Earlier this year, Dr. Natasha DeVore, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, was named the recipient of the 2024 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. We sat down with DeVore to talk about the importance of communication skills in science, how she navigated teaching during the pandemic and why Missouri State is her “Goldilocks” fit.

Q&A

Academic Expressions: How did you know that a university career was the right choice for you?

Natasha DeVore: I had a postdoc position at Los Alamos National Lab. It was a unique environment — very different from the academic world. It was extremely fulfilling from a research perspective, but I really missed that teaching aspect. I then went to Evangel University for three years. That role almost exclusively focused on teaching, and I really missed research! I learned that I need a true balance — lots of time in the classroom along with time for my own research. So I started looking for other positions, and I was fortunate to find a role here. From my first year on, I knew: I love this. It was a process, but I found my best fit, my happy place.

Teaching During the COVID-19 Pandemic

AE: You joined Missouri State in fall 2019. That turned out to be an unpredictable year.

ND: Oh, yes! The first semester was beautiful, and then, of course, in the second semester, we had the shutdown [because of the COVID-19 pandemic]. But in a way, I was prepared because when I was at Evangel, I taught online courses as part of my normal teaching load, and I was able to build on that experience. So while it wasn’t the most fun semester I’ve had, we got there. I was glad when we were able to move into a hybrid model. And even now — when I’m so thankful to be teaching in person again — there are benefits from the solutions we developed during the shutdown.

AE: What are some of those benefits?

ND: During the shutdown, I recorded my lectures. I don’t automatically post those recordings because I want to encourage students to have the in-person experience whenever it’s possible for them. But having those lectures recorded with my online materials prepared helps me keep students from falling behind when they face emergencies or unusual situations.

Promoting Active Learning

AE: How would you describe the environment in your classroom?

ND: I believe in active learning, and my courses incorporate a lot of discussion. I often assign worksheets for students to work on together. I like to include a lot of question and answer time, which helps students develop their communication skills.

AE: That’s interesting because I don’t know that we always think about the role good communication plays in the sciences.

ND: In science, you work closely with other people — that’s one of the things that makes it fun. If you can’t communicate your ideas to the public, or if you can’t communicate your ideas to other scientists, you might struggle to bring attention to your work. We’re always building on knowledge that’s provided by other scientists and scholars, so we’ve got to learn to communicate well.

Research and Mentorship

AE: You mentioned that it’s important for you to continue your own research while you’re teaching. What do you gain from having that balance?

ND: My research and my teaching really inform each other. For example, some colleagues and I spent three years building a lab module for the Introduction to Biochemistry lab. The module mimics a research environment. In it, the students work with a fluorescent protein. They perform several techniques, including genetic engineering to change its color and some biochem techniques to characterize it. They then write a report that’s akin to what you write when you’re publishing your research. And this somewhat parallels what we do in my research lab. There have been times when we’ve even taken some of the proteins from the classroom lab and then gone further and improved them — so the class lab can be a starting point for projects in my research lab.

AE: That’s cool, and it sounds like an approach that might create opportunities for mentoring.

ND: Yes, working individually with the students here is fantastic. I’ve had so many stellar students! I’m always thrilled to see them go off and pursue their own goals. Many of them are now working through med school, and I also have students who want to be professional researchers. Seeing them find what’s right for them and hearing how their careers develop is something that I’ll always love. It’s one of my favorite things about my work — to have been blessed with amazing students who enrich my life.

Around Campus…

Dr. Toby Dogwiler is not only the director of the School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability; he’s also an accomplished athlete. Recently, he traveled to Townsville, on the northeastern coast of Australia, for the World Triathlon Multisport World Championships.

Dogwiler competes in duathlons, which have a run/bike/run format. In Townsville, he placed fourth in his age group in the standard duathlon — a 10-kilometer run, followed by 40 kilometers of biking and finishing with a five-kilometer run.

He also placed first in sprint duathlon, which consisted of a five-kilometer run, followed by 20 kilometers of biking and another two-and-a-half-kilometer run. “Winning the World Championship and bringing home a gold medal as part of Team USA has been an amazing experience that exceeded my wildest dreams,” he says.

Competing at a global level is a big undertaking, and Dogwiler says the training process helps keep his many commitments and priorities in focus. “Figuring out how to fit my daily running and cycling workouts into a busy family and work schedule provides motivation to stay on task and use my time efficiently,” he says. “It helps me maintain healthy balance across all parts of my life.”

Upcoming Dates

• If you’ve been meaning to update your university photo, there’s an easy opportunity on September 5. Faculty and Staff Free Portrait Day is happening from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., and it’s conveniently scheduled in Plaster Student Union, Room 317.
• Citizen Scholar nominations are due by September 6. This annual honor recognizes students for stellar achievements in academics, community engagement and leadership.
• The 21st Public Affairs Conference is September 24–26. This year’s theme is “Between the One and the Many: Considering Community and Individualism,” and the schedule is packed.