View Biology directory

Faculty Member

Dr. Heather Wilson-Ashworth

Biography

I am a Professor of Biology. I earned my Bachelor's degree in Math Education with a minor in Biology and a Ph.D. in Human Physiology & Cell Biology at Brigham Young University.

My research interests include:
- the development and assessment of process skills in active learning classrooms.
- effective mentoring strategies in undergraduate research.
- process skills assessment tool development.

The teaching awards I have received include:
-POGIL Early Achievement Award (PEACH), The POGIL Project, 2020
- Student Advocate Award, UVU, 2019.
- Best Design of an Online Course, 3rd place, UVU, 2019.
- Presidential Award of Excellence in Teaching, UVU, 2018.
- Faculty Excellence Award, UVU, 2012.
- Faculty Appreciation Award from UVU Academic Tutoring, 2011.
- Service Learning Faculty of the Year, Utah Valley University, 2006.
- Presidential Award for Faculty Scholarship, 2002.

I teach General Biology, College Biology, Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology and Human Physiology.

Education

PhD, Brigham Young University, 1999

Major: Cell Biology and Physiology

BA, Brigham Young University, 1994

Teaching

BIOL 4890R

Student Research, Spring 2026

BIOL 4890R

Student Research, Spring 2026

BIOL 4890R

Student Research, Spring 2026

Presentations

Wilson-Ashworth, Heather , Harris, Faith M., Shinkle, Aaron , Erickson, Joshua , Jensen, Lauren B., Bell, John D., Biophysical Conference, "Distinguishing membran fluidity and lipid order using steady state fluorescence emission and anisotropy.", Baltimore, MD. ()
Wilson-Ashworth, Heather , Judd, A.M. , Bell, J.D. , FASEB Conference, "Mechanism by which Phospholipase A2 causes Cells to Become Resistant to its Action. ", San Diego, CA.. ()

Scholarly/Creative Works

Wilson-Ashworth, Heather , (2023) "They’re gone_ Building classroom community to promote student retention" (Issue: 5, vol. 61). The Physics Teacher. https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0153112
Premo, Joshua , Wyatt, Brittney N., Horn, Matthew , Wilson-Ashworth, Heather , Wilson, Kristy Jean, (2022) "Which Group Dynamics Matter_ Social Predictors of Student Achievement in Team-Based Undergraduate Science Classrooms" (Issue: 3, vol. 21). CBE—Life Sciences Education. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.21-06-0164
Wilson-Ashworth, Heather , Olson, E.D. , Nelson, J. , Griffith, K. , Nguyen, T. , Streeter, M. , Gleb, M.H. , Bell, J.D. , (2010) "Kinetic evaluation of a cell membrane hydrolysis during apoptosis by human isoforms of secretory phospholipase A2" (vol. 285). Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Wilson-Ashworth, Heather , Stott, B.M. , Vu, M.P. , McLemore, C.O. , Lund, M.S. , Gibbons, E. , Brueseke, T.J. , Bell, J.D. , (2008) "use of fluoresces to determing the effects of cholesterol on lipid behavior in sphingomyelin liposomes and erythrocyte membranes." (vol. 48). Journal of Lipid Research.
Wilson-Ashworth, Heather , Bahm, Q. , Erickson, J. , Shinkle, A. , Vu, M.P. , Woodbury, D. , Bell, J.D. , (2006) "Differential detection of phospholipid fluidity, order, and spacing by fluorescence spectroscopy of bis-pyrene, prodan, nystatin, and mercyanine." (vol. 91). Biophysical Journal.
Wilson-Ashworth, Heather , Jensen, L.B. , Burgess, N.K. , Gonda, D.D. , Spencer, E. , Driscoll, E. , Vu, M.P. , Fairbourn, J.L. , Judd, A.M. , Bell, J.D. , (2005) "Mechanisms governing the level of susceptivility of erythrocyte membranes to secretory phospholipase A2" (vol. 88). Biophysical Journal .

Awards

Teacher of the Year

Utah Valley University

Spring.

Presidental award for faculty Scholarship

Utah Valley University - September, 2002

Awarded $1,000