Beth Horvath

I am currently an Assistant Professor of Biology at Westmont College, as well as a Research Associate with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, and have taught for AuSable Environmental Institute from 1998 to this past summer of 2006, at their Pacific Rim-Whidbey Island site. I began teaching in 1978 here at Westmont, first as a part-time instructor, then with a three-quarter time teaching load, also teaching part-time at Santa Barbara Community College, and became a full-time faculty person here at Westmont in 1990. As well, I have served on the Academic Advisory Board of the Creation Care Stewardship Program (which runs semester programs in Belize and New Zealand). Prior to heeding the call to come to teach at Westmont, I was headed down the path of training and working in the theatre, specifically in the world of ballet—as a dancer, with classical training.

VITA Education

M.S., California State University, Long Beach, 1991 B.A., Westmont College, 1976 Writings and Publications: Volume: ‘A Taxonomic Atlas of the Gorgonian Corals of the California Bight.’ In progress Honors and Awards: Elected to the Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi, 1976 Elected Vice President of the Westmont Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, 2003 Teacher of the Year, Westmont College, 1999-2000 Listed in Who’s Who of America’s Teachers, 2000, 2002, 2005

Research Interests

I am “thick” into the research and description of the Gorgonian Corals of the California Bight. This study has lead to an extensive review of literature, and has led to aspects of research in the fields of basic distribution, taxonomy, biology and ecology, as well as, at this point, only preliminary forays into molecular biology and the sequencing of certain genes. This work is done with access to museum specimens from many parts of the country, both locally and nationally (with connections to Scripps Institute of Oceanography, and the Natural History Museum at the Smithsonian, the Allan Hancock collection, etc.), as well as to live collections housed in national aquaria, and to the field itself, the CA Channel Islands and the Santa Barbara Channel, with help from NOAA Sanctuary Staff, and individuals at other Academic Institutions. As well, students and I have an ongoing study of Hermit Crab behavior, related primarily to shell selectivity and defensive/offensive behaviors associated with obtaining a shell for protection, housing, etc.

Courses

At Westmont I teach Marine Biology Animal Diversity (Biodiversity and Behavior) Zoology (Lab) (as part of the Introductory Biology sequence for majors) Introductory Biology for non-majors and have taught on several occasions General Ecology Introductory Biology for majors for AuSable I teach (in Puget Sound, Washington) Marine Invertebrate Zoology Marine Mammals as well as directed research. Most all of the above courses exhibit two key aspects in the way that they are taught: First, I strive to get my students out into the “field” as much as possible, weather and time permitting, and secondly, all courses are taught with an eye to how one can honor the calling to be a steward of God’s Creation. Above all, students learn quickly that the education that they get here in my classes, and at Westmont, is just a beginning; that learning and education is an ongoing, life-long process. As well, students will quickly come to see that life, in all its vagaries and forms, is not black or white, but falls in the messy range of grey in between. Students are encouraged to recognize that all the answers will not be found here, nor will the answers be obvious. Students will learn to stretch themselves beyond the limits of their faith and understanding, and even beyond the limits of understainding of their professors. We are all continual learners in this thing we call life.

Recommended books to read:

• Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species
• Rachel Carson, Under the Sea Wind, Silent Spring
• Charles Dickens, David Copperfield
• John Steinbeck, Cannery Row, The Sea of Cortez
• Jane Goodall, The Chimpanzees of Gombe: Patterns of Behavior, Reason for Hope
• Edward O. Wilson, The Diversity of Life
• David Quammen, The Song of the Dodo
• Jonathan Weiner, The Beak of the Finch
• Scott Hoezee, Remember Creation
• Calvin B. DeWitt, Caring for Creation
• Dick Russell, The Eye of the Whale

Favorite things to do

• Poke around in the Tide Pools
• Do shore-based Whale Watching
• Read, Read, Read, Read!!!!
• Collect sea shells, Christmas Tree Ornaments, unusual dolls, and Dollhouse Miniatures
• Experiment with fabrics, paints, etc. in home décor
• Hunt for Antiques