Andrea Sussmann

Andrea identifies herself as an educator, ecologist, outdoor enthusiast and environmental advocate.

She grew up in Kitimat, northern B.C., close to the ocean and surrounded by forest and mountains. It is here that she developed a love of nature that ultimately led her to pursue studies in organismal biology, ecology and marine biology at UBC. This included PhD research (benthic marine ecology) at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre (BMSC) on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The desire to share her passion of the natural world culminated in a university teaching career. She developed and teaches the 4^th year Marine Biology (Biol 4235) course and also teaches Biol 1110, 1210 (introductory biology) and Biol 2322 (ecology) at KPU. The Marine Biology students are immersed in an inspirational weekend (at BMSC) exploring the rocky intertidal zone, riding waves aboard the Barkley Star and viewing marine mammals (grey whales if lucky!) and seabirds in the vicinity of Bamfield.

Andrea continues to enjoy spending time in nature and engaging in physically demanding outdoor challenges. She and her partner spend their winters alternating between back-country skiing and iglooing. They spend their summers sea kayaking and hiking. For narratives and photos of trips see: andreasussmann.weebly.com.