The Microbial Challenge: a Public Health Perspective

Professor Emeritus Robert I. Krasner, a member of the Department of Biology at Providence College (Rhode Island), retired after 50 years of teaching and research. His appointment at Providence College started in 1958, shortly after his service as a young army officer stationed in Japan that, according to Krasner, sparked his love for travel. During his tenure he was responsible for the development of new courses and mentoring students in research, He was recognized on several occasions for excellence in teaching. The Robert I. Krasner Teaching Award was established upon his retirement at the college to recognize outstanding graduating seniors. Krasner is the author of 20th Century Microbe Hunters, scientific papers, and a contributor to other scholarly works. He spent sabbaticals and leaves of absence at numerous domestic and foreign institutions including Fort Detrick Army Biological Laboratories, Georgetown University School of Medicine, and in Israel, France, Brazil, and England. At 69 years of age, he was accepted into the Harvard School of Public Health and earned a Masters of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree; he was the oldest full-time student to have accomplished this.Krasner founded and directed the Summer Science Program for high school students at Providence College from 1975 to 2006. The program hosted approximately 1,000 students during its long span. During this time he also developed and directed several grant-funded microbiology and biotechnology workshops for high school teachers.Over the years, Krasner attended and presented papers at numerous annual meetings of the American Society for Microbiology. Teaching remained his major interest, and when asked by colleagues "what (research) he was working on," his favorite reply was "students." His initiative led to the establishment of the Division for Microbiology Educators. Krasner's career was further highlighted by the presentation of over 60 papers in the United States and abroad. He continues to lecture occasionally and enjoys gardening, pet therapy, studio art, and playing the harmonica.'

Teri Shors has been a member of the Department of Biology and Microbiology at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh since 1997; she was promoted to the rank of Professor in 2010. Shors is a devoted teacher and researcher at the undergraduate and graduate levels and has been a recipient of university awards, including a distinguished teaching award and two endowed professorships. She has taught a variety of courses and laboratories and has made a strong contribution to the development of new courses in microbiology and molecular biology in the department.Shors' graduate and post-graduate education is virology-based and is reflected in her research. Before teaching at UW Oshkosh, she was a postdoctoral fellow in the Laboratory of Viral Diseases under the direction of Dr. Bernard Moss in the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). While her initial expertise centers upon studying the expression of vaccinia virus genes, she is currently interested in the potential of anti-viral compounds in cranberries, other fruits, and herbs used as green medicine in Hmong culture. This anti-viral research has been funded by a variety of granting agencies, including a prestigious Merck/AAAS award. Shors has mentored many students engaged in independent research projects and related readings.Shors contributes strongly as a co-author to the 3rd edition of The Microbial Challenge. She is the author of Understanding Viruses, now in its 2nd edition and has recently authored Encounters in Virology. Additionally, she has contributed to and authored a variety of other texts and scientific writings.Initiative, creativity, using technology in the classroom, networking, and leading collaborative, cross-disciplinary studies are all hallmarks of Shors' talents. Her use of technology, current events topics, and humor makes her popular among students in the classroom. She has recently developed and taught an online virology course for undergraduates.