Charissa M. Urbano, Professor

Science Division, Delta College
University Center, MI  48710
cmurbano@delta.edu


                                          EDUCATION
1985-1988
Doctor of Education from Ball State University
Biology major with emphasis in human biology and genetics, research concentration in developmental toxicology and genetics.  Physiology and Educational Psychology minor.

1983-1984
Masters of Arts in Education from Ball State University  Biology major with research concentration in science education, genetics and bioethics.

1975-1979
Bachelor of Science cum laude from Bowling Green State University.   Health and Physical Education major with a minor in Biology and Athletic Coaching.

                                   RESEARCH

Dissertation.  The Potentiating Effects of Caffeine on the Teratogenicity of Acetazolamide in Two Strains of Mice. Data indicated that the coadministration of caffeine and acetazolamide significantly increased the frequency of fetal malformations in C57BL mice providing evidence that caffeine can act as a co-teratogen and that agents at subteratogenic levels can interact to produce malformations.

Masters Project.   Ways and Means of Implimenting Bioethical Decision Making in a Secondary School Setting.

                             ACADEMIC POSITIONS

1988 - present
Professor Delta College Science Division
Courses Taught -  Human Heredity and Sexuality for honors (Bio 199H), Integrated General Biology (Bio 171), Human Genetics (Bio 145), Introduction to Biotechnology (Bio 274), Biochemistry and Cell Biology (Bio 130) and Principles of Biology (Bio 111).  Curriculum Development -  Human Heredity and Sexuality for honors students, Introduction to Biotechnology, Human Genetics and Integrated General Biology for majors with an emphasis on cell and molecular biology.

1983-84
Instructor of Biology at Ball State University, Muncie IN
Courses Taught -  Human Genetics (Bio 199H) and Bioethics and Genetics (Bio 468).

1985-1987
Doctoral Fellow at Ball State University, Muncie,  Indiana
Courses Taught - Principles of Biology for majors and Biological Concepts for Teachers. Assisted Dr. Sidney L. Beck with the coordination of a research laboratory in develop -mental toxicology including care of animals, ordering of supplies, and training of undergraduate and graduate assistants.

1984-85
Teacher Yorktown High School, Yorktown,  Indiana
Courses Taught -  Biology and General Science and served as science club advisor.

1979-83
Teacher Bay High School, Bay Village, Ohio
Courses Taught - Biology and assisted with curriculum development, textbook adoption, and yearly inventory.

                             HONORS AND AWARDS

Exon Education Foundation Innovation Award for incorporating the scientific, technical and public policy dimensions of genetic research into community college education presented in Dallas, Texas, 1996.

Barstow and Frevel Award for Scholarly Acheivement presented at Delta College 1995.

Who's Who Among Teachers in American Universities and Colleges, 1995 and 1993.

Don and Betty Carlyon Endowed Teaching Chair, first recipient of this award at Delta College in 1994.

NISOD Excellence Award, International Conference on Teaching Excellence presented in Austin, Texas 1994.

Bergstein Award for Teaching Excellence presented by Delta College 1992.

Teratology Society Young Investigator Travel Award 1987.

Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, 1985.

Southwestern Conference Coach of the Year, 1984.

Omicron Delta Kappa, Leadership Honorary, BGSU, 1979.

Division I Athletic Grant-in-Aid
Women's Basketball, Bowling Green State University,
4 year letter winner, 1975-1979.

                                 MEMBERSHIP


                          SCHOLARLY PRODUCTIVITY
Grants
Delta College Foundation Grant for Technology Enhanced Model Program in Science, Project Director.

NSF Mentoring Through Cross-Age Research Teams Grant. Collaborator and mentor in effort to foster interest of young women in science, engineering, math and technology.

NSF GenEthics Grant. Mentor teacher in nationwide effort to upgrade skills and knowledge in human genetics and bioethics among high school biology teachers.

Indiana Academy of Science Grant for Human Genetics for Michigan Educators Sharing Conference, Project Director.

Phi Delta Kappa Grant for Human Genetics for Michigan Educators.

Indiana Academy of Science Research Grant, Dose- Response Analysis of the Teratogenic Interaction of Caffeine and Acetazolamide in C57BL/6J Mice.

Ball State University Graduate Research Grant.

Publications

Urbano, C.M. 1997.  Field of Dreams: Build It and They Will Come or How to Develop an Undergraduate Program in Genetics, League of Innovation Monograph  1998.

