Michael Stevens

Faculty Member

Michael T. Stevens

Biography

At Utah Valley University, I'm a Professor of Biology and the Director of Capitol Reef Field Station. I received my PhD from University of Wisconsin-Madison and taught at California State University, Stanislaus, before coming to UVU. I teach and conduct research in two areas: plant ecology and science education. As a plant ecologist, I study how plants interact with their environment including herbivores, soil nutrients and water, boulders, and fire. I'm especially interested in how such interactions affect the expression of plant traits and patterns of plant growth and distribution. My research has focused on native trees and shrubs such as quaking aspen, netleaf hackberry, and Alaska paper birch; invasive species such as tree-of-heaven and myrtle spurge; and endangered species including Holmgren's milkvetch and clay phacelia. As a science educator, I study perceptions of crowding among national-park visitors, field-station partnerships between universities and national parks, and the roles that Science Faculty with Education Specialties (SFES) play in higher education.

Education

Ph D, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2005

Major: Botany

MS, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1998

Major: Botany

BS, Brigham Young University, 1995

Major: Conservation Biology

Teaching

BOT 4050

Plant Ecology, Fall 2022

BOT 4055

Plant Ecology Laboratory, Fall 2022

BIOL 481R

Biology Internship, Summer 2022

BOT 481R

Botany Internship, Summer 2022

BOT 499R

Senior Thesis, Spring 2022

Presentations

Blevins, Maria , McKasy, Meaghan , Hernandez, Leandra , Stevens, Michael T. , 1st International Academic Conference on the Sustainable Development Goals, "BeaUtahful Collaboration_ A Case Study of a Collaborative Research Project". (October, 2022)
Stevens, Michael T. , McKasy, Meaghan , Blevins, Maria , Hernandez, Leandra , Williams, Scott , Hungerford, Hilary , Lindley, Betsy , International Association for Society and Natural Resources (IASNR) Annual Conference, "How Many People are Too Many? A Mixed-Methods Assessment of Visitor Perceptions at Capitol Reef National Park". (June, 2022)
Stevens, Michael T. (Presenter & Author), Bush, SD (Author Only), Pelaez, NJ (Author Only), Rudd, JA (Presenter & Author), Tanner, KD (Presenter & Author), Williams, KS (Presenter & Author), NARST (National Association for Research in Science Teaching) Annual International Conference, "Symposium: Science Faculty with Education Specialties", Philadelphia, PA. ()
Tharp, R (Author Only), Stoddart, T (Author Only), Bravo, MA (Presenter & Author), Solis, JL (Author Only), Mckinney de Royston, M (Author Only), Collett, J (Author Only), Stevens, Michael T. (Author Only), Vega de Jesus, R (Author Only), 2009 Institute of Education Sciences Conference, "Integrating science and diversity education_ a model for pre-service elementary teacher preparation programs", Washington, DC. ()
Stoddart, T. (Presenter & Author), Bravo, M (Presenter & Author), Solis, J (Presenter & Author), Stevens, Michael T. (Author Only), Vega de Jesus, R. (Author Only), CREDE (The Center for Research on Education, Diversity and Excellence) Conference_ Improving Recruitment, Development & Retention Through Effective Pedagogy, ") Preparing pre-service teachers to integrate inquiry science with language and literacy instruction for English language learners_ an experimental study", San Francisco, CA. ()
Stoddart, T. (Author Only), Stevens, Michael T. (Presenter & Author), Bravo, M (Author Only), Solis, J (Presenter & Author), Vega de Jesus, R (Presenter & Author), Mosqueda, E (Author Only), NARST (National Association for Research in Science Teaching) Annual International Conference, "Symposium: Preparing pre-service teachers to integrate inquiry science with language and literacy instruction for English language learners_ an experimental study", Garden Grove, CA. . ()

Scholarly/Creative Works

Lindroth, RL , Donaldson, JR , Stevens, Michael T. , Gusse, AC , "Browse quality in quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides): effects of genotype, nutrients, defoliation, and coppicing" (vol. 33). Journal of Chemical Ecology.
Bush, SD , Pelaez, NJ , Rudd, JA , Stevens, Michael T. , Tanner, KD , Williams, KS , "Systematic investigation of Science Faculty with Education Specialties (SFES)" . CBE—Life Sciences Education.
Stevens, Michael T. , (2022) "Array" .
Stevens, Michael T. , (2021) "Array" .
Stevens, Michael T. , (2020) "Array" .
Stevens, Michael T. , (2020) "Array" .

Awards

Teaching Academy, Future Faculty Partner

UW-Madison

2003-2005

Outstanding Research and Scholarly Activity Professor

CSU Stanislaus

Department of Entomology, Kinney Merit Award

UW-Madison

US Forest Service Employee Excellence Award

TRIO Learning Center, Brenda Pfaehler Excellence in Teaching Award

UW-Madison