Curriculum Vitae

 

SUSAN FERN RAMONES

 

 

EDUCATION

 

September 1996 – May 2002   Masters of Science, Biological Sciences, Biological Conservation Concentration

California State University, Sacramento

 

September 1987 – April 1992  Bachelor of Science, Zoology, Minor in English 

University of California, Davis

 

EMPLOYMENT

 

August 2004 – Present             Full-Time Faculty, Biology and Ecology Instructor, Yuba College

                                                Teaching methodologies include lectures, discussions, lab activities,                                                                                                             field trips, and independent projects such as posters, internet research,                                                                                                          in–class debates, and research papers.  Teach non-major, general                                                                                                                    education biology, ecology and marine ecology classes.

                                               

August 1999 – June 2004        Adjunct Faculty, American River College

                                                Biology Instructor for 1–2 classes per semester. 

                                                Classes taught include Foundations of Biology, General Biology, Natural History, Conservation Biology, and lab assistant for Marine Biology; first two courses are general education biology surveys for non–majors and the three latter courses are designed for both biology majors and non–majors. 

 

June 2002 – June 2004            Adjunct Faculty, Sacramento City College

& January 2000 – May 2001   Biology Instructor for Environmental Biology and Natural History Laboratory; both courses designed for biology majors and non–majors.  Taught Environmental Biology in normal semester format and as an eight–week accelerated version for the Training Source serving County of Sacramento employees.

 

August 2003 – June 2004        Adjunct Faculty, Sierra College

                                    Biology Instructor for Natural History and Environmental Regulations; both classes designed for both non-majors and for students enrolled in the WET certificate program (Watershed Ecology Technician program).  Teaching methodologies include lectures, discussions, lab activities, field trips, and independent projects such as posters, case studies, Internet research, in–class debates, and research papers. 

 

May 2002 – June 2004            Wildlife Biologist/Wetland Ecologist, ECORP Consulting Inc.

& January 1993 – June 2001   Design and implement wetland mitigation monitoring and long-term management programs with a particular focus on vernal pools.  Conduct special–status species surveys and biological resource inventories in the California Central Valley.  Assist clients (both public and private sector) with regulatory compliance including Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and CEQA.  Also responsible for training and overseeing 6–person terrestrial biology team, project management, client liaison, and technical data analysis.

 

August 2001 – December 2001 Long Term Temporary Faculty, American River College

Full time faculty member to replace professor on sabbatical for one semester.  Responsible for Natural History and Conservation Biology classes; developed lab activities, led field trips, and facilitated student exploration with independent projects and exercises.

 

January 1999 – May 1999       Faculty Intern, Los Rios Community College District

Team taught a Conservation Biology class at American River College with a faculty mentor.  Responsible for presenting one third of the lectures, writing test questions, assisting on field trips, and reviewing final semester projects.  Also attended monthly seminars regarding teaching at the community college level.

 

September 1997 – Dec. 1998 Graduate Teaching Assistant, CSUS

Laboratory instructor for two General Biology labs per semester.  Course designed for non–majors only. Responsible for lab introduction, assisting students in completing assigned lab activities, and lab grading.

 

April 1992 – October 1992      Wildlife Biologist, El Dorado National Forest

Crew–leader for six–person wildlife crew; coordinated and conducted surveys for special–status species including spotted owl, northern goshawk, and various sensitive furbearer species.  Owl/goshawk surveys involved established call routes with follow–up visits to locate nest locations and determine nesting status.  Furbearer surveys were conducted using sooted trackplates with camera stations.

 

June 1989 – August 1989        Fisheries Technician, Tahoe National Forest

Conducted pre–timber sale stream habitat classification and fish population surveys including detailed measurements of each streambed unit and snorkeling of representative habitat types to determine the population status of German brown and rainbow trout.

 

Summers 1988/1990                Nature Director, Camp St. Michael

Taught small groups of campers, ages 9–15, about common plants and animals of the Eel River on the Northern California Coast.  Led nature walks and assisted campers with individual nature projects.

 

 

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

 

May 2006 – Present                 On going data collection on local bat diversity, specifically at the UC                                                                                                                         Sierra Foothill Research at Porter Creek

 

June 1999 – April 2002           Conducted observations of night roosting behavior for two colonies of                                                                                                          Pallid bats (Antrozous pallidus) for Master’s thesis research project. 

 

January 1999 – March 1999    Conducted preliminary acoustic data collection along a transect of

                                                the Sierra Nevada (Highway 120) for a study to investigate temporal                                                                                                              and elevational changes in bat species diversity and abundance.

