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Environmental and Physical Sciences

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Faculty

Dr. Jeffrey Groff
Title	Professor of Physics and Environmental Science
Email	jgroff@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Phone	304-876-5143
Office	Byrd Science Center 116
Dr. Groff earned a Ph.D. in Applied Science from The College of William & Mary and a B.S. in Physics from McDaniel College. He teaches courses in physics, environmental science, energy, geographic information systems, computers, and electronics. In addition, Dr. Groff teaches field courses at Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. He was chosen to receive Shepherd University’s Outstanding Teaching Award in 2017 and was recognized as the 2019 West Virginia Professor of the Year by the Faculty Merit Foundation of West Virginia. Ph.D., The College of William & Mary M.S., The College of William & Mary B.S., McDaniel College

Dr. Peter Vila
Title	Associate Professor of Environmental Studies
Email	pvila@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Phone	304-876-5426
Education: B.A. Wittenberg University M.S. Indiana University Ph.D. University of Georgia

Dr. Jason Best
Title	Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics and Shepherd University Observatory Director, Director of Strategic Research Initiatives
Email	jbest@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Phone	304-876-5331
https://www.shepherdu.com/jbest/ Education B.S. Indiana University Ph.D. Penn State University

Dr. Sytil Murphy
Title	Associate Professor of Physics
Email	smurphy@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Phone	304-876-5782
Education: B.S. Monmouth College M.S. Montana State University Ph.D. Montana State University

Dr. Brooke Comer
Title	Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies
Email	bcomer@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Education Ph.D., Michigan State University B.S., The College of William & Mary

Dr. Zach Musselman
Title	Associate Professor of Geology and Environmental Science
Email	zmusselm@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Office	Byrd Science Center 113
Dr. Musselman received his Bachelor’s in Geology at Bloomsburg University, Master’s in Geology at Texas Christian University, and PhD in Geomorphology at the University of Kentucky. Prior to joining Shepherd, he was the Executive Director of the Mississippi State Board of Registered Professional Geologists, and Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Geosciences at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. As a Geomorphologist, Dr. Musselman is responsible for a variety of environmental courses at Shepherd University. He teaches General Physical Science for teachers, Physical Geology, Hydrology, Geomorphology, and Meteorology. He has experience teaching a few field courses as well, including classes held at Volcanoes National Park in Hawai’i, Crater Lake in Oregon, Mt. Rainier in Washington, Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and Gulf Islands National Seashore. His primary research interests involve investigating how rivers shape the landscape.

Dr. Mark Madison
Title	Adjunct Professor of Environmental Studies
Email	mmadison@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Phone	304-616-7905
United States Fish and Wildlife Service Historian Education Ph.D., Harvard University B.A., Macalester College

Joshua Vance
Title	Adjunct Professor of Environmental Studies
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Education M.S. West Virginia University B.S. West Virginia University A.A. Potomac State College

Annitsa Spanos
Title	Adjunct Professor
Email	aspanos@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Education M.S. University of Maryland College Park B.S. Towson University A.A. Anne Arundel Community College Certified Online Adjunct Teacher (COAT) Advanced Professional Teaching Certificate Maryland & West Virginia

Dr. Ed Snyder
Title	Professor Emeritus of Environmental Studies
Email	esnyder@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Education: B.S. Eastern Washington University B.A. Eastern Washington University M.S. Eastern Washington University Ph.D. University of Illinois

Dr. Donald Henry
Title	Professor Emeritus of Physics 1985-2009