Heather Wilkinson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean of Faculties
h-wilkinson@tamu.edu | 979.845.4274
Dr. Heather Wilkinson graduated in 1996 with a Ph.D in Biology from the State University of New York at Binghamton. She subsequently trained as a postdoctoral scholar and Research Assistant Professor in Plant Pathology at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Wilkinson joined Texas A&M University as an Assistant Professor in 1999 and is currently a full Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Dr. Wilkinson was appointed Associate Dean of Faculties in March 2017. Her responsibilities are faculty development focused, including both direct development and implementation of programming and oversight of the Directors for Instructional Technology Services (ITS) and the Center of Teaching Excellence (CTE). In 2016 Dr. Wilkinson received the Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Award at the College-Level for Teaching. She served as a Faculty Fellow in the Office of the Provost, an ADVANCE Administrative Fellow, and an AgriLife Advanced Leadership Fellow.
In her research Dr. Wilkinson and her students investigate the genetic basis of adaptation for a wide variety of microbes, including genetic models, plant symbionts, and soil communities from extreme environments. Throughout her career Dr. Wilkinson has emphasized providing training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in her research program. Dr. Wilkinson has served as an Associate Editor for
Fungal Genetics and has served as a reviewer for many scientific journals and funding agencies. Dr. Wilkinson has developed four courses and taught seven in the Bioenvironmental Sciences (BESC) program. Further, she has played an instrumental role in the design and implementation of the curriculum, assessment, and the industry-partner outreach programs for her department. She continues to lead the Curriculum and Assessment Committee, serve as faculty liaison for the Bioenvironmental Sciences Professional Board, and teach three BESC courses.