Science faculty & staff
The Science Department is staffed by eight full time faculty and one full time Laboratory Safety Officer. In addition, a diverse group of adjunct faculty teach many of the science department classes and labs. These adjuncts have tremendous expertise and depth in their fields of study and bring an exceptional level of knowledge and professionalism to the department. Adjuncts can be contacted by using the faculty and staff directory.
Full-time faculty & staff
Brian Adams teaches Introduction to Environmental Science, Natural History and Freshwater Ecology. He is also the Chair of the Science Department and the Program Coordinator for the Environmental Studies/Natural Resources option. As GCC Fish Project Director he coordinates the anadromous fish population study work on the Connecticut River and hires numerous GCC students for seasonal work. He has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Human Ecology from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York and a Master’s in Environmental Biology from Antioch in Keene, New Hampshire. He can be reached at #413-775-1454 and at adams@gcc.mass.edu.
Trisha Basford teaches Chemistry 111 and 112 and General Biology I – Bio 126. She has an undergraduate degree in environmental chemistry from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and a doctorate in Biochemistry from Western Michigan University, as well as a degree in culinary arts from Schenectady County Community College. She spends all of her free time discussing Bakugan and dinosaurs with her young son. Trisha can be reached at basfordt@gcc.mass.edu or at 413-775-1862.
Christine Copeland is the program assistant for the Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency Certificate and Liberal Arts Option. She has a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Cornell University and a Masters in Elementary Education from Antioch New England. Her major responsibilities involve assisting Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency students and faculty in whatever their needs may be, including responding to student inquiries, providing instructors institutional support, helping with registration and scheduling, advising, getting together book orders, and a thousand other things that make the program run. Outside of work she may be found knitting, rug hooking and chauffeuring her two sons from one activity to another. She can be contacted at 413-775-1472 or at copelandc@gcc.mass.edu.
Beth Erviti teaches anatomy and physiology, nutrition and pathology when she is not out riding her horse Sunny or walking her dog Pepper. Beth loves a good joke almost as much as teaching human biology. She got her undergraduate degree at the University of California at Santa Cruz in physiology amidst the redwoods and Monterey Bay, and her graduate degree at the University of Massachusetts in exercise physiology. Beth can be reached at 775-1450 and at Erviti@gcc.mass.edu.
Natalie Feliciano is the Laboratory Safety Compliance Officer for the Science Department. She has an undergraduate degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Rochester and a Masters Degree in Plant Biology from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Natalie has previously worked in labs at Amherst College, Northwestern University and the University of California, San Francisco. Of all of these colleges Natalie loves GCC by far the best. When not acting as Science Goddess, Natalie loves cooking, kayaking and exploring the natural wonders and cultural quirkiness of New England. She can be reached at felicianoN@gcc.mass.edu and at 413-775-1861.
Mary Ellen Fydenkevez teaches microbiology, chemistry and nutrition and serves on practically every committee in the college. Mary Ellen’s extensive classroom teaching experience is augmented by her years as a wastewater treatment plant laboratory technician as well as a research laboratory manager. She graduated from U Mass with an undergraduate degree in animal science and a graduate degree in animal nutrition (humans are animals!!!!) She can be reached at 775-1469 and fydenkevez@gcc.mass.edu
A woodworking fanatic, Jay Gump teaches Anatomy and Physiology – Biology 195 and 196. He received his undergraduate degree in Mathematics at the University of North Carolina and his doctorate at the University of Vermont in Molecular Physiology and Biophysics. In his “spare” time Jay coaches elite cyclists including Olympians and world champions and is interested in helping athletes utilize their talents to achieve success in life. He can be reached at gumpj@gcc.mass.edu and at 413-775-1152.
Ted Johnson teaches Physics, Astronomy, and Meteorology as well as coordinates the Engineering program. He has a BS in Electrical Engineering, an MS in Science Education, 12 years of engineering experience, and several decades of teaching experience . He brings experience in solar building design, amateur radio work, computer applications, artificial intelligence and vision work, and engineering experience in meteorological weather balloons, piezoelectric transducer design and fabrication, resinate deposition based ceramic microcircuits, commercial radio transmitters and repeaters, antenna design, as well as business experience as an industrial process consultant and troubleshooter. He has taught courses in electronic circuit design, both analog and digital, most programming languages, robotics – motion and vision, several levels of physics – classical and modern, electrical wiring, astronomy, meteorology, and industrial electronic control systems. His work experience includes Raytheon, Sprague Electric, US Sonics Corp, General Electric, Mount Anthony Vocational Center, Vermont Dept of Labor and Industry, Berkshire Community College, Westfield State College, Community College of Vermont and Greenfield Community College. He can be reached at 775-1429 and at Johnson@gcc.mass.edu.
Teresa Jones graduated from Yale University in New Haven, CT, with a double degree in Environmental Studies and History. She received her master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in Plant Biology. She has worked as a science reporter and co-authored a book on asthma. She began teaching at the high school level before coming to GCC in 1999. She currently teaches Ecology and Sustainable Energy courses. Teresa can be reached at (413) 775-1472 and at jones@gcc.mass.edu.
Professor Emeritus Richard Little taught geology and oceanography at GCC full time for 34 years before semi-retiring in 2004. He has published articles, written books and produced videos in the geoscience field, has taught many additional courses, workshops and presentations at other institutions, and runs his own geology tour business. Dick has a B.A. from Clark University and an M.A. from the University of Southern California. He is past President of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, past Chairman of the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District, and Vice President and past president of the Pioneer Valley Institute. He was inducted into the Massachusetts Science Educator Hall of Fame in May of 2004. He can be reached at rdlittle2000@aol.com.
Peter Talmage is an instructor in the Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency program. He ran his own business, Talmage Solar Engineering, from 1975 to 2002, designing, selling and installing solar thermal, wind and photovoltaic systems and integrating whole house energy systems. Peter has a bachelors and masters degree in mechanical engineering from Tufts University and in his free time (ha!) he continues to run and energy and design consulting business. Peter’s passions are biking, hiking, astronomy and energy projects. Don’t be surprised to him commuting the many miles from his home in Northfield on his electric bicycle.
