Laboratory Manual for Anatomy & Physiology, 7th Edition

Connie Allen was a Professor of Biology at the Fort Myers Campus of Edison State College for 23 years. She taught human anatomy and physiology and was the coordinator of anatomy and physiology for 20 years. She has been a member of the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS) for 25 years and still attends the HAPS annual convention. Connie received her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Anderson College and her MS in Anatomy and Physiology from Indiana University Medical Center (IUMC) Indianapolis, Indiana. While at IUMC she also did research using an electron microscope. After graduation, Connie worked for Eli Lilly Co. in Indianapolis, Indiana doing research using the electron microscope and worked in the medical research area conducting clinical trials for an antibiotic that was approved by the FDA.

Initially, Connie planned to continue working at Eli Lilly doing research but discovered that she enjoyed teaching people about her favorite subject: anatomy and physiology. At Edison State College, Connie was the coordinator of the Honors Scholar Program for 5 years and received the Edison President’s Award for Outstanding Professor for Exemplary Service to Students. Her inspiration came from her students — she was dedicated to her students and enjoyed the rewards of teaching at a college with student diversity in academic ability, ethnicity, and age. Connie and her husband love traveling, scuba diving, entertaining people in their home, and enjoying their three children and six grandchildren.

Valerie Harper is a lecturer at Colorado Mesa University at the branch campus in Montrose, CO, where she teaches Anatomy & Physiology and Pathophysiology. She is a member of the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS). Valerie received a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of Miami and a PhD in Physiology from the University of Virginia. At the University of Virginia, Valerie’s research focused on relative amounts of smooth muscle contractile proteins in different tissues and the changes in these proteins that occurred when smooth muscle cells were cultured. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Virginia where she studied the renin-angiotensin system. Valerie pursued a career in research but soon discovered that her real passion is teaching. She started teaching at Edison Community College (now Florida Southwestern State College) where she met Connie Allen. At ECC, she was involved in curriculum development, participated in the Leadership Diversity Program, was nominated for the Thomas Edison Award for Excellence in Teaching, and was recognized in a graduate survey by students as having the most significant influence on them during their enrollment at Edison Community College.

When she is not teaching or editing the Laboratory Manual, Valerie enjoys skiing and paddle boarding, cooking with her husband, as well as attending an occasional Steeler football game with her son or a Penguin hockey game with her daughter.