Dr. Rachel Goodman

Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2009
M.Sc., University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2004
B.A., Columbia University, 2001

Environmental Biology

Water Resources and Environmental Issues

Ecology

Herpetology

Animal Behavior

Wildlife Biology and Conservation

Wildlife Disease
My current research program focuses on wildlife pathogens with major impacts on populations of reptiles and amphibians. Students working with me have surveyed frogs, turtles, and snakes in our campus ponds and woods. Recent projects have involved Ranavirus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (a fungus infecting frogs), and Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola (a fungus infecting snakes). In addition to field work, students have gained experience in lab work including tissue sampling, DNA extraction, PCR tests for presence of pathogen DNA, and biosafety protocols necessary to prevent contamination of samples.

Behavioral Ecology
Previous research has included radio tracking movements of animals, conducting behavioral observations, conducting experiments on lizard locomotion, quantifying resource use and preference, and informing management of endangered species.

Physiological Ecology
Previous research has examined geographic variation in body size and cell size in lizards and the influence of incubation temperature and moisture on size at hatching, growth, and thermoregulatory behavior.

Institutional Service at H-SC

2024-ongoing   Serving on Promotion and Tenure Committee

2024-ongoing   Coordinator for Environmental Studies program

2021-ongoing   Serving as New Faculty Mentor 

2010-ongoing   Serving on Environmental Studies Minor Steering Committee

2023-ongoing   Chair of Animal Care and Use Committee

2010-ongoing   Serving on Animal Care and Use Committee

2021-2024    Served on Professional Development Committee

2019-current    Serving as a Campus Security Authority (CSA)

2014-current    (various years) Freshman / New Student Advisor

2011-current    (various terms) Reader-Grader for Rhetoric Proficiency Exam

2010-current    Serving on Environmental Studies Minor Steering Committee

2010- current    Serving on Animal Care and Use Committee

2020-2023   Chair of Biology Department

2020-2021   Chair of Animal Care and Use Committee

2020-2023   Secretary-Treasurer for Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honorary Society, H-SC Longwood chapter 

2018-2022   Served on Hatteras Island Ocean Center (HIOC) Advisory Committee

2016-2019    Coordinator for Environmental Studies program

2018-2021   Served on Faculty Advisory Committee for the Wilson Center

2018-2020    Advisor for Environmental Club student organization

2016-2019   Chair for 2 years; Served for 3 years on Lectures & Programs Committee

2010-2018   Served on several committees and helped organize student petition to initiate a campus recycling program

2010-2017   Volunteer & co-organizer for rain barrel building projects, in collaboration with Clean Virginia Waterways

2009-2017   Site Leader for River Cleanup Events, in collaboration with Clean Virginia Waterways & Ocean Conservancy

2009-2015   Group Leader for various service projects during C-day and The Big Event

2010-2018   Advisor for International Club student organization

2015-2017   Faculty Mentor for Cross Country team

2012-2016   Served on Human Research Review Committee

2010-2015    Member of Safe Zone group 

2010-2015   Advisor for Circle K International student organization

2010-2014   Co-organizer for “Throwout Blowout”- end of year program to collect and distribute usable food, furniture, and household goods when students moved out of, coordinated with FACES food pantry & Habitat for Humanity

2010-2014   Served on Athletics Committee

Additional Professional Service & Experience

2022-ongoing   Co-Chair of Disease Task Team for Southeastern Partners in Amphibian and Reptiles Conservation (SEPARC)

2020-2023   Served on Publicity Committee, Virginia Academy of Science

2010-2020    Served on Scientific Advisory Committee, Virginia Herpetological Society

2015-2018    Secretary-Treasurer for Virginia Natural History Society

2013-2014    Served on Virginia Reptile and Amphibian Science Team (associated with Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Wildlife Action Plan)

2013-2014    Served on Southeastern Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation: Diseases, Pathogens & Parasites Task Team

2011-2013    Presenter, Cool Science outreach program, Prince Edward Co. Elementary School

2006-2009   Teacher, week-long Kids U Herpetology summer camp, UTK

2006-2009   Presenter for Herpetology talks for elementary/middle school groups, Camp Wesley Woods, TN

2002-9   Member Tennessee Darwin Day, UTK: Outreach and education in evolutionary biology, Secretary for 3 years, President for 1 year, Co-organizer for Teacher Workshop for 2 years

2005-2006   Teaching Mentor for Biology Teaching Explorers, UTK

2004-7   Recruiter and Zone captain for annual River Rescue, Knoxville, TN

2002   Served on IUCN/SSC Iguana Specialist Group, Ricord’s Iguana ( Cyclura ricordi) Species Recovery Plan 2002-2007, Dominican Republic    

2001   Served on IUCN/SSC Iguana Specialist Group, Grand Cayman Blue Iguana ( Cyclura nubila lewisi) Species Recovery Plan 2001-2006, National Trust for the Cayman Islands

