UTSA | Catalyst | Summer/Fall 2021
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Mariah Hopkins Dr. Mariah Hopkins has been chased by an
those patterns for human-wildlife conflict
In recognition of her ongoing efforts to im-
ostrich, had her lunch stolen by a baboon
and disease spread. Now, she is developing
prove the academic experience for students,
and came eye-to-eye with a 40-ton humpback
a research program that evaluates the
Hopkins was recently awarded the President’s
whale—all in the name of research. Before
effectiveness of innovative instructional
Distinguished Achievement Award for Core
joining the College of Sciences, she taught
technologies and pedagogical techniques
Curriculum Teaching. The award recognizes
courses at the University of California at
for STEM education. In 2020, she initiated
faculty who expertly implement UTSA’s core
Berkeley and the University of Texas at Austin,
a research project comparing the impact
curriculum focus, including the development
and she developed field biology training
of different virtual lab formats on learning
of critical-thinking skills, communication skills,
programs and conservation programs in
outcomes for introductory biology students.
empirical and quantitative skills, and team-
the U.S. and Central America. She spent two
This project is part of ongoing efforts to
work in their courses.
years studying several species of monkeys at
improve experiential learning opportunities
a remote tropical forest site in Panama that
for students in large-format science courses.
was accessible only by boat. She has also
“It is incredibly rewarding to see my students succeed,” she said. “That success can be
conducted research on African wildlife while
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hopkins has
something as simple as students making
living in the savanna in a thatched-roof hut
embraced innovative technologies such as
connections between content and their daily
with no electricity or running water.
simulations, case studies, biointeractives
lives. It can be students working through
and virtual labs to engage students and
a problem and developing a newfound
Hopkins now brings that adventurous spirit
provide additional experiential learning
confidence in their abilities or identifying
to her classroom. “Biology is the study of life,
opportunities. In Fall 2020, she partnered
as scientists for the first time. It can also
and to me there is no greater mystery,” she
with Academic Innovation to implement this
happen after college, when students are able
said. “I get to spend my day figuring out
experiential learning model in her non-majors
to market the skills that they have learned in
how life works and teaching students about
Introductory Biology class, and she has since
class to land internships, jobs and admission
the amazing life forms on this planet and
expanded the model to several other courses.
to graduate school. Witnessing the impact
the underlying processes that make that
The model is hugely successful; students
of my courses on my students’ college and
life possible.”
report that they learned more, felt more
career trajectories is one of the greatest
engaged, were excited about the material
rewards I have experienced as a teacher.”
The majority of her previous research focused
and could see the real-world value of content
on understanding and predicting animal
more easily than in traditional class formats.
space-use patterns and the implications of
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