Elizabeth Sherman
Elizabeth Sherman is known for her work on amphibians and, more recently, on coral reefs and climate change; she collaborates with student researchers in her study of how animals work — both individually and as part of larger ecosystems.
Biography
Sherman is interested in how animals work, studying the diversity of structure, function, and behavior of animals, both individually and as part of larger systems. Known for her work in amphibian physiological ecology, Sherman has published in the Journal of Comparative Physiology, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, the Journal of Thermal Biology, Applied Herpetology, Northeastern Naturalist, and PeerJ. She involves her students in her research and they are frequent coauthors on papers. An avid SCUBA diver, Sherman has become interested in coral reef biology and conservation. This led to her development of the field course in coral reef biology in the Caribbean during which students become certified SCUBA divers and participate in underwater research. Sherman also works with schoolteachers and children doing science in schools around the state. She has received grants from the National Science Foundation, the American Wildlife Research Foundation, the Kellogg Foundation, the Department of Education, and the Grass Foundation. BA, University of Rochester; PhD, University of Vermont; postdoctoral fellow, Cornell University. Sherman taught at Bennington from 1978 to 2020. She founded Bennington’s Post Baccalaureate Program in 1979 and served as its director from 1979 to 1998.
