Originally from South Carolina, Dr. Frick-Ruppert grew up with a love of nature and an appreciation for her surroundings. She was attracted to biology because of the opportunity it afforded to study how life operates. While earning her Ph.D. in Zoology from Clemson University, she studied a small, marine echinoderm that gives birth to its offspring when they are in an advanced stage of development. She determined how the parent was able to provide enough nutrition to the young for their completion of development. She went on to document how eggs establish their apical-basal polarity. For a list of her accomplishments, please refer to her Curriculum VitaeDr. Frick-Ruppert continues to work on different marine organisms, but has expanded her interests to terrestrial organisms as well. Whether birds, plants, or fungi, she explores their natural history. One of her specialties is the natural history of the saltmarsh and another is of cypress swamps. She frequently gives lectures and presentations in the area that focus on natural history. Click for a list of upcoming and previous talks and walks.
Besides learning the local organisms, she also enjoys gardening, sailing, SCUBA-diving, snorkeling, and learning to play the banjo. For nearly 15 years, she lived in a log cabin built by herself and her husband, but after their son was born in 2003, they moved closer to the town of Brevard. Dr. Frick-Ruppert teaches courses in environmental studies, using her own life as an example, and also teaches courses in aquatic ecosystems, human ecology, and a variety of field-based, local organisms courses such as local birds, local fungi, local wildflowers, and local trees.
She says of Brevard College, "Our graduates have the kind of broad-based education that allows them to succeed in their careers, as many of them can attest. All of our courses are small in size, enabling the instructors to provide the personal attention that defines high-quality education." She knows what she's describing when it comes to high-quality education. Dr. Frick-Ruppert was awarded Brevard College's Exemplary Teaching Award for 2003-2004.
Speaking of local organisms, Dr. Frick-Ruppert is especially excited about the project Appalachian Almanac. Originally published in the local Brevard newspaper, The Transylvania Times, the columns have been adapted for inclusion in a book, complete with photographs, of the same name. She was awarded a sabbatical, funded by both Brevard College and the Appalachian College Association, for the 2005-2006 academic year, during which the majority of the book was completed. In addition, she has recorded some of the columns as audio pieces. Each of these approximately 3 minute audio programs focuses on the natural history of local flora and/or fauna appropriate for the season. If all goes well, you may soon hear these spots on selected NPR radio stations. For written transcripts of these programs visit the Appalachian Almanac website by clicking here.Dr. Frick-Ruppert was appointed in May 2006 to lead the Appalachian Center for Environmental Education (ACEE), but also remains on the faculty of Brevard College. The ACEE has an environmental education focus and includes undergraduate research opportunities, environmental research involving high school students and their teachers working together with college students and faculty, a variety of summer environmental programs, other similar activities, and the Pisgah Forest Institute (PFI).