A Conversation With...
Dr. Gregory Stunz

Q: Where did you grow up and how did you get here, (A&M-CC)?

A: I grew up in the Texas Hill Country in Boerne, Texas. Both my parents still live there. I have one younger sister, a wife, and a pet Labrador retriever, named Bailey. I graduated from the University of Texas, San Antonio, Texas in 1990 with a BS in Biology. I received both my Masters of Science and Ph.D. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University College Station, Texas, in 1995 and 1999 respectively. After obtaining my Ph.D., I began working for the federal government. I took a position with the United States Department of Commerce, NOAA-Fisheries for three years, in Galveston, Texas as a Research Fishery Ecologist. I have always wanted to go in to academia, to teach and do research and this position became available at Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi. I started working here in September, 2002. I’ve been here just a little over a year.

Q: What motivates you and has helped you become who you are today?

A: I really like to teach and do research. My research motivates me to asking scientific questions about marine life. Then I enjoy interacting and sharing this information with my students. “ I am most effective with modern applications in the classroom. This includes computer, audio, video, and web-based platforms. I typically provide the students with copies of my lectures in reduced outline format. Not only does this delineate the lecture, but it also allows for student interaction and discussion rather than focusing on intensive or “busy” note taking.” However, my favorite methods of teaching is in a field- oriented “hands on” approach. Therefore, I structure many of my upper divivsion and graduate course with strong field-based compoents.

Q: What makes you passionate about your field and teaching students?

A: My passion and belief is “that the most important traits you can pass on to your student is an appreciation of science and an enthusiasm for learning. I feel that as educators, we should challenge the students to their academic potential. There should be plenty of opportunities for hard-working students to successfully complete and do well in my courses. I also think it is vitally important to assist the students as they gain the maturity and responsibility to make informed decisions about their educational and career goals. Finally, I think that professor accessibility is critical to successful teaching. I have an open door policy, and STUDENTS ALWAYS COME FIRST.”

Q: What course(s) are your favorite to teach?

A: One of my most favorite courses to teach would definitely be Marine Ecology, a graduate level course. I have about 10 students at the present time in that class. I also teach Introduction to Biology which is a core curriculum class, so this class is taught to 225 freshman students. It’s a class that is taught to biology and non-biology majors to help meet their science requirement. This course is a lot of fun because I get to interact with young enthusiastic biology students.

Q: What co-curricular activities are you involved in, and how can students become involved with you in those activities?

A: A major compontent of my duties at TAMUCC is research. I am fortunate in that I can employ a lot of undergaduate student workers to help me address marine biological questions. In addition, my students can work with me doing independent studies. They get credit for doing an independent project, and at the same time they gain value experience that will help them get a job. Secondly, many of our field faculty take students down to Laguna Madre Field Station, which is only accessible by boat. The students actually get to spend the night in this remote area. They learn alot and get to do some fun things, like fish, crab and seine. Lastly, I participate with a lot of community involvement activities and students are always welcomed to help me with those type activities. One of them is the Coastal Conservation Association, (CCA). In this organization, the main focus is to protect fisheries and marine life. We participate in activities like the “bay clean-ups”, and “kid-fish” programs. I work very closely also, with the Community Outreach Office on campus and we have done things like work with West Oso Elementary School, in Corpus Christi, and Youth Adventure Program in Marine Biology. The programs help to introduce potential young scientists to ecology and marine biology at Texas A & M–Corpus Christi, through demonstrations, experiments, and other activities.

Q: Outside of TAMUCC, what extracurricular activities are you involved in; what do you do for fun?

A: I love to fish, train my “lab”, and boating. I’m just really an outdoors-man. “IF I’M NOT HERE, I’M FISHING!

Q: Who inspired you the most or had the greatest impact during your collegiate experience which directed you to your field of study?

A: While I was in graduate school, I would have to say my graduate advisor, who help guide and train me as a young scientist. During my undergraduate work, the people who inspired me the most would be some of the scientists I worked for as a student worker. I got started in the biomedical field doing AIDS research for a private foundation. These experiences and opportunities really set the stage for my scientific training.

Q: What is your greatest achievement and whom do you attribute this to?

A: I don’t know yet what my greatest achievement is or will be. I feel that I’m always striving to do something even better than I did before. So, I’m still working on my greatest achievement.

Q: What question does the study of Marine Life attempt to answer?

A: Marine biologists attempt to answer scientific questions or give us an understanding of the interactions of marine life with their environment.

Q: Wouldn’t be caught dead wearing?

A: A suit or long pants….. I’m a field biologist (And, I noticed he was wearing a pair of shorts and a big smile.)