Close
Faculty Profile
Name: Drew Crain
Title: Associate Professor of Biology
Courses Taught: Animal Physiology, Developmental Biology, Environmental Toxicology, Perspectives on the Environment, Ornithology, Science and Religion
At Maryville College since: 1998
More often than not, Dr. Drew Crain finds that scientists are stereotyped as withdrawn, boring people. This is a perception that Crain is working to change. As lively and engaging in class as he is in person, the biologist with an affinity for things that crawl, creep or slither (namely, reptiles and amphibians) is a favorite among Maryville College students, faculty and staff.
As a teacher, Crain understands his greatest challenge to be helping students make practical connections between what classroom learning and the larger world. Not surprisingly, labs for Crain’s classes are never optional. “For me, lab is not ‘in addition’ to the lecture,” says Crain. “It is part of the lecture.” And by insisting that his students actually “do science,” rather than simply learn about it, Crain’s classes have become some of the most popular on campus.
In his continuing quest to put aside incorrect stereotypes, Crain stresses both written and oral communications skills in his classes. “Being a good scientist requires one to be a good communicator.” Hence, the writing and speech courses in Maryville’s core curriculum are, in Crain’s estimation, just another necessary prerequisite for a solid foundation in the sciences.
Drew Crain teaches more than just biology – he has a talent for teaching his students to see the larger, interconnected perspective, the “whole forest, not just the individual trees.” Whether he is teaching about birds, pressing environmental issues, or the hard-to-answer questions that science and religion both raise, Crain helps keep the “everyday importance” of his lessons in view.
“I want every student to come out of class saying, ‘Wow, I’ve really learned something useful.’”
Experiential Learning Opportunities:
Internships and practica with local industries (TVA); with local physicians and regional hospitals; in local bio-molecular, analytical, environmental laboratories.
Formal Summer Research Programs at National laboratories (ORNL, Savannah River, Argonne, Livermore, Batelle, Brookhaven) or at NSF-funded summer research (REU) programs (UTK, UK).
A summer undergraduate research program on characterizing G protein coupled receptors (GPCR) in yeast run from the natural science division at Maryville College. This research is funded by both the NIH and the ACA.
Ongoing faculty-sponsored research projects in the east Tennessee region and in northern Manitoba, Canada offer students the chance for one-on-one experience.
Natural Sciences Faculty
 | Dr. Jennifer Brigati Associate Professor of Biology Education: B.S., Southampton College of Long Island University; Ph.D., Auburn University Sutton Science Center 108 (865) 981-8168 jennifer.brigati@maryvillecollege.edu My Website |
 | Dr. Drew Crain Professor of Biology Education: B.S., Clemson University; M.S., Ph.D., University of Florida Sutton Science Center 111 (865) 981-8238 drew.crain@maryvillecollege.edu My Website |
 | Dr. Nathan Duncan Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry Education: B.S., Ph.D., Baylor University Sutton Science Center 225 (865) 981-8279 nathan.duncan@maryvillecollege.edu |
 | Dr. Angelia Gibson Associate Professor of Chemistry Education: B.S., Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville Sutton Science Center 212 (865) 273-8892 angelia.gibson@maryvillecollege.edu |
 | Ms. Irene Guerinot Instructor and Laboratory Coordinator Education: B.S., M.S., University of Tennessee, Knoxville Sutton Science Center, 106 (865) 981-8271 irene.guerinot@maryvillecollege.edu My Website |
 | Dr. Jerilyn Swann Associate Professor of Biology, Chair, Division of Natural Sciences Education: B.S., M.S., Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville Sutton Science Center 112 (865) 981-8068 jerilyn.swann@maryvillecollege.edu My Website |
 | Dr. Paul Threadgill Professor of Biology Education: B.S., M.S., University of Kentucky; University of North Carolina; Ph.D., University of Western Ontario; Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture Sutton Science Center 105 (865) 981-8273 paul.threadgill@maryvillecollege.edu |
 | Dr. Mary Turner Associate Professor of Chemistry Education: B.S., Harding University; Ph.D., Rice University Sutton Science Center (865) 273-8807 mary.turner@maryvillecollege.edu |
 | Mr. Mark Turner Chemical Hygiene & Instrumentation Officer & Natural Sciences Instructor Education: B.S., Henderson State University Sutton Science Center (865) 981-8245 mark.turner@maryvillecollege.edu |
 | Dr. David Unger Assistant Professor of Biology Education: B.S., Eastern University M.S., University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Ph.D., University of Kentucky Sutton Science Center 106 (865) 981-8009 dave.unger@maryvillecollege.edu My Website |
Natural Sciences Extended Staff
 | Mrs. Misty Gillespie Administrative Assistant for Natural Sciences, Behavioral Sciences and Math & Computer Sciences Sutton Science Center 237 (865) 981-8164 misty.gillespie@maryvillecollege.edu |
 | Ms. Katie Selcer Lab Technician Sutton Science Center (865) 981-8168 katie.selcer@maryvillecollege.edu |