Environmental Science Faculty

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Christine Mayer, M.Ed.
Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies
Contact via email
717-264-4420

After earning her degree in horticulture from Temple University, Chris Mayer ’07, M.Ed., cultivated a rich career in the agricultural industry spanning two decades—first as a florist and greenhouse grower, then as a horticulture educator with Penn State Cooperative Extension, where she led Franklin County’s Master Gardener program. Her deep commitment to sustainability brought Mayer to Wilson College in 2007, where she served as an adjunct instructor and program manager for the Fulton Center for Sustainable Living.  

In 2013, Mayer stepped into the role of director at the Fulton Center, and in 2023, she joined the Wilson faculty as assistant professor of environmental studies. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental science from Wilson College and a Master of Education from Antioch University New England.  

As an avid proponent of place-based education, Mayer strives to teach others how to live well in place through experiential and authentic learning experiences. 
 

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Sherri Buerdsell, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology
Contact via email
717-264-4418

Sherri L. Buerdsell, Ph.D., brings a dynamic blend of scientific expertise and educational innovation to her role as assistant professor of biology, specializing in ecology and conservation biology. With dual doctorates from New Mexico State University (NMSU)—one in biology and another in curriculum and instruction, with a focus on critical pedagogies in post-secondary science education, and a graduate minor in experimental statistics, she bridges the gap between cutting-edge research and transformative teaching. 

Her academic career also includes two Master of Science degrees: one in range science from New Mexico State and another in environmental biology from Hood College. She also earned a Bachelor of Science in biology, with an emphasis in ecology, from Susquehanna University. As a specialist in plant invasion and community ecology, Buerdsell’s research is published in several journals, including NeoBiota, The Journal of Arid Environments, and Biosphere.

Her mentorship of student researchers has led to diverse and impactful projects, including exploring the relationship between gypsy moth reproduction and tree species; red fox and swift fox behaviors; stress cortisol levels in roosting bats; grey squirrel seed preference; and post-fire regeneration of plant communities. Besides teaching the General Biology sequence (BIO 101 and 102), Buerdsell also teaches a wide range of courses including Ecology (BIO 314), Invertebrate Zoology (BIO 206), Conservation Biology (BIO 230), Animal Behavior (BIO 220), Botany (BIO 210), Evolution (BIO 309), and Marine Biology (BIO 223).