 

Fall 1998/1999                        Mist netted at various locations (Sutter Buttes, Feather River, and                                                                                                                   Beale Air Force Base) to determine general species diversity and to                                                                                                                     demonstrate bat survey methodology (mist netting and Anabat acoustic                                                                                                     surveys) to CSUS mammalogy class.

 

June 1998 – September 1998  Assisted in general bat species inventories within Yosemite National

            Park.  Work included surveys to located Mastiff day roosts in Yosemite Valley and

            acoustic surveys with Anabat II detectors along Merced River.  Training provided by

            Dr. Elizabeth Pierson, Dr. William Rainey, and Mr. Chris Corben.

 

June 1998 – September 1998  Assisted in a Caltrans Bridge Study of Highway 120.  Work included

                                                daytime bridge assessments, nighttime bridge surveys capturing night                                                                                                                         roosting bats with hand–nets, and mist netting creeks in bridge vicinity,                                                                                                             and acoustic surveys with Anabat II detectors along various drainages.   

 

Summer 1998                          Assisted in survey of roosting Mastiff bats (Eumops perotis) in the

                                                Sutter Buttes, Sutter County, California. Conducted exit count at base                                                                                                            of known roost site.

 

July 1990                                 Participated in the U.C. Berkley University Research Expedition Program (UREP).  Spent three weeks in northern Pakistan assisting with vegetation sampling and general behavioral observations for a study of the golden marmot.

 

 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

 

American Society of Mammalogists

California Bat Working Group / Western Bat Working Group

Society of Conservation Biology

Wildlife Care Association

 

 

COLLEGE ACTIVITIES

 

Fall 2006 – Present                  Yuba College Curriculum Committee Member and chairperson for Health,                                                                                                    Physical Education, and Public Safety Instructional program subcommittee.

 

Spring 2007 – Present              Yuba College Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Member

 

Spring 2007 – Present              Yuba College Study Abroad Committee Member and Secretary

 

 

CONFERENCES/WORKSHOPS

 

  • Marysville Unified School District/K-12 Alliance, Taught week hydrology and weather session – Summer 2007
  • Science in the River City, Taught “Ecosystems” and “Evolution” sessions – Fall 2006/Spring 2007
  • Society of Conservation Biology Annual Conference, San Jose, CA – June 2006
  • NCEP Workshop (Network of Conservation Educators and Practioners), San Jose, CA – June 2006
  • North American Symposium of Bat Research, Sacramento, CA – October 2005
  • California Bat Working Group Meeting – January 2004
  • Western Bat Working Group Annual Meeting, Durango, CO – January 2003
  • Western Section of The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting, Sacramento, CA – February 2001
  • Bay Area Environmental Quest 2000, Presentation: “Bat Biology and Conservation”,
  • Headlands Institute, Sausalito, CA – March 2000
  • Western Section of The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting, Monterey, CA – January 1999
  • Western Section of The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting, Sacramento, CA – January 1998
  • 29th Annual North American Bat Research Conference, Tucson, AZ – October 1997
  • The Ecology and Conservation of Bats, Sierra Nevada Field Station, CA – July 1997           
  • Natural History and Management of Bats in California & Nevada, Sacramento, CA – Nov. 1996
  • Society of Ecological Restoration of California, Presentation: “Clay Station Vernal Pool Mitigation Bank”, Yosemite Valley, CA – Sept. 1996
  • Western Section of The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting, Rohnert Park, CA – September 1995       

 

 

CLASSES TAUGHT

 

General Biology

Provides non-biology major students with an introduction to basic biological principles including cell biology, genetics, biotechnology, reproduction and development, human anatomy and physiology, evolution, and ecology.  Relates these topics to humans and includes both lecture and laboratory components.

 

Ecology/Environmental Biology

Covers basic principles of ecology, environmental technology, and human culture as they relate to historic and current environmental issues. 

 

            Marine Ecology

            Covers physical and biological aspects of marine ecosystems and human impacts on these ecosystems.

 

Marine Biology Laboratory

Consists of leading half the class on 1 to 3 day field trips to the north and central coast of California and then grading post–trip quizzes and/or projects; field topics include elephant seal natural history, tide pool ecology, fire adapted ecosystems, redwood ecology, and basic coastal botany and ornithology. 

 

Natural History

Introduces students to the local flora and fauna and the natural processes that shape and affect that biodiversity.

 

Conservation Biology

Covers the concept of biodiversity, reviews threats to biodiversity, and then explores possible solutions to the biodiversity crisis through ecologically sound and realistic methods.

 

            Environmental Regulations

            Provides students with an overview of the major state and federal laws and regulations governing water, air, and species protection.