Kathleen Archer graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in biology (botany emphasis) from California State University, Fresno, in 1977.  She continued her studies at the University of Oregon, graduating in 1984 with a Ph.D. in plant physiology and development.  Her dissertation research characterized a mutation in tobacco that altered chloroplast development.  Following graduate work she took  post-doctoral research positions, first with Dr. Maureen Hanson at Cornell University, and then with Dr. Ken Keegstra at the University of Wisconsin, focusing on the molecular biology of protein import into chloroplasts. 

Dr. Archer’s teaching philosophy is that teaching and learning involve effort from both the instructor and the student.  The instructor’s role is to explain and clarify, and to create the right learning activities (exercises, homework, projects) to give students the practice and engagement needed to comprehend and incorporate the new information.