Monday, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., I checked email, worked on data outcomes from past funding from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health. I also lined up students and administrators to meet with the Director of NIGMS and other collaborators from UNC-Chapel Hill on Thursday. Then, I wrote a recommendation letter for a student for a summer internship. From 10:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m., I prepared and taught Honors Biology 100. I ate lunch at my desk while preparing for my upcoming Biology 231 lecture and lab. From 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., I lectured, worked in the laboratory with students, and cleaned up the lab. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., I attended the Tri Beta biological honor society induction and banquet.

 

Tuesday, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., I emailed, and prepared for my evening class by updating a PowerPoint presentation and making handouts. Then, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., I hosted three postdoctoral students with ties to Chapel Hill. They do research for two years at UNC-Chapel Hill, and then are mentored by a faculty member at a historically minority university. From 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., I was in a departmental meeting, then went to teach Biology 422 from 5 p.m. to just before 8 p.m.

 

Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., I emailed and worked out some details for Thursday’s visit. I wrote two student recommendations, and submitted a lab supply order. I also prepared classes (wrote pop quiz for Biology 100, made transparencies), and then taught. I had a quick lunch with a colleague before returning to teach another class. After class, until 4:30 p.m., I graded, worked on text orders, and made sure the van I ordered for a Sunday field trip to the coast would be ready.

 

Thursday, from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., I revised the data outcomes, put out refreshments, and made some coffee. I checked on students, administrators, and faculty who would meet with Dr. Jeremy Berg (as director of NIGMS, he’s a higher-up and usually does not make visits like this, but he’s been convinced that UNC-Pembroke has some impressive outcomes). As a result of this particular round of meetings, four students (three of them Native American) are on their way to graduate school. They wowed Berg. I met with the students to thank them for their presentations, and talked to them about how to properly follow through on leads they were offered.

 

Friday, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., I emailed, met about a weekend field trip, and prepared for and then taught classes. From 2:30 to 4 p.m., we gathered and loaded equipment for an 8 a.m. Sunday field trip to the coast.

 

Sunday, all day, students and I mucked through the marsh in waders, walked on the beach collecting, and observed specimens under microscopes set up at my house on Sunset Beach. We then had a fine seafood lunch, and returned to university by 6 p.m.