Beachy named head of Biology at Southeastern
Contact: Rene Abadie
Date: August 16, 2013 
HAMMOND – Christopher K. Beachy has been named head of the Department of Biological Sciences
at Southeastern Louisiana University.
Previously a professor of biology at Minot State University in Minot, N.D. since
2005, Beachy specializes in herpetology with a particular interest in salamanders.
A member of the faculty there since 1998, he served as chair of the Department of
Biology from 2004 to 2007. He has also served on the faculties at Clarke College in
Dubuque, Iowa, Jamestown College in Jamestown, N.D., and Western Carolina University
in Cullowhee, N.C.
"We are delighted that such an accomplished scholar and educator as Dr. Beachy
has chosen to lead the Department of Biological Sciences," said Daniel McCarthy, dean
of the College of Science and Technology. "I am confident that his energy and talents
will prove to be a great asset to the department, especially for our students."
"I am excited about the opportunity here at Southeastern," said Beachy. "The
biology faculty at Southeastern is well recognized for the good scientific work they
do, and I see my role as helping them make things happen, including finding new and
diverse funding opportunities."
The current editor of "Copeia," the journal of the American Society of Ichthyologists
and Herpetologists, Beachy serves on the Board of Governors and the Executive Committee
of the Society. He is the author of numerous scientific articles and lectures widely
at symposiums and scientific meetings. At Minot State, he was named the Faculty of
the Semester in 2006, awarded the Essence of Excellence Award in 2004, and received
the Minot Board of Regents Faculty Achievement Award as Professor of the Year. In
1993, he was named Professor of the Year at Jamestown College.
A resident of Hammond, Beachy holds a doctorate in environmental and evolutionary
biology from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, a master's degree from Western
Carolina University, and a bachelor's degree from The College of Wooster in Wooster,
Ohio.
