Bio
Robert K. Noyd is Professor of Biology and the former Director of Faculty Development at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He brings over 40 years of classroom experience to his botany classes where he teaches cadets to observe, name, and understand the fascinating plants around them. In addition to teaching, he publishes and presents faculty development and course design workshops at conferences and universities nationwide. He serves as a reviewer on the editorial board of College Teaching, a journal that promotes effective teaching practice and is currently the Chair for the Teaching section of the Botanical Society of America.
Education
Ph. D. Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota (1995)
Mycology Emphasis; Supporting Program in Ecology and Soil Science.
M.S. Plant Biology, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, Connecticut (1981)
Standard State Teacher Certification in Secondary Biology, Chemistry, and General Science.
B.S. Biology Education, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, Connecticut (1978)
Provisional Connecticut State Teacher Certification in Secondary Biology and General Science.
Professional Experience
U.S. Air Force Academy, Department of Biology
Professor, 2002 – Present
Associate Professor, 2000-2002
Assistant Professor, 1996-2000
U.S. Air Force Academy, Center for Educational Excellence
Director of Faculty Development, 2003-2007
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs 2001-2004
Denver Botanic Gardens 2002-2004
Adjunct Instructor of Botany
Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Hennepin Community College (Minnesota) 1994-1996
Adjunct Instructor of Biology
Bentley University, Waltham, Massachusetts 1989-1991
Instructor of Biology
Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University 1990-1991
Adjunct Instructor of Botany
DC Heath & Co. Lexington, Massachusetts 1986-1989
Associate Science Editor for Biology
South Windsor (Connecticut) High School 1978-1985
Science Teacher
Honors & Awards
William H. Heiser Outstanding Senior Faculty Educator Award, Presented by the USAFA Class of 2014
Outstanding Alumnus Award, University of Minnesota, Department of Plant Pathology, 2010
U.S. Air Force Academy Nominee, U.S. Professor of the Year, Carnegie Foundation, 2008, 2009
Exemplary Civilian Service Medal, Dean of the Faculty, 2007
Master Teacher Award, Department of Biology, USAFA, 2001
Capt. William F. Goodner Teaching Excellence Award, Department of Biology, USAFA, 1998
Research and Scholarly Interests
My interests embrace two areas: 1) to apply principles of visual learning research to design and create effective student identification guides to the plants of the academy and the Pikes Peak Region and 2) to characterize the disease cycle of a pathogenic leaf spot fungus on the sunflower species Showy goldeneye (Heliomeris multiflora).
Publications
Books
Noyd, R.K. 2024. Summer Wildflowers of the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Pikes Peak Region of Colorado: Vol 2. Non-Aster Families. 320 pp.
Noyd, R.K. 2023. Summer Wildflowers of the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Pikes Peak Region of Colorado: Vol 1. The Aster Family. 170 pp.
Noyd, R.K. 2022. Identification Guide to the Wildflowers in Winter of the U.S. Air Force Academy and Pikes Peak Region of Colorado. ISBN 979-888-680590-1, 289 pp.
Noyd, R.K. 2021. Identification Guide to the Woody Plants of the U.S. Air Force Academy and Pikes Peak Region ISBN 156 pp.
Natalia Vargas, Martha Cárdenas, Pedro Jiménez, Robert K. Noyd, and Silvia Restrepo. 2015. Mycology Guide: Key Terms and Concepts, 2nd ed. American Phytopathological Society Press. St. Paul, Minn. ISBN: 978-0-89054-468-6; 36 pp.
Jones, S.K., Noyd, R.K., and K.S. Sagendorf. 2014. Building a Pathway for Student Learning: A How-to Guide. Stylus Publishing, LLC. 140 pp.
Noyd, R.K., Krueger, J.A., and K.M. Hill. 2014. Biology: Organisms and Adaptations. Cengage Learning, San Francisco. 705 pp.
Noyd, R.K. 2000. Mycology Reference Cards. American Phytopathological Society Press, St. Paul, Minn. ISBN: 9780890542613, 120 illustrations 20 pp.
Noyd, R.K. 1999. The Microbial Profile: An Organizational Framework to Integrate and Apply Microbiological
Concepts. Wm. C. Brown-McGraw-Hill Publishers, Dubuque, Iowa. 114 pp.
Other Publications and Presentations
Robinson, S.E., Noyd, R.K. and S.K. Jones. 2021. Helping instructors identify course design flaws. College Teaching 69 (2): 100-106
Maixner, M.R, Noyd, R.K. and J.A. Krueger. 2010. A computer-based simulation for teaching heat transfer across a woody stem. Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education. 39: 1-9.
Sagendorf, K., Noyd, R.K. and D.B. Morris. 2009. The learning-focused transformation of biology and physics core courses at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Journal of College Science Teaching. 38 (3): 45-50.
Krueger, J.A. and R.K. Noyd. 2008. Using profile projects to pull together concepts. American Biology Teacher. 70: (1) ABT Online.
Noyd, R.K. 2005. Applying Aristotle’s Golden Mean to the Classroom: Balancing Underteaching and Overteaching in the Classroom. The National Teaching and Learning Forum 14 (3): 5-7.
Krueger, J.A., Noyd, R.K, and S.A. King. 2005. The Biologists' Forum: Different faculty-student perspectives on undergraduate research programs Bios, 76 (3):129–133
Hertel, J, Millis, B., and R.K. Noyd. 2001. A Modified Microteaching Model: A Cross-Disciplinary Approach to Faculty Development. To Improve the Academy 20: 274-291.
Noyd, R.K., Pfleger, F. L. and M. R. Norland. 1997. Native plant productivity and litter decomposition in reclamation of taconite iron ore tailing. Journal of Environmental Quality 26: 682-687.
Noyd, R.K., Pfleger, F. L. and M. R. Norland. 1996. Field responses to added organic matter, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and fertilizer in reclamation of taconite iron ore tailing. Plant and Soil 179: 89-97.
Noyd, R.K., Pfleger, F. L., Norland, M. R. and M. J. Sadowsky. 1995. Native prairie grasses and microbial community responses to reclamation of taconite iron ore tailing. Canadian Journal of Botany 73: 1645-1654.
Noyd, R.K., Pfleger, F. L. and M. P. Russelle. 1995. Interactions between native prairie grasses and indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: Implications for reclamation of taconite iron ore tailing. New Phytologist 129: 651-660.