Office:  Science Building, Room 216
Phone:  (757) 594-77782
Email:   bsavitz@cnu.edu

CURRICULUM VITAE

TEACHING AREAS
Herpetology, Vertebrate Natural History, Ecology, Biogeography

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Dr. Savizky has always loved animals and the outdoors.  After raising two children, she became a “nontraditional” student and obtained a Ph.D. in Life Sciences – and spent time outdoors studying animals.  Her special interests are behavior and its relationship to the ecology of organisms, and conservation issues, particularly urban wildlife and open-space preservation.  Outside of the classroom, other sources of enjoyment include her family, pets, gardening, and music.

Dr. Barbara Savitzky, Associate Professor of Biology, serves as a volunteer foster dog owner with The Collie and Sheltie Rescue of Southeastern Virginia (CSRSV). The CSRSV serves to find permanent homes for adoptable collies and shelties. Like many breed-specific rescue programs, they don't have a shelter building; they rely on foster homes to care for pets up for adoption. Most of the dogs are surrendered by their owners directly to the shelter, although some dogs are rescued from SPCA shelters or municipal animal control facilities.

Dr. Savitzky has fostered five dogs since February. All have been adopted, including Lila shown here with Dr. Savitzky. Anyone interested in either fostering or permanently adopting dogs should check the website for further information, including the appropriate forms.

"I do this in part because my educational background in animal behavior provides me with skills for this work, partly because I want to help dogs who need new homes and might need a bit of therapy and training, and partly because I simply adore these smart, cute dogs who love to be with people," Dr. Savitzky said.