Nancy Kohn

Dr. Nancy Kohn is an Associate Professor of Biology at Cottey College, where she has served since 2018. She coordinates the Biology Program and co-organizes the Cottey Community Garden. Her academic background includes a B.S. in Art and Biology from Albright College, an M.S. in Biology from Saint Louis University, and a Ph.D. in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She completed postdoctoral fellowships at the Laboratoire Evolution, Génomes et Spéciation (CNRS, France) and the University of Missouri–Saint Louis.

Dr. Kohn specializes in animal behavior, focusing on recognition memory in salamanders and cognitive processes in fruit flies. Her research has explored territorial behavior in red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) and learning mechanisms in Drosophila. She is an active member of professional organizations including the Missouri Herpetological Society, Ecological Society of America, and Animal Behavior Society (since 2002).

Recent professional activities include presenting at the 2019 Weaving the Future of Animal Behavior Early Career Symposium and participating in virtual conferences for the Animal Behavior Society (2020) and Ecological Society of America (2020). Beyond academia, she engages in community initiatives, including a local art group and walking club.