Degree Options:
Pre-Professional Sciences
Courses
Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative (CCURI)
Redlands Community College is active in the Community College Undergraduate Research
Initiative (CCURI) which uses an inquiry-based teaching model in order to engage students
in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The program
allows students to present research at the national level as well as gives faculty
the opportunity to participate in professional development.
INBRE
Redlands Community College is part of the Oklahoma IDeA Network of Biomedical Research
Excellence (OK-INBRE) grant program awarded by the National Institutes of Health Institutional
Development Award (IDeA) Program to the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
OK-INBRE supports health science related research at Redlands through a summer internship
program whereby selected students receive a monetary stipend to work alongside research
scientists at various research colleges and universities within the state. In addition,
the grant provides Redlands financial support for faculty professional development,
research and community outreach.
NASA-Oklahoma Space Grant Consortium
As part of the Oklahoma Space Grant Consortium (OKSG), Redlands Community College
is receives grant-based funding from NASA to support a variety of programs, including
paid student STEM-based internships, tuition waivers for research-based courses, NASA
Community College Aerospace Scholars Program and STEM scholarships.
NASNTI Part A
Funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the Native American
Serving Non-Tribal Institutions (NASNTI) Part A program provides increased class options
and career guidance in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
The STEM-related grant is designed to enhance opportunities for Native American, first-generation,
disabled or low-income students. The grant has resulted in the development and expansion
of aquaculture and hydroponics laboratories.
Oklahoma Academy of Science
Redlands students have the opportunity to participate in a statewide research conference
through the Oklahoma Academy of Science which is held during the Fall semester. The
students present an oral or poster presentation over their research.
Southern Plains Climate Hub
Through the Southern Plains Climate Hub, Redlands partners with the U.S. Department
of Agriculture and the Natural Resource Conservation Service to develop and deliver
regional, science-based information to partners and producers in Kansas, Oklahoma
and Texas that enables climate-smart decision making.
Science Faculty
Kathleen Coughlan, Ph.D, Department Head of Science and Professor of Anatomy, Physiology and Life Sciences
405.422.6225
Email
Office: ASC-110
Kathleen Coughlan earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of
Pittsburgh, a Master of Science in Forensic Science from the University of Central
Oklahoma and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of
Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Kathleen worked as a postdoctoral research fellow
in the department of Molecular Medicine at the University of Oklahoma School Of Medicine.
Her research spans the fields of neurobiology, cancer biology, immunology and cardiovascular
biology. She teaches a variety of courses, including Human Anatomy, Human Physiology,
Biology and Chemistry, and heads the Honors programs and NASA grant. She enjoys teaching
and mentoring students at a variety of levels and is an advocate for student success
through a variety of activities such as honors, service learning, research and one-on-one
advising.
Scotti Charmasson, MNAS, Professor of Agricultural Science and Biology
405.422.1225
Email
Office: AGH-110 and ASC-119
Scotti Charmasson is originally from Northwest Missouri where she grew up on a cattle
ranch. She attended Northwest Missouri State University where she competed on the
livestock judging team before transferring to Oklahoma State University to earn a
Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. After graduating from OSU, she went on to earn
a Master of Natural and Applied Science from Missouri State University in Springfield.
Her graduate research focused on the reproductive cycles of the highly endangered
Grand Cayman Blue Iguanas. While in graduate school, she also had the privilege of
traveling around the country to help artificially inseminate and ultrasound several
different exotic species with the main focus being on elephants. Scotti joined Redlands
in 2008 and currently teaches biology in the Science Department and several agriculture
classes, such as animal science, animal reproduction, and artificial insemination
in the Agriculture Department. Scotti feels it is a huge blessing to be able to work
at an institution where she can share her passion for animal-related science with
her students.
Brenda Allison Witt, M.S., Professor of Microbiology and Life Science
405.422.1475
Email
Office: ASC-109
Brenda Allison Witt earned her Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Master of Science
in Biology from the University of Oklahoma where her research focused on better understanding
the effects of toxic algae on zooplankton communities in lakes. She joined Redlands
in 2015 and teaches several courses including microbiology, anatomy and zoology. She
enjoys sharing her passion for science with her students, is always happy to mentor
students on honors, service learning, and research projects, and strives to find ways
to teach outside of the classroom. Her most recent venture is exploring the distribution
of freshwater sponges in Oklahoma.
Mathematics Faculty
Gokul Kadel, Professor of Mathematics
405.422.1244
Office: ASC-223
Dr. Gokul Kadel joined the Redlands Mathematics Department in 2018. He teaches variety
of undergraduate mathematics and statistics courses offered by the department in the
traditional face-to-face and online formats. Dr. Kadel earned his Ph.D. in Mathematics
from Bowling Green State University, Ohio, Master of Science in Mathematics and Bachelor
of Science in Mathematics, Statistics, and Physics from Tribhuvan University, Nepal.
His primary research interests are in the area of Functional Analysis, and he has
published his research articles in renowned peer-reviewed journals and has delivered
research talks in regional and national level conferences. Before joining Redlands,
Dr. Kadel held the position of Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Cameron University
in Lawton where he taught courses ranging from developmental to upper division mathematics
while being actively involved in the department’s undergraduate research program.
Peggy Clifton, Professor of Mathematics
405.422.6243
Office: ASC-222
Peggy Clifton earned her Master of Education degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State
University and completed the majority of her undergraduate course work at Tennessee
Temple University in Chattanooga. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Education
from Oklahoma Baptist College with a minor in Mathematics. She joined Redlands in
1993 and has taught Statistics, Trigonometry, College Algebra, Basic Algebra, Intermediate
Algebra and General College Math. She has also worked for various textbook publishers
reviewing mathematics textbooks. Prior to teaching at Redlands, Peggy taught in private
high schools in Tennessee and Oklahoma. Peggy’s mother dreamed of becoming a teacher
and inspired her daughters to pursue teaching. Peggy’s three sisters, brother-in-law,
and niece are all educators at the college or high school level. Peggy enjoys cross-stitch,
her flower garden, church, traveling with her husband and spoiling her grandchildren.
Lisa Kastl, Professor of Mathematics
405.422.6219
Office: ASC-221
Lisa Kastl earned a Master of Education from the University of Central Oklahoma, and
she holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University.
She didn’t use her engineering degree for long, but did meet her husband in a course
called Design Stress Analysis, so the four and a half years wasn’t entirely wasted.
Before coming to Redlands in 2014, she was a manager at Seagate Technology, a computer
disc drive manufacturer. Her team managed the Learning Management system that serviced
more than 50,000 employees all over the world, and also created and deployed both
synchronous and asynchronous online learning. Prior to her time at Seagate, she was
an adjunct Math and Engineering professor at Redlands. Her hobbies include her granddaughter,
Wilsy (she's less a hobby, and more a profession) and knitting for her family.
Program Outcomes
Graduates of the program are expected to fulfill the following educational outcomes:
- Evaluate real world scientific issues affecting society.
- Analyze data to reach a reasonable conclusion.
- Communicate the key points of the subject matter.
- Examine ethical dilemmas and possible resolutions