Meet our faculty
Paul Keim - infectious disease and defense expertise
Paul Keim, Regents’ Professor, is a world-renowned expert in infectious diseases and bioterrorism. After the 2001 anthrax attacks, he was responsible for discovering the origin of the malicious spores.
In 2014, the Pentagon awarded Dr. Keim a $7 million grant to study melioidosis, a disease that has potential to be used as a biological weapon.
In 2017, Dr. Keim led a team researching a new test for Lyme disease, giving hope to many undiagnosed and misdiagnosed patients.
Monica Brown – award-winning children’s book author
Children’s book author and NAU professor Monica Brown promotes cultural studies and bilingual education. Her books—all of which are printed in both English and Spanish—have won numerous awards, including the 2012 Américas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature.
NPR’s All Things Considered interviewed her about her writings that feature diverse characters.
Kiisa Nishikawa - groundbreaking muscular research
In 2014, Regents’ Professor Kiisa Nishikawa was awarded a $1 million grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation for her muscle and biomechanics research, based on her “winding filament” hypothesis that could have huge implications for physiology, medicine, and robotics. She is currently the lead researcher in the Nishikawa Biometrics Lab, and her work has been profiled by the Washington Post, National Geographic, and The Atlantic.
Darrell Kaufman - research leadership for documentary
Darrell Kaufman, Regents’ Professor in the School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, was the Lead Research Adviser for the PBS documentary film, Taking Earth’s Temperature: Delving into Climate’s Past.
The film follows scientists as they work to uncover the cause of current climate change by examining geological and biological data to understand the history of Earth’s climate.
Pam Stephens - art education for a new generation
Art education professor Pam Stephens created a new system for elementary art education. She authored the acclaimed Dropping in On series, which features books and videos that teach K-3 students about artists, art styles, and artistic periods. The series was developed to get students personally engaged in works of art through relatable, modern content.
She is also the co-author of Tessellations: The History and Making of Symmetrical Designs and Bridging the Curriculum through Art: Interdisciplinary Connections, as well as a columnist for Art Teacher Round Table.
Nadine Barlow - mars scholar and asteroid expert
Professor Nadine Barlow is one of the world’s top Mars scholars. For several years, she has led research on the existence of water in our solar system, and uses real NASA data in the classroom.
She also discovered an asteroid that was named after her. Asteroid 15466 Barlow is in orbit between Mars and Jupiter.