Rate My Professor Elena Pravosudova

Elena Pravosudova is a Regents' Teaching Professor, Associate Biology Department Chair, and Regents' Academic Advisor in the Department of Biology at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she has been a faculty member since 2007. Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, she has resided in the United States since 1991. Dr. Pravosudova earned her Ph.D. in Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology from The Ohio State University in 1999, along with M.S. and B.S. degrees in Zoology from Leningrad University (now St. Petersburg State University) in 1983. Her academic training and research interests center on ornithology and behavioral ecology. Passionate about undergraduate education, she co-founded the Biology Peer Instruction Program in 2008 alongside Pamela Sandstrom. This initiative promotes active learning in high-enrollment introductory biology courses through flipped classroom approaches, peer-led discussions, critical thinking exercises, and resources like guided note outlines and discussion videos developed during the pandemic. She has played a key role in undergraduate curriculum development at both the department and university levels, serving as Chair of the University Curriculum Committee for five years. Dr. Pravosudova teaches courses such as BIOL 495 – Peer Leadership in Biology and remains dedicated to supporting student success, growth mindset, and peer mentorship.