**Mentored Undergraduate Students

1. Goodman RM, Carman HR**, Mahaffy RP**, Cabrera NS**. 2025. Trace amounts of ranavirus in Eastern Worm Snakes (Carphophis amoenus) in central Virginia. Herpetological Review 56(1): 19-22.
2. Olson DH, Palmisano J, Evans PM, Ronnennberg KL, Christman MR, Goodman RM, Gray MJ, Martel A, Pasmans F. 2024. Disease update from the Global Amphibian and Reptile Disease Conference and the World Congress of Herpetology, Kuching, Malaysia, August 2024. Herpetological Review 55(4):499-506.
3. Goodman RM, Carman HR,** Mahaffy RP,** Cabrera NS.** 2023. Trace amounts of ranavirus detected in Common Musk Turtles (Sternotherus odoratus) at a site where the pathogen was previously common. Animals 13(18):2951.
4. McKnight DT, Ard K, Auguste RJ, Barhadiya G, Benard MF, Boban P, Dillon M, Downs CT, DeGregorio BA, Glorioso BM, Goodman RM, Hird C, Hollender E, Kennedy M, Kidman R, Massey A, McGovern P, Mühlenhaupt M, Ostovar K, Podgorski D, Price C, Reinke BA, Streeting L, Venezia J, Young J, Nordberg EJ. 2023. Nocturnal basking in freshwater turtles: a global assessment. Global Ecology and Conservation 43(2023): e02444.
5. Toyama KS, Mahler DL, Goodman RM. 2022. Climate shapes patterns of sexual size and shape dimorphism across the native range of the green anole lizard, Anolis carolinensis (Squamata: Dactyloidae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 138(1):89-102.
6. Maayan I, Reynolds RG, Goodman RM, Hime PM, Bickel R, Luck EA**, Losos JB. 2022. Fixation and preservation contribute to distortion in vertebrate museum specimens: a 10-year study with the lizard Anolis sagrei. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 136(3):443–454.
7. (field note) Goodman RM, Carman HR,* Mahaffy RP.* 2021. Trachemys scripta elegans (Red-Eared Slider). County record. Catesbeiana 41(2):73.
8. Goodman RM, Carter, ED,** Miller DL. 2021. Influence of herbicide exposure and ranavirus infection on growth and survival of juvenile Red-Eared Slider Turtles ( Trachemys scripta elegans). Viruses 13(9):1440.
9. (technical report) Duffus ALJ, Bartlett PL, Stilwell NK, Goodman RM. 2021. Ranaviruses in wild reptiles in the USA. Southeastern Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (SEPARC): Disease, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team, Information Sheet #17R1.
10. Goodman RM, Tyler JA,** Reinartz DM,** Wright AN. 2019. Survey of ranavirus and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in introduced frogs in Hawaii. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 55(3):668-672.
11. Goodman RM, Hargadon KM. Carter ED**. 2018. Detection of ranavirus in Eastern Fence Lizards and Eastern Box Turtles in Central Virginia.Northeastern Naturalist 25:391-398.
12. Michaelides SN, Goodman RM, Reed RN, Crombie RI, Kolbe JJ. 2017. Independent introductions and sequential founder events shape genetic differentiation and diversity of the invasive green anole ( Anolis carolinensis) on Pacific Islands. Diversity and Distributions 24(5):666-679.
13. Goodman RM, Carter, ED.** 2017. Survey of herpetofauna on the campus of Hampden-Sydney College in central Virginia.Catesbeiana 37:73-89.
14. (field note) Carter ED**, Goodman RM. 2014. Storeria dekayi dekayi (Northern Brown Snake). County record. Catesbeiana 34(1):30-31.
15. Goodman RM.  2013.  Ranavirus in squamates. Southeastern Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (SEPARC): Disease, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team, Information Sheet #17.
16. Goodman RM, Echternacht AC, Hall JC, Deng  LD,** Welch JN.** 2013.  Influence of geography and climate on patterns of cell size and body size in the lizard  Anolis carolinensis.  Integrative Zoology. 8:184-196. 
    Table S1 Locations of collection sites
17. Goodman RM, Miller, DL, Ararso, YT.** 2013.  Prevalence of ranavirus in Virginia turtles as detected by tissue sampling versus oral-cloacal swabbing.  Northeastern Naturalist 20:325-332.
18. Walguarnery JW,  Goodman RM. Echternacht AC. 2012.  Thermal biology and temperature selection in juvenile lizards of co-occurring native and introduced  Anolis species .  Journal of Herpetology 46:620-624.
19. Campbell-Staton S,  Goodman R, Backström N, Edwards S, Losos J, Kolbe J. 2012.  Out of Florida: mtDNA reveals Pleistocene migration and post-glacial range expansion of the Green Anole lizard ( Anolis carolinensis).  Ecology & Evolution 2: 2274-2284.
20. Goodman RM, Ararso, YT.** 2012.  Survey of ranavirus and the fungus  Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in frogs of central Virginia, USA .  Herpetological Review 43:150-159.
21. Goodman RM, Heah TP**. 2010. Temperature-induced plasticity at cellular and organismal levels in the lizard  Anolis carolinensis. Integrative Zoology 5: 208-217.
22. Goodman RM. 2010. Evidence of divergent growth rates among populations of the lizard  Anolis carolinensis based on experimental manipulations of egg size. Population Ecology. 52(1):113-122.
23. Goodman RM, Knapp CR, Bradley KA, Gerber GP, Alberts AC.  2009. Review of radio transmitter attachment methods for West Indian rock iguanas (genus  Cyclura). Applied Herpetology 6:151-170.
24. Goodman RM. 2008. Latent effects of egg incubation temperature on growth in the lizard  Anolis carolinensis.  Journal of Experimental Zoology 309A:1-9.
25. Goodman RM. 2008. Celebrate Darwin Day: an event for education and outreach in evolutionary biology.Evolution: Education & Outreach 1(3):306-311.
26. Goodman RM. 2008.  Students contribute to a global community through improvement of Wikipedia.The American Biology Teacher 70(3):138.
27. Goodman RM. 2007.  Activity patterns and foraging behavior of the endangered Grand Cayman blue iguana,  Cyclura lewisi. Caribbean Journal of Science 43(1):73-86.
28. Goodman RM, Walguarnery JW. 2007. Incubation temperature modifies neonatal thermoregulation in the lizard  Anolis carolinensis. Journal of Experimental Zoology 307A(8):439-448.
29. Goodman RM. 2006. Effects of tail loss on growth and sprint speed of juvenile lizards,  Eumeces fasciatus (Scincidae) . Journal of Herpetology 40(1):99-102.
30. Goodman RM, Burton FJ, Echternacht AC. 2005. Habitat use in the endangered iguana,  Cyclura lewisi, in an unnatural setting. Animal Conservation 8(4):397-405.
31. Goodman RM, Echternacht AC, Burton FJ. 2005. Spatial ecology of the endangered iguana Cyclura lewisi in a disturbed setting on Grand Cayman.Journal of Herpetology 39(3):402-408.
32. Goodman RM, 2005. Attachment of radio transmitters in a rock iguana, Cyclura lewisi.Herpetological Review 36(2):150-152.
33. (field note) Goodman RM, Burton FJ. 2005. Cyclura lewisi (Grand Cayman Blue Iguana): Hatchlings. Herpetological Review 36(2):176.
34. (popular article) Goodman RM. 2003. A year studying the world's most endangered rock iguana, Cyclura nubila lewisi. Iguana: Journal of the International Iguana Society 10(1):15-20.
35. Gompper ME,  Goodman RM, Kays RW, Ray JC, Fiorello CV, Wade SE. 2003. A survey of the parasites of coyotes, Canis latrans, in New York based on fecal analysis.Journal of Wildlife Diseases 39(3):712-717.

