Office: Room 906F, 17 Lex., Phone: (646) 660-6207

Email: jjapha@aol.com

Joan Japha, Ph.D., University of Connecticut (Zoology) returned to the faculty of the Department of Natural Sciences in the Fall 1995 semester after having served for many years as Associate Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Baruch College. Professor Japha began her career specializing in cell biology. Her early research concerned freshwater mussels, and she later studied the pineal gland of the gerbil. From 1969 until 1979, she taught in the Department of Biology (later Natural Sciences) at Baruch College. In addition to teaching introductory biology courses, she developed and taught the department's first courses in ecology and in cell biology. She also served as Acting Chairperson of the department for two semesters. Professor Japha joined the dean's office in 1979 and contributed to the development of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She helped to improve student services as the supervisor of the liberal arts Offices of Curricular Guidance and Career Placement. She worked on many curriculum projects, including the development of new majors for liberal arts students and, for several years, administered the College's Freshman Year Initiative Grant.