Rick Zechman is a graduate of Louisiana State University (Ph.D.), University of New Hampshire (M.S.) and University of North Carolina, Wilmington (B.S.). Following a postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University, Rick was a Professor of Biology at Fresno State for 16 years, where he taught courses in botany, phylogenetics and evolution, and marine biology. In addition, Rick has taught field marine science courses at Shoals Marine Lab (Cornell University) for over 20 years. He moved to Cal Poly Humboldt in 2012, attracted by Humboldt’s strength in marine science, natural resources, and field-based instruction. Rick enjoys fishing, hiking and anything outdoors with his family, and plays a variety of stringed instruments, including guitar, mandolin and dobro.