Matthew D. Moran

Dr. Matthew D. Moran is a Professor of Biology and Natural Science Area Chair at Hendrix College since 1996. He holds a Ph.D. (1996) and B.A. (1991) from the University of Delaware. As Director of the Summer Semester in Costa Rica program, he integrates tropical field ecology into student education. His research focuses on biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, and tropical ecology, with publications addressing land conservation strategies and climate change impacts.

Education: Ph.D., University of Delaware (1996); B.A., University of Delaware (1991).

Research Interests: Tropical ecology, conservation biology, biodiversity patterns, ecosystem service valuation, and the effects of global change on insect populations. He has led studies on monarch butterfly dynamics, parasitic hymenoptera biodiversity, and the ecological impacts of energy development.

Key contributions include work on Costa Rican conservation priorities, Arkansas sky island biodiversity, and the ecological effects of renewable energy projects. His courses include BIOL 106 (Neotropical Biology) and BIOL 365 (Ecology and Evolution), directly connecting classroom learning with field research opportunities.

He oversees the Arkansas Garden, a living laboratory featuring medicinal plants, rare tree species, and butterfly habitats. His programs emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to biology, preparing students for careers in conservation and environmental science.