Robert Tompkins

Dr. Robert Tompkins is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology & Biochemistry at Belmont Abbey College. He specializes in plant community ecology, conservation biology, and floristics. His teaching spans courses like General Biology, Research Methods, Plant Ecology, and Environmental Science.

Dr. Tompkins holds a Ph.D. in Plant and Environmental Sciences from Clemson University (2011), an M.S. in Botany from North Carolina State University (1996), and a B.S. in Biology from Guilford College (1990). His research emphasizes prairie ecosystems, rare species conservation, and population genetics, with a focus on grasses like Andropogon gerardii (Big Bluestem) and Magnolia macrophylla.

His publications explore topics such as exotic species impacts on native ecosystems, microhabitat factors influencing plant distribution, and the genetic diversity of remnant plant populations. He has presented widely at conferences like the Eastern Native Grass Symposium and the Association of Southeastern Biologists Annual Meeting.

Dr. Tompkins has been invited to lecture on topics including piedmont prairie ecology and the life of artist Ralph Ray, Jr. His work bridges ecological research with conservation practice, emphasizing the importance of preserving rare plant communities.