Professor of Biology

Department Chair

Director of Academic Programs, J.H. Barrow Field Station

B.A. Thomas More College
M.S. Miami University
Ph.D. University of Florida

Gerstacker 215
(330) 569-5265
hilsmh@hiram.edu

Education:
B.A. - Biology, 1978 - Thomas More College, Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017
M.S. - Botany, 1980 - Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056
Thesis: Species removals from a first-year old-field plant community in southwestern Ohio.
Ph.D. - Botany, 1985 - University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
Diss.: Comparative anatomy and systematics of twelve woody Australasian genera of Saxifragaceae.

Research Interests:
Systematics, morphology, anatomy, and ecology of vascular plants.

Professional Experience:
Director of Academic Programs, James H. Barrow Field Station, Hiram College - (Oct 2006 to present)
Professor of Biology - (Jul, 1998 to present)
Chairperson of Biology - (Jul 2005-present; Jul, 1998 to Jun, 2002; Sep, 1992 to Aug, 1995)
Acting Director, James H. Barrow Field Station – (Sep, 1998 to Jun, 1999)
Associate Professor of Biology - (Sep, 1991 to Jun, 1998)
Independent Botanical Consulting - (Part-time from Jan, 1996 to Sep 2003)
Senior Botanist for ACRT, Inc.- (summer consulting from Sep, 1990 to Dec, 1995)
Assistant Professor of Biology - (Sep, 1986 to Aug, 1991)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology - (Sep, 1984 to Aug, 1986)-
Organization of Florida State Museum Wood Collection; University of Florida- (Aug, 1982 to May, 1983)
Wood Identification Consultant – (May to Jun, 1982)
(Contact: Dr. Barbara A. Purdy, Dept. Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611)
Field Botanist - Ohio Dept. Nat. Resources, Div. Nat. Areas and Preserves - (Jun to Sep, 1980)
Field Botanist - USDA Noxious Weed Survey of Kentucky - (Jun to Sep, 1979)
Research Assistant; Miami Univeristy- (Sep, 1978 to May, 1979)
Laboratory Technician - (Apr to Nov, 1977)
 

Teaching Experience:
Hiram College - (Courses in order of most frequently to least frequently taught)
152, Introductory Biology II: How Life Works (1 time; replaced Intro Biol: Botany)
142, Introductory Biology - Botany (20+ times; last offering Fall 2006; replaced General Biology II)
213, Systematics of Nonvascular Plants (18 times)
316, Systematics of Vascular Plants (18 times)
331, Plant Anatomy (11 times)
105, Beginning Field Botany (in Ohio and Michigan) (9 times)
300, 101Field Biology and Beginning Field Biology (in Costa Rica) (7 times)
121, Economic Botany for the Nonmajor (7 times)
335, Evolution (2 times)
311 (INTD), Culture & Natural Hist. of the Caribbean (Interdisciplinary Crse. In Trinidad & Tobago) (3 times)
318 (INTD), Natural History in the Twenty-First Century (Galapagos Islands 2 times, Michigan 1 time)
120, Biology for the Nonmajor (4 times)
302, Field Botany (in Ohio and Michigan) (2 times)
111, General Biology II. Development of Diversity in Living Organisms (4 times)
1xx (FRCL), Freshman Colloquium - The Seeds of Civilization (5 times)
1xx (FSEM), Freshman Seminar: Ideas of the West - Journeys into the Exotic and Unknown (1 time)
101/300, Field Biology and Beginning Field Biology (in Hawaii) (1 time)
332, Plant Physiology (1 time)
480, Transmission Electron Microscopy (1 time)
5xx (MAIS) Planting Good or Evil: Frankenfoods on the Farm (Master of Interdisciplinary Studies) Sum 2005

University of Florida – (Ph.D. program)
Biological Sciences I. Cells, Organisms, and Genetics. Lecturer
Plant Anatomy. Teaching Assistant for Lab
Plant Diversity. Teaching Assistant for Lab
Local Flora. Teaching Assistant for Lab
Integrated Principles of Biology I. Molecules and Cells. Teaching Assistant for Lab

Miami University – (M.S. program)
General Botany. Teaching Assistant for Lab
Plant Taxonomy. Teaching Assistant for Lab

Field Work/Experience:
1979, Miami University Ecology Research Station studying the effects of selected species removals from an
old-field ecosystem. (Summer and Fall)
1979, Plant collecting in Kentucky visiting waste places to locate potential noxious weeds (conducted
as ten field trips, each lasting three days, throughout the summer).
1980, Plant collecting in northern Ohio as part of the Ohio Natural Heritage Program survey for rare
and endangered plants (Summer employment)
1985, Plant collecting in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (2 weeks)
1986, Plant collecting in western U.S. [Oregon, Nevada, Utah and Colorado] (3 weeks)
1987, Field work in Utah and Nevada to gather data and specimens for a study of the wood anatomy of
greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus and S. baileyi) (3 weeks)
1990 to present, Field work for consulting for wetlands delineations and rare plant surveys for highway
projects and other development projects.
1994, Plant collecting in Yellowknife area and Bathurst Inlet, N.W.T., Canada (10 days)

