DSC Personnel

CSU Desert Studies Director

Dr. Terry McGlynn

Dr. McGlynn became the Director of CSU Desert Studies in August 2021. He is an ecologist, entomologist, and science communicator. His research employs experimental natural history to solve mysteries involving the integrative biology of ants, leading to over 50 peer-reviewed publications. To increase the accessibility of evidence-based teaching practices, he wrote The Chicago Guide to College Science Teaching (University of Chicago Press, 2020).

Before joining CSU Desert Studies, Dr. McGlynn served as the Director of Undergraduate Research at CSU Dominguez Hills, where he is Professor of Biology. Dr. McGlynn is also appointed as a Research Associate in the Department of Entomology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. McGlynn has led a series of NSF-funded projects to support field research opportunities and provide mentorship for undergraduate biology students, and has served in several roles to support the development of K-12 STEM teachers at CSU Dominguez Hills. He is a Fellow of the Earth Leadership Program, serves on the editorial boards for the journals Biotropica and Insectes Sociaux, and is creator of the popular blog Small Pond Science. In 2021, he received the Presidential Outstanding Professor award from CSU Dominguez Hills.

Dr. McGlynn is a strong voice for equity and broadening participation in STEM, and works to build greater understanding of institutions that serve minoritized and first-generation students. He is excited how the we work together in Desert Studies to provide access to field-based science for students within and beyond the CSU, and believes that working for equity and access will lead to a more impactful and just scientific community. You can find him on twitter at @hormiga.