Hi all!
I have been quietly lurking for the past several years and was
emboldened by Terry and Doug's invite, so here goes.
NAME: Allen Dray
AGE: 45
VOCATION: Ecologist - I work in the field of biological control of
weeds, trying to lessen deleterious impacts of invasive plants in the
Everglades.
EDUCATION: BSc in Marine Biology (1979, University of Tampa), MSc in
Zoology with emphasis on Aquatic Ecology (1986, university of Vermont),
currently finishing up a PhD in Biology with emphasis on the population
ecology of plants (Dec 2002?, Florida International University)
VOCATIONAL BACKGROUND: After receiving my BSc in 1979, I worked a couple
of years for an environmental consultant. We primarily conducted
environmental impact assessments, and I became their oligochaete
taxonomist. This carried into my Master's thesis which described, for
the first time, the penchant of some Naididae (an aquatic family of
worms) to launch themselves into the water column much as stonefly and
mayfly nymphs. This behavior was associated with high benthic
population densities and most worms in the drift were in the process of
asexual reproduction via budding. I then moved back to Florida, where I
joined a team of scientists working to control invasive exotic weeds by
releasing host-specific insects from the plants native ranges. Thus when
I decided to return to school to pursue my PhD, I chose to work on a
problem related to my job. My dissertation investigates the population
ecology of Melaleuca quinquenervia (an Australian invader of Florida's
Everglades), and particularly the ecological genetics of this tree and
its influence on the performance of a weevil imported as a biological
control against the plant.
FAMILY: I have been blessed with a lovely, intelligent wife (18 years)
and four children: girls 17, 13, and 5, and a son 15. All of our
children have been homeschooled until high school. The oldest three have
been competitive gymnasts, and two are now competitive cheerleaders.
FAITH BACKGROUND: My personal relationship with Jesus began in 1972 as
a teenager, but I didn't fully begin to "walk the walk" until 1982. As
a family, we have served and worshipped in Methodist, Baptist, and
Charismatic traditions - believing that it is most important to be where
God calls us, for the season that He calls us there, rather than seeking
to stay within any particular tradition/denomination. In keeping with
that belief we are currently serving at a "non-denominational" church
(one of the many that seem to be becoming denominations of their own -
has anyone else noticed the irony in this?). I have been involved in
worship from the earliest days of my youth, and have had the privilege
to lead worship on short-term mission trips to Guatemala and the
Dominican Republic. I served as a youth pastor for several years, and as
a certified lay preacher. My wife and I have co-taught Sunday School for
many years, and my two youngest daughters and I formed a praise band
that led kid's worship for a couple of years as well. The greatest
blessings of my life have been watching as my wife and children each
came to know the Lord.
As a graduate student at the University of Vermont, I faced constant
pressure to defend my faith, particularly in regards to the
creation/evolution debate. As a scientist, it was difficult to defend
my conviction that "In the beginning, God..." As a Christian, it was
difficult to defend working within "... the great unifying theory of
biology." (E. Mayr, I think). That tension has only intensified during
the past two decades as a researcher. Finding ASA a few while ago was
thus a true blessing, because I found that I wasn't alone (silly to
think that I was, but my experiences had not introduced me to others of
similar persuasions) in facing this dynamic. I have benefited greatly
from the newsletters, PS&CF articles, and the discussions on this
listserv.
In Him,
F. Allen Dray Jr.
Ecology and Biological Control of Invasive Plants
USDA Agricultural Research Service
Invasive Plant Research Laboratory
3205 College Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314
voice: 954.475.0541 x112
efax: 425.795.6712
email: fadray@saa.ars.usda.gov
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