Verble to deliver USI Pott College Commencement Address

The speaker for the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education Ceremony is Dr. Robin Verble, a 2006 Bachelor of Science in Biophysics graduate. She also holds a master's degree in entomology from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and a doctorate in applied bioscience from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Verble currently serves as Director for the Ozark Research Field Station and as an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences
at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri.
In addition to her primary roles, she acts as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Natural Resources Management at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.

Before her current duties, Verble was Director of the Center for Fire Ecology and an Associate Professor in the Department of Natural Resources Management at Texas Tech University. She also served as Curator of Insects at the Watson Museum of Entomology at the
University of Arkansas in Little Rock.

Verble's research focuses on wildland firefighter health and safety and ecology of fire-adapted ecosystems and organisms, particularly insect communities' response to prescribed burning in both forests and grasslands. Her diverse interests have fueled interdisciplinary and international collaborations that have examined human impacts on Malaysian world heritage sites, impacts of wildfires on human health and ways to facilitate safe interactions between people and their environments.

Throughout her career, Verble has taught various courses covering topics such as forest insect diversity, environmental conservation and lab courses centered around animal behavior, wildland fire and entomology. She has also provided guidance to numerous students during their undergraduate and graduate careers.
Verble's scholarly work, comprising journal articles, technical papers and a book chapter, has gained national recognition and been featured in publications like the International Journal of Wildland Fire, Journal for Nature Conservation and American Entomologist, among others.

In 2022, Verble received the College of Arts, Science and Education Student Impact Award from Missouri University of Science and Technology, acknowledging her significant contributions to the academic community. Her dedication to innovative teaching was also recognized as a finalist for the College of Arts, Science and Education Innovative Teaching Award in the same year. Additionally, Verble received nominations for the Non-Land-Grant Agriculture and Renewable Resources Universities Outstanding Young Educator Award in 2016 and 2017, showcasing her enduring commitment to advancing educational practices.

In her commitment to service, Verble volunteered as a foster parent, advisor for her campus LGBTQ science group, OUT in STEM, and as a member of the Mill Creek Watershed Coalition. She was elected to serve on the Missouri Prescribed Fire Council and has previously contributed her expertise to boards such as the Texas Prescribed Burn Board and the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks Education Board.