Donna Ritch, Ph.D.

Associate Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Associate Professor of Human Biology and Biology
E-mail: ritchd@uwgb.edu

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
2420 Nicolet Drive - TH 335
Green Bay, WI 54311-7001
Phone:  (920) 465-2274
Fax:  (920) 465-2718

Education:

*       Ph.D. in Biology from Penn State University, University Park, PA 

*       M.S. in Biology from Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH 

*       B.S. in Biology from Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH

 

The courses that I have taught during the past 5 years include:

*       First Year Seminar:  Fantastic Voyage:  Science in Film (Hum Biol 198)
Films with scientific elements have had a hugh impact on science and society.  This course will explore how science and scientists are protrayed in these films and how the films have shaped popular perceptions of science and scientists, the world, and the universe.

*       Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates (Biology 340)
This lab intensive course emphasizes anatomical differences (including adaptations and specializations) among vertebrate classes; lab dissections include the shark, frog, turtle, pigeon, and cat.
 

*       Cell Biology (Biology 307)
This course covers the structure and functions of eukaryotic organelles; lab utilizes various cell biology techniques to study apoptosis in breast cancer cells.
 

*       Anatomy and Physiology (Hum Biol 204)
This courses covers the structures and functions of the organ systems of the human body.  Lab includes organ dissection, identifying structures through the use of ADAM software, and various physiological tests, such as blood typing, EKG, and blood pressure.
 

*       Microscopic Anatomy (Hum Biol 306)
This laboratory course consists of identification of prepared slides of cells, tissues, and organs with an emphasis on human organ systems at the microscopic level.
 

*       Human Disease and Society (Hum Biol 217)
This course focuses upon various human diseases – biology, history, and society’s influence on disease – as well as discussion of the transmission and cause of disease, the body’s defense against disease, epidemiology, and public health.
 

*       Science and the Expression of Art During the Renaissance
This is a travel abroad course to Italy.  The first week of the course consists of lectures on the history of science focusing upon Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo.  Students spend the final two weeks in Italy (Rome, Florence, Padua, and Venice).
 

*       See the UW-Green Bay Undergraduate Course Catalog for more information about these courses including prerequisites.

 

Science Classroom Instructor and Laboratory Instructor for the Regional Center of Mathematics and Science (1991-2000; 2003-2005)

*       The Regional Center of Mathematics and Science (RCMS) program is a grant funded program that brings 50 high school juniors and seniors from 6 Midwestern states (Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio) to campus for six weeks to further their interest in science and math.
 

*       As a science classroom and laboratory instructor, the topics I teach include cell biology, anatomy, and physiology.

Awards:

*       Founder's Award for Teaching Excellence, 1997

Research:

*       My current research involves the investigation of intracellular calcium stores and the relationship of this ion to the cytoplasmic streaming process in the acellular slime mold Didymium iridis.

Publications:

*       Ritch, D.L. and J. Rank.  2001.  Laboratory Safety in the Biology Lab.  Bioscence, The Journal of College Biology Teachers  27(3): 17-22
 

*       Daggett, S.D. and D. L. Ritch. 1999.  Rediscovering Chlamydamonas.   Bioscene, The Journal of College Biology Teachers   25(2):13-14.
 

*       Ritch, D.L. and S.D. Daggett. 1994. Nuclear DNA Content and Chromosome Number in German Isolates of Phytophthora infestans. Mycologia 87 (5): 579-581.
 

*       Yemma, J.J. and D.L. Ritch. 1994. Quantitative Cytophotometric and Autoradiographic Analysis of the Cell Cycle Kinetics during Growth and Development of the Plasmodium in the Myxomycete Didymium iridis. Cytobios 79: 107-116.
 

*       Therrien, C.D., P.W. Tooley, L.J. Spielman, W.E. Fry, D.L. Ritch, and S.E. Shelly. 1992. Nuclear DNA content, allozyme phenotypes and metalaxyl sensitivity of Phytophthora infestans from Japan. Mycological Research 97 (8): 945-980.
 

*       Therrien, C.D., D.L. Ritch, L.S. Sujkowski, P.W. Tooley, L.J. Spielman, W.E. Fry, S.S. Daggett, and J.H. Sim. 1992. Phytophthora infestans in Poland from 1987-1989. Nuclear DNA content, mating type distribution and response to metalaxyl. Phytopathology (Berlin) 139 (1): 68-80.
 

*       Therrien, C.D., D.L. Ritch, L.C. Davidse, Ad B.K. Jespers, and L.J. Spielman. 1989. The nuclear DNA content, mating type and metalaxyl sensitivity of eighty-three isolates of Phytophthora infestans from The Netherlands. Mycol. Res. 92(2): 140-146.
 

*       Tooley, P.W., C.D. Therrien, and D.L. Ritch. 1989. Mating type, nuclear DNA content, race composition, and isozyme analysis of Peruvian isolates of Phytophthora infestans. Phytopathology 79 (4): 478-481.
 

*       Ritch, D.L. and C.D. Therrien. 1988. A cytophotometric investigation of haploid x polyploid matings in the acellular slime mold Didymium iridis. Caryologia 41: 169-179.
 

*       Ritch, D.L. and C.D. Therrien. 1987. An investigation of the apogamic induction hypothesis in Didymium iridis. Cytobios 51: 171-181.
 

*       Therrien, C.D. and D.L. Ritch. 1985. A simplified method for the non-axenic liquid cultivation of slime mould amoebae: concanavalin A stimulation of population growth rates. Microbios 44: 117-124.