Grants:
NSF: College Science Instrumentation Program - Instrumentation for cell biology and molecular
biology program. Co-Investigator, awarded October, 1985
Hiram Summer Fellowship Award - Initiate study of the wood anatomy of Sarcobatus. Jul, Aug 1987
Hiram Summer Fellowship Award - Preparation of Taxaceae for Flora North America. July, 1988
Hiram Young Faculty Development Award (funded through Gund Foundation) –
For work on publication of a paper on Bauera anatomy. July and August, 1989
NSF: Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement Program. - A coordinated, cross-curricular focus to enhance student learning in the plant sciences. Co-Investigator, awarded April 1990
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) - Collaborative work with others in Biology Department
to prepare $700,000 grant to enhance the life sciences at Hiram College. (1991-1996)
HHMI Summer Research with students:
1992 – Beginner’s Key to Woody Plants of Ohio and Michigan with Jennifer Amick
1993 - Structure and Composition of the Beech-Maple Forest at the J.H. Barrow Field Station, with Laura Salter and Alison Kelly
NSF: Research Opportunity Award to study Gynoecial Diversification in Melastomataceae, in
collaboration with Doug Soltis at Washington State University, Aug 1999 through Jun 2000

Workshops Led:
AP Biology Laboratories - A one week workshop designed to introduce high school teachers to the
new laboratories for the AP biology course. Co-leader William Laughner. Summer, 1987
Hughes Outreach Program - Grocery Store Botany - A workshop to introduce high school teachers to
low cost lab exercises to foster better teaching of plant biology. Summers, 1992 through 1996

Workshops Attended:
F.I.P.S.E. Project - For training in theory and methods of teaching that foster critical thinking within
the discipline and across the disciplines. Summer, 1986
Chautauqua Short Course - Creation, Evolution or Both: A Multiple Model Approach, by Craig T.
Nelson, Indiana University. Fall, 1986
Chautauqua Short Course - Tropical Forests of the Caribbean, by Ariel E. Lugo, USDA Forest
Service, Puerto Rico. January, 1990
Project Kaleidoscope – Integrating biology and chemistry: biochemistry, Carleton College, Aug 1999

Hiram College Service:
Academic Program/Staffing Task Force to develop the five-year plan (1985-86)
Assisting Admission Office in recruitment (1985- present)
Faculty Advisor to women's rugby team (1986-1988)
Chairperson of Library Committee (1987 to 1989)
Faculty Advisor to Delta Chi Lambda Social Club (1987 to 1991)
Associate Chairperson of Gender Forum (1989-90)
Faculty Athletics Representative to Ohio Athletic Conference and NCAA (1986-94, 1996-97)
Chair, Special Advisory Committee on Athletics, Physical Education, and Wellness (1991)
Environmental Studies Board (1990-91)
Biology Chairperson (1992 to 1995; 1998 to 2001 [sabbatical 1999-00]; 2005 to 2008)
Health Sciences Board (1995-96) & Allied Health Professions Dual Degree Coordinator (1995-97)
Admissions Review Board (1998-99)
Study Abroad Board (1996 to1999)
Appointments, Tenure, and Promotion Committee (Fall 1998 to Dec 2001 [sabbatical leave 1999-01])
Northwoods Study Team (Fall 2000)
Faculty Chairperson (May 2003 through May 2005)
Program Prioritization Committee (2004-05)

Publications:
Hils, M.H., and J.L. Vankat. 1982. Mechanisms of succession in an old-field plant community in southwest
Ohio. Ecology 63: 705-711.
Aldrich, H.C., R.J. Ferl, M.H. Hils, and D.E. Akin. 1985. Ultrastructural correlates of anaerobic stress in
corn roots. Tissue and Cell 17: 341-348.
Hils, M.H., W.C. Dickison, T.W. Lucansky, and W.L. Stern. 1988. Comparative anatomy and systematics
of woody Saxifragaceae: Tetracarpaea. American J. Bot. 75: 1687-1700.
Hils, M.H. Wood anatomy of Mespilus germanica, pp. 356-359, In: Baird, J.R. and J.W. Thieret. 1989. The
medlar (Mespilus germanica, Rosaceae) from antiquity to obscurity. Economic Botany 43: 328-372.
Hils, M.H. Taxaceae Gray - Yew Family, pp. 423-427, In: Flora of North America Editorial Committee.
1993. Flora of North America North of Mexico, Volume 2, Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms,
Oxford University Press, New York.
Dickison, W.C., M.H. Hils, T.W. Lucansky, and W.L. Stern. 1994. Comparative anatomy and systematics of
woody Saxifragaceae. Aphanopetalum Endl. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 114: 167-182.
Hils, M.H., J.W. Thieret, and J. Morefield. Sarcobatus. pp. 387-389, In: Flora of
North America Editorial Committee. 2003. Flora of North America North of Mexico, Volume
4, Magnoliophyta: Caryophyllidae, part 1. Oxford University Press, New York.
Michelangeli, F.A., D.S. Penneys, J. Giza, D. Soltis, M.H. Hils, and J.D. Skean, Jr. 2004. A
preliminary phylogeny of the tribe Miconieae (Melastomataceae) based on nrITS sequence
data and its implications on inflorescence position. Taxon 53(2): 279-290.
Salter, L.A., A.M. Kelly, M. Benninger-Truax, and M.H. Hils. Structure and composition of the Frohring
Forest, an old-growth beech-maple forest at the James H. Barrow Field Station, Hiram Township,
Ohio (Portage County). In Preparation.

