program-grows-from-clas-faculty-fellowship/
Scientific Outreach and Pedagogy Communications:
Finiguerra, M., Avery, D.E., Dam, H.G. Dangerous Aquatic Prey: Can Predators Adapt to Toxic Algae. 2014 Data Nuggets (lesson plans for science teachers), Open Access; www.Datanuggets.org
Finiguerra, M., Avery, D.E., Dam, H.G. Case Study: Testing for Adaptation. Submitting to National Center for Case Study Research, Target: College Biology. Draft in hand
HG Dam & M Finiguerra 2013 Science Experts- Toxic Algae; Infestations Documentary. Stornoway Productions. International Release
Dam, H.G., Finiguerra, M.B., Batoh, C.S., Skelton-Flores, H.K. 2012 What controls toxic algae blooms in Long Island Sound? Wracklines (CT Sea Grant publication) vol. 11,2: 9-13
Finiguerra, M. Payne, D., Dam, HG, Avery, DE. 2010 Predators and Dangerous Prey:Plankton, Toxins and Evolution. 1 hour oral presentation workshop at National Science Teachers Association Conference. Philadelphia, PA.
Scientific Outreach Activities:
Avery Point annual undergraduate student poster symposium
Co-Creator Spring 2015
Invited Speaker- UConn Global Café: “Heat Waves” Fall 2015
Academic Fair Judge, Sacred Heart University 2014
Invited Presentation: Green Falls Academy high school, CT Fall 2013
Taste Touch and Smell of Science-
Marine science program aimed at under-privileged and minority students.
Program Organizer Fall 2010, 2012, 2014
Volunteer Summer 2008, 2009
Marine Science Day- Exposing elementary school students to marine science
“Meet the Plankton” 2-4 sessions ea. year May 2008-2015
Focus Group: University Public Outreach (invited participant) Fall 2010
Educational Outreach Website Developer Spring 2010
Career Fair Workshop- Marine Sciences Summer 2010
4-H 2010 CT Teen Connection Conference, Passport to Success Summer 2010
Career Day- Northeast Academy Math and Science Day Spring 2010
Naugatuck Valley Community College outreach seminar Spring 2010
National Ocean Sciences Bowl-local and national competitions
Head Rules Judge 2014, 2015
Rules Judge 2008(2), 2009
Timekeeper 2007, 2011
Department Committees and Organizations:
UConn- New Faculty Orientation panel member Fall 2015
UConn-Avery Point: Orientation Advisor Summer 2015
UConn-Avery Point: Open House recruiter Spring 2015
UConn EEB Ecology Curriculum Committee Spring 2015
UConn-Avery Point: UConn Reads regional chapter Spring 2015
UConn-Avery Point Global Café and Institute for Learning Fall 2014-current
UConn-Avery Point Curriculum and Courses Committee Fall 2014- current
UConn- Marine Sciences: Social Outreach Director 2008-2012
Avery Point Recreation Committee Fall 2009-present
Graduate Student Council, Marine Sciences Faculty Liaison Spring 2008-2009
Feng Colloquium committee organizer Spring 2008
Graduate Student Organization, Senator Fall 2006-Spring 2007
Student Representative- Biology Department Fall 2002-Spring 2004
President-SUNY Geneseo Ecology Club Fall 2001-Spring 2004