Abstracts:

*       Ritch, D.L., C.D. Therrien, S.S. Daggett, J.H. Sim, and L.S. Sujkowski.  1991.  Phytophthora infestans in Poland from 1987-1989.  Nuclear DNA content, mating type and response to metalaxyl.  Phytopathology 81 (10):  1190.
 

*       Therrien, C. D., S. S. Daggett, D. L. Ritch, N. Sato, L. J. Spielman, and P. W. Tooley.  1990.  Mating type, nuclear DNA content and isozyme composition of thirty‑three isolates of Phytophthora infestans from Japan.  Phytopathology 80 (1): 124.
 

*       Ritch, D. L., L. J. Spielman, L. Sujkowski, and C. D. Therrien.  1990.  The nuclear DNA content, mating type and metalaxyl sensitivity of fifty‑three isolates of Phytophthora infestans from Poland.  Phytopathology 80 (1):  123.
 

*       Therrien, C. D., D. L. Ritch, and L. J. Spielman.  1988.  The nuclear DNA content and ploidy of Phytophthora infestans.  Phytopathology 78 (11):  1511.
 

*       Therrien, C. D., D. L. Ritch, and B. J. Christ.  1987.  Cytophotometric analysis of the nuclear DNA content of twenty three isolates of Phytophthora infestans from The Netherlands.  Phytopathology 77 (11):  1620.

Laboratory Manual:

*       Ritch, D.L. and M.M. Park. 1987. Biology: Laboratory Manual. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company. Dubuque, Iowa. 471p.

Presentations:

Research:

*       “Determination of location of esterase activity in the acellular slime mold Didyium iridis,” Tri-Beta Northcentral District Convention at UW-Green Bay, (with undergraduate student Lacy Roberts), 2005, (poster presentation).
 

*       “Intracellular calcium in the acellular slime mold Didymium iridis,” Tri-Beta Chapter Initiation at UW-Green Bay (with undergraduate student Jesse Lloyd), 2004 (oral presentation).
 

*       “Intracellular calcium concentrations in the acellular slime mold Didymium iridis,” Third Annual Academic Excellence Symposium (with undergraduate students Jesse Lloyd and Dan Joppe), UW-Green Bay, Spring 2004 (poster presentation).
 

*       “Calcium signaling in the acellular slime mold Didymium iridis,” Second Annual Academic Excellence Symposium (with undergraduate student Emily Barnes), UW-Green Bay, Spring 2003 (poster presentation).
 

*       “Cell signaling in the acellular slime mold Didymium iridis,” at the UW-System Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (with undergraduate student Michelle Cullen); 2001 (poster presentation).
 

*       “An investigation into the intracellular signaling pathway of the acellular slime mold Didymium iridis,” at UW-System Symposium for Undergraduate Research (with undergraduate student Tina Sauerhammer), University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, 1999 (poster presentation).
 

*       "Nuclear DNA content and chromosome number in German isolates of Phytophthora infestans," at the 1993 Annual Meeting of the Mycological Society of America (MSA) in Athens, GA, June 18-23, 1993 (poster presentation).
 

*       "Phytophthora infestans in Poland from 1987-1989.  Nuclear DNA content, mating type and response to metalaxyl", Annual Meeting of the American Phytopathological Society, St. Louis, MO, 1991 (oral presentation).
 

*       "The nuclear DNA content, mating type and metalaxyl sensitivity of fifty‑three isolates of Phytophthora infestans from Poland", American Phytopathological Society Meetings, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 1989 (oral presentation).

Teaching:
 

*       “Ethnic Minorities in Science Course” at Women in Science Program, UW-Oshkosh, with Dr. Angela Bauer-Dantoin, Summer 2002, 2003, and 2004 (oral presentation).
 

*       “Laboratory Safety in the Undergraduate Science Lab,” Human Anatomy and Physiology (HAPS) Conference, Phoenix, AZ, with Jane Rank, May 2002 (poster presentation).
 

*       “Infectious Diseases – The Familiar and Not So Familiar”; UW-Green Bay; Fall 2001.
 

*       “The Use of Human Blood Products in the Undergraduate Laboratory” at the Human Anatomy and Physiology (HAPS) Conference, Charlotte, NC, 2000, with Jane Rank (workshop).
 

*       Rediscovering Chlamydomonas.” at the ACUBE (Association of College and University Biology Educators) 42nd Annual Meeting, October 15-17, 1998, Rockhurst College, Kansas City, MO (workshop).

Grant Proposals Awarded:

*       National Science Foundation - CCLI grant, "Improvement of Molecular Biology Components of the Human Biology Curriculum:  Incorporation of a Research-Based Learning Approach,” (with Dr. Angela Bauer-Dantoin).
 

*       National Science Foundation – CCLI grant, "Enhanced Learning of Human Anatomy:  An Integrative Approach," (with Dr. James Marker).
 

*       National Science Foundation – CCLI grant, “Improvement of the Molecular and Cell Biology Component in the Undergraduate Curriculum,” (with Dr. Warren Johnson).

Memberships in Professional Organizations:

*       American Association of Anatomists (AAA)
 

*       Association for College and University Biology Educators (ACUBE)
 

*       Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS)

*       Lab Safety subcommittee
 

*       Phi Kappa Phi

Faculty Athletics Representative to the NCAA for UW-Green Bay (since 1999)

*       The primary role of the FAR is to be involved in the assurance of academic integrity of the athletic program and in the maintenance of the welfare of the student-athlete.
 

*       Appointed to NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship Committee as the Faculty Athletics Representative (4 year term).