Here’s a Southwestern networking story with a twist. In Lubbock in June, Lee Silva Ferguson ’95, connected with Dr. Matt Barnes ’06, and SU’s Dr. Romi Burks, Garey Chair and Professor of Biology, specializing in aquatic ecology.

The occasion was an AP Summer Institute focusing on how to teach the best AP biology course possible. Lee asked both professors (Matt is now associate professor of aquatic ecology at Texas Tech) to speak during the week-long session.

Lee’s journey from Plano to SU began with the tour where “campus felt like home.” She majored in biology, joined Alpha Phi Omega, and ultimately served as student body president. She recalls some of her favorite professors were Dr. Morgan (biology), Dr. Sikes and Dr. Hunt (education), and Dr. Riquelme (Spanish). After graduation, she returned to Plano ISD to begin her teaching career. She is currently an AP consultant and leads fellow AP teachers in professional development workshops.

She and Matt met when she was his 9^th grade Honors biology teacher at Clark High School in Plano. He says her passion about biology, her alma mater, plus a classroom decorated with Southwestern Pirate swag led him to tour the campus years later.

His eventual matriculation to Southwestern as a Brown Scholar led to Dr. Burks’ classes. Her enthusiasm for teaching changed his plans from pre-med, and he eventually attended Notre Dame and earned his Ph.D. from the same advisor Dr. Burks had.

In addition to studying biology at SU, he pledged Kappa Sigma, served on Student Foundation, and met his wife, Erin Ready. “Southwestern exceeded my expectations in every way,” he says.

Now, teaching in Tech’s Department of Natural Resources Management, he says, “one of the things I emulate about Dr. Burks’ teaching is her passion for undergraduate research and engaging students in the lab.” In fact, Dr. Burks was visiting Matt’s lab with a few of her SU summer researchers during the AP Summer Institute.

Lee says, “It was such a treat to get to work with both of these educators, and to see my former student flourishing in his career as a professional scientist and educator.” (Matt was recently named a Texas Academy of Science Fellow.)

“Southwestern made this moment possible—from the education I received as a pre-service teacher to creating personal and professional connections with these two fantastic humans. This is one of the reasons I have supported my alma mater 30 years after my departure as an alumna. I want others to be able to have moments like this, too.”

Isn’t this the definition of networking?

- Written by Iris Bullard Foster ’75