Jeffrey Law
Jeffrey Law, an associate professor of biology at Daemen University, has recently taken on the role of Honors Program director.
Law, whose expertise is mainly in plants and insects, teaches multiple courses at Daemen, including introduction to biology, plant biology, insect biology, among others.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Edinboro in Pennsylvania, and his master’s degree in zoology from Texas Tech University. He also holds a PhD in ecology from Pennsylvania State University.
While completing his PhD, Law became interested in teaching (in addition to his research). He completed a fellowship through the National Science Foundation helping middle school teachers enhance their science curriculum by providing more experiences and knowledge to encourage students to gain interest in the field.
He plans to grow the honors program at Daemen by creating more student interaction and offering more community service experience.
We spoke with Law to hear more about his involvement at Daemen and plans for the program.
What is your favorite part of working at Daemen?
I enjoy working with small groups of students at a time. At Daemen, teaching smaller classes allows me to interact with students more – as opposed to teaching in a larger lecture hall. Also, Daemen supports research, which is unique for a smaller university to encourage faculty and students in this way.
Why did you want to lead Daemen’s Honors Program?
I believe the key to a successful honors program is diversity. I want to bring students from different backgrounds together to share their knowledge and experience.
I want to enhance the student experience by helping students build connections beyond campus as well.
What motivates you and inspires you in your career?
I enjoy helping students achieve their goals. When I was a student, I came from a small, rural area and higher education helped open my eyes to what was available. I strive to teach students about new experiences and knowledge so that they can learn about many different opportunities in the world.
I also enjoy conducting research and finding answers to questions, as well as adding knowledge to areas people do not know much about yet.
What are you looking forward to the most in your role as Honors Program director?
I look forward to growing the program by having more students join. I also want to create opportunities for deeper interactions with students and make them part of an active group.
Through honors classes, I want to provide students with more opportunities outside the classroom and apply what they’ve learned in the real-world.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I am an outdoor enthusiast. I enjoy hiking, biking and kayaking in my spare time.
More About the Daemen’s Honors Program
Learn more about Daemen University’s Honors Program here. To apply to join the Honors Program, complete the online application.