2023 Fulbright Scholar, Colombia: Research, Education, and Outreach in Disease Surveillance and Field Biosecurity Methods

2022 Co-PI, Virginia Wildlife Grant Program: Connecting Youth to the Outdoors, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources ($9,800)

2021, 2020, 2013, 2012 Mentor, Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges Research Program

2020, 2013, 2012 Mentor, H-SC Student-Faculty Summer Research Program

2021, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2011 H-SC Faculty Summer Fellowship

2016 Dominion Higher Education Grant, Co-PI, Prince Edward County Environmental Molecular Biology Institute (PECEMBI)

2015 H-SC Young Democrats Ripple of Hope award (for leadership and service to community)

2014 H-SC Grant: Creative Integration of Formal Instruction & Blackboard Collaborate 

2014, 2010 Mentor, H-SC Student-Faculty Summer Research Program 

2012 Thomas F. and Kate Miller Jeffress Memorial Trust, Bank of America 

2010 Mentor, H-SC Honors Council Honors Summer Research Program

2008 UTK Science Alliance Award for Outstanding Scholarly Achievement, Division of Biology

2008 University of Tennessee (UTK) Yates Dissertation Fellowship

2004-2008 UTK Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Summer Research Grants 

2007 American Museum of Natural History, Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Fund 

2007 Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Gaige Fund Award

2007, 2008 UTK Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Graduate Student Merit Award

2006 UTK Citation for Graduate Student Teaching

2004 UTK Sigma Xi Student Competition, First Place in Session

2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 UTK Graduate Students in EEB, Travel Award

2005 Mentor, awarded UTK/Oak Ridge National Laboratory Summer Research Internship Program

2004 Finalist, Herpetologists' League Robert G. Jaeger Student Award for Graduate Research

2004 Society for the Student of Reptiles and Amphibians Student Travel Award

2003 UTK Citation for Extraordinary Professional Promise

2002, 2004, 2006 UTK Graduate Student Association (GSA) Travel Award

2002 UTK Scholarly Activity and Research Incentive Funds Award

2002 Chicago Herpetological Society, Herpetological Grant 

2002 Explorers Club, Exploration Fund Grant 

2002 Chicago Zoological Society / Chicago Board of Trade Endangered Species Fund Grant 

2002  UTK Hilton A. Smith Graduate Fellowship 

2002  UTK Summer Research Grant

2000 Columbia University, Center for Environmental Research and Conservation, Undergraduate Summer Research Grant

1999 Columbia Univ. Biosphere 2, Hayes Teaching Skills Award