Urbano, C.M. and D. Bailey.  1997.  Integrated Biology: a Cell and Molecular Focus, 2nd Edition. W.C. Brown Publishers.

Beck, S.L. and C.M. Urbano. 1993. Acetazolamide with Caffeine Causes Exencephaly in "Resistant" SWV Mice. Reproductive Toxicology, Volume 7, pp. 123-129.

Urbano, C.M.  1993.  Integrated Biology: a Cell and Molecular Focus.  Kendall-Hunt Publishing.

Urbano, C.M. and S.L. Beck. 1991. Potentiating Effect of Caffeine on the Teratogenicity of Acetazolamide in C57BL Mice. Teratology,44(3):241-250.

Urbano, C.M. and S.L. Beck. 1988.  Effect of Caffeine on the Teratogenicity of Acetazolamide in SWV Mice. Teratology, 37(5):499A.

Urbano, Charissa M. 1988.  Science as a Way of Knowing.  The Hoosier Science Teacher, Vol XIV, No. 1, September 1988, pp. 19-23.

Urbano, Charissa M. and M. Nordenbrock. 1987. Skeletal Ossification as an Indicator of Teratogenic Exposure. Indiana Academy of Science, Abstracts.

Urbano, Charissa M. and S.L. Beck. 1987. Low Dose of Caffeine Potentiates Acetazolamide Induced Ectrodactyly in Mice. Teratology, 35(2):55A.

         PRESENTATIONS AND SEMINARS

The Story is in Our Genes, Delta College Fall Conference, 1999

The Genetics of Human Disease, National Association of Biology Teachers, Dallas, TX   October, 1998

The Biology of Human Plagues, National Association of Biology Teachers, Minneapolis, MN  October, 1997

New Research in Unsdertanding Sexuality, Wayne State University, May, 1997

Healthy Babies Teacher Inservice Workship, Frankenmuth, MI, April ,1996

Teen Pregnancy: When Alcohol is Involved, Peers in Prevention Training Session, Tawas, Mi, April 1996

Field of Dreams: Build It and They Will Come, Genetics Revolution Conference, Dallas, Texas, March 1996

Sex Kills: The Biology of Aging II, National Association of Biology Teachers, Phoenix, AZ, October 1995

Genetics/Fetal Growth and Development, Teacher Inservice Workshop, Frankenmuth, MI, March 1995

Sex Kills: The Biology of Aging I, National Association of Biology Teachers, St. Louis, MO November, 1994

The Challenge of Gene Therapy, Sigma Xi Lecture, Midland, MI, April 1994

Medical Genetics and Birth Defects, Bay Arenac Human Sexuality Institute, Bay-Arenac ISD, July 1994

Teaching About Oncogenes and Cancer, National Association of Biology Teachers, Boston, MA , November 1993

NSF-funded Genethics Workshop, Rollins College, Orlando, Florida, June 14-26, 1993.

The New Clinical Genetics: DNA-based Diagnosis and Treatment, Genetic Conditions: Impact on Children and their Families, Saginaw MI, 1993

Genetic Disorders and Genetic Services, Michigan Academy of Physicians Assistants Annual Conference, Traverse City, October 1992.

Human Genetics Sharing Conference for Michigan Educators, Project Director, June, 1991.

Genetics and Fetology Education, Human Sexuality Institute, Bay-Arenac ISD, 1990, 1991, 1992.

Genetics Education and the Michigan Model, Bay-Arenac ISD, Tuscola ISD, Saginaw ISD, Huron Skill Center, 1991, 1992.

Biotechnology in the 21st Century, 1991 Saginaw Public Schools Staff Development.

Prenatal Genetic Screening: A Focus on MSAFP, Michigan Community College Biologists Spring Conference, 1990

The Potentiating Effect of Caffeine on the Teratogenicity of Acetazolamide in Mice, Ball State University Departmental Seminar, 1988.

Skeletal Ossification as an Indicator of Teratogenic Exposure, presented at 1987 meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science.

Rationale for Teaching Bioethical Decision-making paper presented to NSF Honors Workshop in Human Genetics and Bioethics 1984, 1985, 1986.

 

Last Updated: June 26, 2001 - Copyright © 2001 Delta College and Charissa M. Urbano
Return to Charissa M. Urbano home page - (989) 686-9409 - cmurbano@delta.edu