Dr. Jim Carpenter, Associate Professor in the ACU AES Department
In the fall of 2016, the AES Department was delighted to welcome new faculty member, Dr. Jim Carpenter to the team. He arrived to Abilene along with his wife Iliana, and their two daughters, Elora and ReAnna. Reanna is student in the department currently pursuing a degree in Environmental Science.
The Carpenter Family, (L-R) Iliana, ReAnna, Elora and Dr. Jim Carpenter
Originally from Ohio, Carpenter made his move to ACU from Wilson, North Carolina where he served as an Associate Professor of Biology at Barton College. Before Barton, Carpenter worked with the Texas Nature Conservancy, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Lipscomb University, and Asbury College. Carpenter’s educational background began with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology, with a concentration in Conservation Biology, from Kent State University in Ohio. He then later received his Masters of Science degree here at ACU in Wildlife Biology and finally earned a Ph.D. in Wildlife and Fisheries Management at Texas A&M University.
Dr. Carpenter’s passion for God’s creation and his field research background will be great assets to the department in continuing to “educate students for Christian stewardship of sustainable agricultural and environmental systems throughout the world.” He researched sea turtles in Galveston, TX for the NMFS as well as research with students at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN for six years on crayfish population.
A passion for teaching:
Dr. Carpenter’s first teaching experience began in 1984 as a graduate student at ACU. “I didn’t know a thing about teaching then. I hand wrote my syllabus and made photocopies for the students. I also didn’t know about dress code and wore camouflage pants to class. I thought teaching was so easy. Boy, I was wrong!”
Dr. Carpenter’s passion for teaching was greatly influenced by the professors he has had in his collegiate career. He recalled one particular professor, Dr. Ken Williams, who taught botany during his time as a graduate student here at ACU. “He was very unique and was not super well-loved because his class was hard, but if he saw that you really wanted to learn he would reach out and help you. He is responsible for my love of the desert and of plants,” said Dr. Carpenter.
Dr. Carpenter supervises the February 2017 Plant Science Class Prescribed Burn out at the ACU Rhoden Filed Laboratory.
Dr. Carpenter remarked, “I’m drawn to teaching and working with students because of the atmosphere and the ability to continue doing research while teaching. You never stop learning while at a college or university.” He added, “One of my favorite things is when my students ask creative and thought-provoking questions I would have never thought of, and that challenge me to think in new ways.”
A passion for serving abroad:
Dr. Carpenter loves to combine his passions for international travel and mission work by going on mission trips with his family. He has served in both Belize and Honduras. Traveling to Belize with his daughter, ReAnna, they worked with a local church helping with Vacation Bible School and helping to roof houses in the local community.
Dr. Carpenter reaches through the roof to grab a tool on a roofing job in a community in Belize.
He and his wife, Iliana, also traveled to Honduras where they stayed four months. Iliana used her Physician’s Assistant skills to provide medical services in a local clinic while her husband worked to improve various communities water supply as well as developing a tree nursery of over 500 trees. These tree species included mahogany, fruit, and acacia.
Work with the ACU AES Department:
Dr. Carpenter teaches Wildlife Ecology, Wildlife Techniques, Rangeland Ecology, Plant Science, and Environmental Science, among other courses. He serves as the co-sponsor for the ACU Wildlife Society along with co-sponsor, AES Department graduate and current ACU Biology Professor, Dr. Josh Brokaw (’01).
Dr. Carpenter holding a Rat Snake on a field trip with students.
After completing his first semester here, Carpenter shares that his most favorite moments have come during field labs, planting trees and performing wildlife studies alongside students as well as his work mentoring students with their own undergraduate research. Some of Dr. Carpenter’s vision for the department includes increasing the visibility of the department on and off campus, and to developing the ‘farm’ (the ACU Rhoden Field Laboratory) to a place known as a model for sustainable farm and ranch management.
“My main goal and purpose in being here at ACU is to help this department grow in size and have the students be known for their commitment to serving God.”