Curriculum Vitae

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Amber Marie McCammon

Biology Department, Arkansas State University

State University, AR 72467

Phone: (340) 642-2307; E-mail: amber.m.mccammon@gmail.com

I was born on a Marine Corp base in California and moved countless times between West Coast and Midwest states throughout childhood. I dropped out of high school but wasn’t content with a life of office work so earned an associate of arts degree and certificate in photography by putting myself through night school in my hometown of Portland, Oregon. Before graduation I traveled around the world living for extended periods of time in Nepal, Greece, Italy, and Scotland.

I moved to St Thomas to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology at the University of the Virgin Islands. I earned a Master’s Degree in Behavior Ecology of Tropical Marine Organisms at Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute.

As adjunct faculty at the University of the Virgin Islands I have taught science off and on from 2010 to present. I am currently a PhD student in the Environmental Science program at Arkansas State University and Director of Progams and Curator for the Virgin Islands Children’s Museum.

As a mother and long time member of the St Thomas community, I have been involved in numerous education events and initiatives and enjoy sharing my love of science and the sea. esearch interests include science literacy, interspecific and intraspecific interactions including communication, population dynamics, reproductive strategies, social behavior, and symbiosis between and among micro and macro scale associates. Current work focuses on Caribbean reef fish ectoparasitism and marine cleaning symbiosis.

(a) Professional preparation:

Mt. Hood Community College, OR: Photography Certificate 2002

Mt. Hood Community College, OR: Associate of Arts Degree, General Studies 2002

University of the Virgin Islands, USVI: Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology 2006

Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch Oceanographic, FL: Master of Science, Biological Sciences 2010

Arkansas State University, AR: Doctor of Philosophy, Environmental Sciences Program 2017 - Present

(b) Appointments:

2018-Present Director of Programs/ Curator Virgin Islands Children's Museum

2010-2018 Adjunct Faculty University of the Virgin Islands

2007-2009 Teaching Assistant Florida Atlantic University

2006-2007 Part-time Faculty University of the Virgin Islands

(c) Peer-reviewed publications

Paul C Sikkel, Rachel L Welicky, John M Artim, Amber M McCammon, Joseph C Sellers, Ann Marie Coile, William G Jenkins. (2017) Nocturnal migration reduces exposure to micropredation in a coral reef fish. Bulletin of Marine Science, 93 (2), 475-489.

SM Loerch, AM McCammon, PC Sikkel (2015) Low susceptibility of invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois volitans to ectoparasitic Neobenedenia in the eastern Caribbean. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 98 (8), 1979-1985.

McCammon, A. M., & Brooks, W. R. (2014). Protection of host anemones by snapping shrimps: a case for symbiotic mutualism? Symbiosis, 1-8.

Welicky, R. L., Cheney, K. L., Coile, A. M., McCammon, A., & Sikkel, P. C. (2013). The relationship between lunar periodicity and activity of fish-parasitic gnathiid isopods in the Caribbean. Marine Biology, Volume 160, 7:1607-1617.

McCammon A., Sikkel P., Nemeth D. (2010). Effects of three Caribbean cleaner shrimps on ectoparasitic monogeneans in a semi-natural environment. Coral Reefs, 29:419-426.

Sikkel P. C., Nemeth D., McCammon A., Williams J. E. H. (2009). Habitat and species differences in prevalence and intensity of Neobenedenia melleni (Monogenea:Capsalidae) on sympatric Caribbean surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae). Journal of Parasitology, 95:63-68.

(d) Other Publications:

McCammon, A. (2010). Snapping shrimp protect host anemones from predators, MS thesis, Florida Atlantic University, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. 43 pages; 1484584.

Noori, L., Chadwick, N., McCammon, A., Sabino, M., Ratchford, S., Titus, B., Christmas., A.M. (2009). Coral reef discovery: a science activity book for middle grades 5-8th grade. Sea Grant Marine Outreach Progam, Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, University of the Virgin Islands.

McCammon, A. (2008). Fine art photographs: advection in action, living fossils, and marine fire. Coastlines Literary Magazine. Florida Atlantic University

A McCammon, R Nemeth, M Whitaker, N Idrisi (2007) Epscor phase II: Future directions-Land-sea interactions. Bulletin of Marine Science. 80 (3), 927-927

(e) Synergistic activities:

2006-2009: Facilitated and mentored high school students in Earthwatch Institute citizens in science program(s) on St John, USVI.

2007: Established and coordinated the marine debris removal and monitoring effort at Cas Cay – Mangrove Lagoon Marine Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary, St. Thomas, USVI.

2011-2013: Developed and conducted science education in art for all ages at the non-profit Alternative Art Alliance, St. Thomas, USVI.

2011-2013: Principle consultant and lecturer for youth marine environment discovery for the non-profit, Frenchtown Initiatives, St. Thomas, USVI. https://www.facebook.com/frenchtownmural.initiatives/photos

2013: Mentor and instructor on record for two minority undergraduates on directed independent research projects, University of the Virgin Islands, St Thomas, USVI.

(f) Collaborators and other affiliations:

W.R. Brooks (Florida Atlantic University), K.L. Cheney (University of Queensland, Australia), A. Coile (Arkansas State University), D. Nemeth (University of the Virgin Islands), P. C. Sikkel (Arkansas State University), N. Smit (North West University, South Africa), R. L. Welicky (Arkansas State University), E. Williams (University of Puerto Rico).

Graduate Advisors and Postdoctoral Sponsors:

Graduate advisor (Master of Science): W. Randy Brooks (Florida Atlantic University)

Graduate advisor (Doctor of Philosophy): Paul C. Sikkel (Arkansas State University)