Meet Three Faculty Experts

Lisa R. Gilson
Assistant Professor of Politics

Beverly J. Johnson
Charles A. Dana Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences

Zhenzhen Lu
Assistant Professor of Chinese
Faculty Spotlights

Winter 2025
Jessica Anthony’s novel “The Most” longlisted for National Book Award
The Most, the fourth novel from English Lecturer Jessica Anthony ’96, has earned widespread acclaim. Longlisted for the National Book Award in September, the slim novel recently made Time’s list of top 100 books for 2024. Read Anthony’s Getting a Grip on Fictional Time in Literary Hub.

Fall 2024
Tyler Austin Harper: Writing on ChatGPT for the Atlantic
Assistant Professor Environmental Studies Tyler Austin Harper is also a contributing writer for The Atlantic, where he tackles topics related to politics, race, culture, higher education and personal passions (like extreme fishing). His recent stories include ChatGPT Doesn’t Have to Ruin College

Winter 2025
Michel Droge: Painting the ocean depths and discovering an octopus nursery
A fish on stilts, an octopus nursery, and “bioluminescent disco balls” are just a few of the deep-sea wonders seen by visiting assistant professor Michel Droge while spending a month at sea as an artist-in-residence on a scientific expedition.

Winter 2025
Michael Rocque on guns, violence and hunting for Slate
Long an expert source for the media on gun violence, Professor of Sociology Michael Rocque delved into the available data around weapons used for hunting versus self-defense for Slate. Read Into the Woods: Are the decline in hunting and the increase in gun violence connected?
Faculty in the News

Apr 10, 2025
LeFlore studies lion movements in Botswana to understand the keys to their survival
Featuring: Eric G. LeFlore

Apr 8, 2025
Bates’ newest major, digital and computational studies, blends computer science with critique, community engagement
Featuring: Barry G. Lawson Anelise H. Shrout Carrie Diaz Eaton Andy E. Ricci Jason B. Castro

Mar 14, 2025
Picture Story: Chekhov’s ‘The Seagull,’ between avant-garde and traditional
Featuring: Katalin Vecsey

Feb 25, 2025
Bates named a Fulbright Top Producer for 14th straight year
Featuring: Beverly J. Johnson

Feb 5, 2025
Two scientists, a friendship, and a problem to solve: Ryan Bavis, Peter MacFarlane receive $2.8 million NIH grant to study sudden infant death syndrome
Featuring: Ryan W. Bavis

Jan 24, 2025
MLK Day keynote: Why nonviolent protest has become less successful (when it might be needed most)
Featuring: Tyler A. Harper