Q&A with Tracy Burkhard, Assistant Professor of Biology

When and how did you develop an interest in your field?

I loved animals from an early age, and I thought that becoming a veterinarian was the only means available for fostering this love. It wasn’t until I serendipitously signed up for a course about the natural history of vertebrates—herps, birds, and mammals—that I began to discover that studying wild animals living in nature was both a possible career path and a career that intellectually excited me while also connecting me more deeply to nature. Understanding why animals look, behave, and live the way they do remains a fascinating area of study for me.

What excites you most about joining the L&C community?

I am thrilled with how engaged and enthusiastic L&C students are, both in research and in the classroom. I am excited to develop projects with undergraduate collaborators. I also love the liberal arts ethos at L&C that values critical thinking, compassion, and interdisciplinary collaboration. I have deep interests in many of the humanities, and it has been particularly fun getting to meet with colleagues across the campus who are experts in these fields. Finally, I must add that I love my department and feel fortunate to have landed among such creative, thoughtful, and intelligent people.

What kind of hobbies or special activities do you enjoy outside of work?

I have too many hobbies! I love being active (swimming, water polo, yoga, biking, running…). I am a lifelong francophile, and I just moved to Portland from Montpellier, France; I am now seeking ways to maintain my French. I love drawing, sewing, linocut printing, and many other artistic forms of expression.