I am a community college biology professor in New York City. I engage in teaching, science, and LGBTQIA+ activism in order to create a better place for the human experience.

teaching

It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and
knowledge. - Albert Einstein

Teaching biology is more than my career. It is my passion. The American educational system is undergoing major restructuring, and how we teach within it must change as well if we are to tap into the rich wealth of talent inherent in our diverse culture. 

REsearch

For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring. - Carl Sagan

I began my career in science focused on thermal biology and energetics, but I have broadened my interests to ecology and evolution. My current focus is on understanding urban ecology through trait based models.

LGBTQIA+ Activism

What makes us human, I think, is an ability to ask questions, a consequence of our sophisticated spoken language. - Jane Goodall

New York City continues to lead the way in LGBTQIA+ rights, and I am actively involved in strengthening our community. Much of my work focuses on the CUNY LGBTQIA+ Consortium, which is working to build a vibrant campuses across our city.

Education

Ph. D.  Arizona State University, 2012 (Biology, advisor: D. F. DeNardo)

B. S.    Arizona State University, 2006 (Cum Laude in Molecular Biosciences/Biotechnology)

Positions

(download full CV here)

Administration

Co-Director Environmental Sciences Program (2024-present)

Director of CUNY LGBTQIA+ Consortium (2021-Present)

Director of LaGuardia and Wagner Archives LGBTQ+ Programs (2021-Present)

Director/Founder of the ASAP STEM Summer Bridges Program (2020-2023)

Academic

Professor (2024-present)

Associate Professor (2020-2024)

Assistant Professor (2016-2020), LaGuardia Community College, NY

Assistant Professor (2014-2016) San Diego City College, San Diego, CA

Visiting Professor (2012-2013) Colgate University, Hamilton, NY

Instructor (2010-2011) Rio Salado College Online, Tempe, AZ

Lecturer (2010-2012) Mesa Community College at Red Mountain Campus, Mesa, AZ

Publications

(click on the paper for pdf)

Gertner, D., Xu, N., Porter-Morgan, H., Brashears, J. (2024) Increased Pre-Lecture Reading and Greater Attendance at a Community College Gateway Science Course. J. Coll. Sci. Teach.

Moeller, K. T., Brashears, J. A., Davies, S., Demare, G., Smith. G. D., Brusch IV, G. A., Simpson, R. K., and DeNardo, D. F. (2023) Corticosterone and immune responses to dehydration in squamate reptiles. J. Exp. Biol.

Onorato, T. M., Oulhen, N., Reyes, G., Foster, S., Pieplow, C., Rollins, J. E., Brashears, J. A., Davis, C., Alberts, I., Veras, I. D., and Wessel, G. M. (2023) A pandemic-resilient CURE enhances a paradigm shift of community college students from knowledge consumers to authentic knowledge producers. J. Coll. Sci. Teach.

Gertner, D., Xu, N., Porter-Morgan, H., and Brashears, J. (2021) Developing students’ scientific literacy through an e-portfolio project at a community college gateway science course. J. Biol. Educ.

Cooper, K. M., Auerbach, A. J. J., Bader, J. D., Beadles-Bohling, A. S., Brashears, J. A., Cline, E., Eddy, S. L., Elliott, D. B., Farley, E., Fuselier, L., Heinz, H. M., Irving, M., Josek, T., Lane, K. A., Lo, S. M., Maloy, J., Nugent, M., Offerdahl, E., Palacios-Moreno, J., Ramos, J., Reid, J. W., Sparks, R. A, Waring, A. L., Wilton, M., Gormally, C., Brown, S. E. (2020) Fourteen recommendations to create a more inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals in academic biology. CBE - Life Sciences Education.

Brashears, J. A., Fokidis, H. B., DeNardo, D. F. (2020) Fear-based aggression and its relationship to corticosterone responsiveness in three species of python. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol.

Keller, C., Hendrix, T., Xu, N., Porter-Morgan, H., Brashears, A. (2018) A foundation for STEM success: A simple and successful microscope intervention in a general biology course at an urban community college. J. Coll. Sci. Teach.

Brashears, J. A., Hoffman, T. C. M., DeNardo, D. F. (2017) Modeling the costs and benefits associated with the evolution of endothermy using a robotic python. J. Exp. Biol.

Brashears, J., Aiello, A., Seymoure, B. M. (2016) Cool Bands: Wing bands decrease rate of heating, but not equilibrium temperature in Anartia Fatima. J. Therm. Biol.

Brashears, J., DeNardo, D. F. (2015) Facultative thermogenesis during brooding is not the norm among pythons. J. Comp. Physiol. A.

Brashears, J., DeNardo, D. F. (2013) Revisiting python thermogenesis: brooding Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) cue on body, not clutch, temperature. J. Herp.

Brashears, J., DeNardo, D. F. (2012) Do Brooding Pythons Recognize their Clutches? Investigating External Cues for Offspring Recognition in the Children's Python, Antaresia childreni. Ethology 118, 793-798.

Stahlschmidt, Z. R., Brashears, J., DeNardo, D. F. (2011) The role of temperature and humidity in python nest-site selection. Anim. Behav. 81, 1077-1081.

Stahlschmidt, Z. R., Brashears, J., DeNardo, D. F. (2011) The use of ultrasonography to assess reproductive investment and output in pythons. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 103, 772-778.

Presentations

Brashears, J. A. (2018) Careers in Biology: Myths and Realities. Accelerated Study in Associate Programs. Oral Presentation.

Brashears, J. A. (2018) From Calories to Color – How Energy Drives Evolution. Empire State College Science Colloquium. Oral Presentation.

Brashears, J. A., Xu, N., and Porter-morgan, H. (2017) Preparing to Launch: Incorporating High Impact Technology in a Gateway Science Class. Coordinated Undergraduate Education Annual Meeting at New York City, NY. Oral Presentation.

Brashears, J. A. (2017) GlobalMindEd Annual Meeting at Denver, CO. Panel speaker.

Brashears, J., Fokidis, H. B., and DeNardo, D. F. (2013) Defense behavior and the stress response in three species of python. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting at San Francisco, CA. Poster presentation.

Brashears, J. and DeNardo, D. F. (2011) Touch or go: Proximal cues for clutch brooding in Children’s python (Antaresia childreni). Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting at Salt Lake City, UT. Poster presentation.

Stahlschmidt, Z. R., Brashears, J., and DeNardo, D. F. (2011) Warm and humid: Nest-site selection in an emerging parental care model. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting at Salt Lake City, UT. Poster presentation.

Brashears, J. (2010) Hormonal correlates accompanying reproductive behavior in three species of python. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting at Seattle, WA. Oral presentation.

Brashears, J. and DeNardo, D. F. (2009) Correlations between muscle twitch, metabolic rate, and temperature in brooding Burmese pythons (Python molurus). Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting at Boston, MA. Poster presentation.

Brashears, J. and DeNardo, D. F. (2009) Correlations between muscle twitch, metabolic rate, and temperature in brooding Burmese pythons (Python molurus). Graduates in Engineering, Life, and Social Sciences at Tempe, AZ. Poster presentation.

Other Activities

Board Member, INtolerance (2024-present)

Board Member, Sam & Devorah Foundation for Transgender Youth (2021-present)

Board Member, Queens Pride Advisory Board (2022-present)

Board Member, Sunnyside Pride Advisory Board (2022-present)

Associate Editor, Journal of Herpetology (2016-2021)

Writer, Evolutionary Curiosities (2016) Pomegranate Communications, Inc., Portland, OR