Abstracts (for talks or posters):
Hils, M.H., and J.L. Vankat. 1981. Species removal from a first-year old-field plant community.
Ecol. Soc. America, Bulletin 62:158.
Hils, M.H., T.W. Lucansky, and W.L. Stern. 1983. Comparative anatomy and systematics of woody
Saxifragaceae: Cuttsia viburnea F.V. Muell. Suppl. American J. Bot. 70: 117.
Aldrich, H.C., M.H. Hils, and R.J. Ferl. 1984. Ultrastructural changes in corn root tips after anaerobic stress.
Suppl. American J. Bot. 71: 16.
Hils, M.H., W.C. Dickison, T.W. Lucansky, and W.L. Stern. 1987. Anatomy, morphology, and systematics
of Tetracarpaea tasmannica Hook. American J. Bot. 74: 736.
Hils, M.H. 1989. Anatomy, morphology, and systematics of Bauera Banks. American J. Bot. 76:
Salter, L.M., A.M. Kelly, and M.H. Hils. 1994. Structure and composition of a beech-maple forest at
the James H. Barrow Field Station, Hiram, Ohio (Portage County). Ohio J. Sci. 94: 13.
Kelly, A.M., M. Benninger-Truax, and M.H. Hils. 1995. The effects of sampling intensity on measures of
species importance and diversity and on community classification in a beech-maple forest. (abstract)
Ohio J. Sci. 95(2): 53.
Kelly, A.M., M. Benninger-Truax, and M.H. Hils. 1995. The effects of increases in sample area on measures
of species importance and diversity and on community classification in a beech-maple forest in northeast
Ohio. (abstract) Bull. Ecol. Soc. Amer. 76(2): 139.
Harnar, A., Hall, P., and Hils, M.. 2001. The productivity of corn-legume intercropping in northeast
Ohio. Ohio J. Sci. 101(1): 23.
Hils, M.H., M. Zanis, M. McMahon, and D.E. Soltis. 2000. Phylogeny and diversification of ovary
position in Miconieae, Merianieae, and Blakeeae (Melastomataceae). American J. Bot.

Professional Talks:
Hils, M.H., and J.L. Vankat. 1981. Species removal from a first-year old-field plant community.
A.I.B.S. Meeting, Bloomington, IN. (Aug)
Hils, M.H., T.W. Lucansky, and W.L. Stern. 1983. Comparative anatomy and systematics of woody
Saxifragaceae: Cuttsia viburnea F.V. Muell. A.I.B.S. Meeting, Grand Forks, ND. (Aug)
Hils, M.H. 1985. Comparative anatomy and systematics of some Australasian woody Saxifragaceae
sensu lato. Hiram College Biology Symposium. (Jun)
Hils, M.H., W.C. Dickison, T.W. Lucansky, and W.L. Stern. 1987. Anatomy, morphology and
systematics of Tetracarpaea tasmannica Hook. A.I.B.S. Meeting, Columbus, Ohio. (Aug)
Hils, M.H., 1989. Anatomy, morphology, and systematics of Bauera Banks. A.I.B.S. Meeting, Toronto, Ontario. (Aug)
Hils, M.H., 2000. An ITS phylogeny of selected Melastomataceae. Eco-Evo Seminar Washington
State University, Pullman, WA. (11 Apr)
Hils, M.H. 2001. Floral evolution in Melastomataceae. Library Forum, Hiram College. (31 Jan)
Hils, M.H. 2001. Floral evolution in Melastomataceae. Ecology Seminar, Univ. Akron. (11 Apr)

Book Reviews:
Hils, M.H. 1983. Three-dimensional structure of wood. An ultrastructural approach, by B.G. Butterfield and
B.A. Meylan (review). Econ. Bot.
Hils, M.H. 1984. Florida wildflowers and roadside plants, by C.R. Bell and B.J. Taylor (review). Econ. Bot.
Hils, M.H. 1985. Anatomy of the dicotyledons. 2nd Ed.,Vol.II, by C.R. Metcalfe and L. Chalk (review).
Econ. Bot.

Intramural Documents:
Hils, M.H. 1983. Bryophyte lab exercise. Integrated Principles of Biology I. Univ. of Florida. 9pp.
Hils, M.H. 1983. Graduate student handbook; Department of Botany, University of Florida. 27pp.
Hils, M.H., and J.A. Clevinger. 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001. Beginner's Key to Woody Plants
of Ohio and Michigan. (116 pp. manuscript)