Dixie Forum: A Window to the World

Though “Shark Week” is still months away, Dixie State College’s weekly noontime “Dixie Forum: A Window on the World” forum will take the audience on a special trip to the ocean to learn about the feeding behaviors in sharks with DSC Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Jennifer Ciaccio.

Dr. Ciaccio’s presentation, entitled “Older and Wiser: The Development of Predatory Behavior in Sharks,” will discuss the evolution and development of feeding patterns in sharks. Ciaccio’s fascination with biology and sharks began at an early age after seeing the film “Jaws,” when she announced to her parents she wanted to grow up to be like the marine biologist character “Matt Hooper” played by Richard Dreyfuss.

Ciaccio has served as a biology, entomology, herpetology and oceanography instructor at Dixie State since 2008. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Villanova University, a Master’s degree in Entomology from the University of Arizona, and completed work on her Ph.D. in Biology at the University of Miami (FL) just prior to her arrival at Dixie State.

The Dixie Forum will continue each Tuesday through the rest of the spring semester, with the exception of a special Forum held in conjunction with DSC’s Second-Annual Research Day on Monday, April 9th. Upcoming guest speakers include neonatal developmental specialist Jean Powlesland, who will share her presentation entitled “One Brain for Life: Developmental Care in the Newborn ICU” on February 28th.