Welcome! The Department of Life and Earth Sciences (LES) at Perimeter College encompasses coursework in biology, environmental science, geology and integrated sciences. Academic pathways in Biology and Geology are available through the department, but our courses also support other academic interests, such as chemistry, environmental science, and education.
Pathways
Perimeter College’s Life and Earth Sciences Department supports student success by providing outstanding instruction and diverse opportunities.
The Life and Earth Sciences faculty is recognized for its excellence in teaching and also for its engagement in the community and professional organizations.
Faculty members include recipients of the National Teaching Excellence Award from the National Institute for Staff & Organizational Development (NISOD) at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Pamela Gore was named a Cole Fellow, the highest faculty academic award at Perimeter College, and is the author of “Roadside Geology of Georgia,” published by Mountain Press in 2013. Dr. Jeff Mahr received a Quantitative Undergraduate Biology Education and Synthesis (QUBES) B2 Scholars Fellowship, a national two-year faculty development program affiliated with the National Association of Biology Teachers.
Our faculty members hold memberships in professional scientific organizations, such as the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS), the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT), the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) and Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL). Faculty members are current or past officers in the Georgia Academy of Science and its disciplinary sections and participate as judges for K-12 Science Fairs in the metro Atlanta school districts.
These initiatives and efforts support service to the community and promote pathways for study and careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.
Contact LES at les@gsu.edu
PSLSAMP—Peach State Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Scholars Program (PSLSAMP):
Georgia State University’s Perimeter College is one of six institutions in the Peach State Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (PSLSAMP). Our goal is to increase the number of underrepresented minority students who complete undergraduate degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The collaborative program includes recruitment and retention initiatives that ease the transition into and through college. The promotion of undergraduate research is a key component of the strategies implemented.
MESA—Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA): provides support for students who have been traditionally underrepresented in STEM areas so they excel in math and science and graduate with baccalaureate degrees in science, engineering, computer science, and other math-based fields. Through the Perimeter College MESA program, students benefit from academic excellence workshops, academic advising and counseling, assistance with the transfer process to a four-year institution, career advising; summer research and internship opportunities, and connections with student and professional organizations.
Georgia Science Olympiad: More than 350 high school students from 20-plus schools across the state of Georgia attend the annual Science Olympiad at Georgia State University Perimeter College. The Olympiad conducts innovative science activities every spring semester to enhance science awareness and encourage the pursuit of science in higher education. The faculty and staff for Life and Earth Sciences and Physical Sciences from all campuses served by Perimeter work together to host the regional tournament for Georgia Science Olympiad. Twenty-four teams from regional high schools compete in 23 events for medals and for invitations to the state tournament.
Atlanta Science Festival: Life and Earth Sciences faculty, staff and students participate in the Atlanta Science Festival, a week-long annual event with activities across the metro area, including at Perimeter College.
The Perimeter College Office of STEM Initiatives: The office promotes student access and student success in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines and provides college-wide leadership for STEM activities.
Message from the Department Chair
The Perimeter College Department of Life and Earth Sciences includes a wide-ranging community of students, staff members and distinguished faculty scholars in the fields of biology, environmental science, geology and integrated sciences. We celebrate the diversity of our students, faculty and staff as one of our greatest assets.
Students taking courses in our department may go on to continue their education and prepare for careers in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields or health professions. Others pursue non-science educational goals and careers.
Our students exhibit diversity in their learning styles, as well. In response, our faculty use varied teaching practices and technology to engage them in learning, scientific reasoning and critical thinking.
For all our students, we want to instill an appreciation of the importance of science in every facet of our lives, as well as a commitment to lifelong learning. The world needs informed citizens who will make prudent decisions about issues ranging from personal health to public policies affecting the global environment.
Dr. Deniz Ballero, Interim Department Chair
Department of Life & Earth Sciences
FAQs
A: When a student taking a course has questions or concerns about a particular course, they should always communicate with their instructor. If repeated attempts to resolve a question or concern with the instructor fail, the student’s next option is to contact the associate (Science) chair or the science department administrative assistant at that campus. When a student contacts either of these individuals, he or she will be asked what attempts have been made to resolve the matter with their instructor. The associate chair will not consider the issue unless the student and instructor have tried and been unable to resolve the matter or if the situation involves a violation of college policy. In very rare instances, if a matter cannot be resolved between the student, the instructor and the associate chair on that campus, the associate chair may refer the matter to the college-wide chair for Life and Earth Sciences.
Campus Contacts
(Life & Earth Sciences (LES) are: Biology, Environmental Science, Geology, and Integrated Science. Physical Sciences (PS) are: Astronomy, Chemistry, and Physics.)
Send General LES inquiries to les@gsu.edu
Interim Life and Earth Sciences Department Chair
Dr. Deniz Ballero
dballero@gsu.edu
678.212.7567
Alpharetta Campus
Science (LES and PS) Department
Contessa Paige
cpaige@gsu.edu
678-240-6037
Physical Sciences Department Chair
Dr. Solomon Fesseha
sfesseha@gsu.edu
404-413-2387
Clarkston Campus
Administrative Assistant
Shamin Shah
sshah7@gsu.edu
678-891-3789
Interim Assistant Chair for Life and Earth Sciences
Mark Graves
Mgraves1@gsu.edu
678.891.3570
Decatur Campus
Science (LES and PS) Department
Associate Chair for Science
Dr. Jo Ann Lee Joyner
jjoyner12@gsu.edu
678-891-2641
Dunwoody Campus
Interim Associate Chair for Life and Earth Sciences
Dr. Erin Morrey
emorrey@gsu.edu
770-274-5563
Newton Campus
Science (LES and PS) Department
Administrative Assistant
Jill Heft
jheft@gsu.edu
770-278-1263
Associate Department Chair
Dr. Mike Sakuta
jjoyner12@gsu.edu
678 891-2466
Online Campus
Online Science Associate Department Chair
Dr. Deniz Ballero
dballero@gsu.edu
678-212-7567
Science (LES and PS) Department
olsci@gsu.edu
678-212-7577
Meet The Faculty
Geology Instructor Alex Ullrich
Testimonials
“I first took a geology course to fulfill requirements for a different degree, but fell in love with the subject matter and hands-on teaching that I experienced at Perimeter College. The best part is the attention teachers are willing to give their students. I also was able to do some independent research on a geology project with a Perimeter professor and got to learn a lot about the process of designing experiments and collecting data. Because of the great classes at Perimeter College and my passionate professors, I am now able to be a part of an international research cruise studying geology around the world.”
Chelsea Bush
2014 Perimeter College graduate
2016 Bachelor of Science in Geology, Georgia State University
“When I started to take classes at Perimeter College, I was timid and did not have a career goal set in mind. My interest in science started to form by taking science courses at Perimeter. Small-sized classes allowed me to better communicate with my classmates and professors, and gave me and my classmates the opportunity to build long-term friendships and mentorships with the professors, besides learning science. I am glad I chose Perimeter to start my college experience. I was not taught to memorize equations or principles, but I was taught to understand their basics and to be able to apply them. The ability to understand basic science allows me to explain and solve many cases in my current research.”
Nhat D. Quach
Perimeter College alumnus
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, Georgia Tech
Doctoral Candidate, Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences
University of Georgia
