Rate My Professor Dara Wegman-Geedey

Dara Wegman-Geedey is Professor of Biology at Augustana College, where she holds the Robert & Patricia Hanson Endowed Chair of Health & Human Performance. She serves as Acting Co-Chair of the Biology Department during Spring semesters and is a member of the Advising Committee with a term until 2027. Wegman-Geedey earned her B.S. in Biology from the University of Mount Union and her Ph.D. from the University of Delaware. She joined Augustana College in 1995 following her doctoral studies and has progressed through the ranks, becoming Associate Professor in 2001 and full Professor in 2009. In 2005, she served as the inaugural director of the Center for the Study of Teaching and Learning. Her professional experience prior to Augustana includes serving as Visiting Instructor of Biology at Sweet Briar College, Infectious Disease Research Assistant at Case Western Reserve University, and Staff Assistant in the Medical Products Division at DuPont.

Wegman-Geedey teaches microbiology, immunology, public health, and virology, emphasizing active learning techniques such as daily group quizzes in cell biology courses. She is the primary contact for the Public Health major, which she helped develop, and leads the Pre-Optometry advising program, where her students have maintained a 100% placement rate into optometry schools for over 20 years. She also advises pre-nursing students and participates in the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies working board. Wegman-Geedey contributes to public engagement through events like the 2021 Pandemic Perspectives discussion on COVID-19, a 2020 presentation on Intersex and Differences of Sex Development, and media comments on vaccine efficacy. In 2018, she reviewed the open textbook "Biology 2e," commending its comprehensiveness for two-semester introductory courses. Her work extends to experiential learning initiatives and committee service supporting student advising and academic affairs.