Christine Byrd-Jacobs

Photo of Christine Byrd-Jacobs
Christine Byrd-Jacobs
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Dean
Office: 
(269) 387-8208
Fax: 
(269) 387-8232
Location: 
120 W Walwood Hall, Mail Stop 5242
Mailing address: 
Graduate College
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5242 USA
Education: 
  • Ph.D., Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona 1992.
  • B.S. Biology, Avila College 1982.
Research interests: 
  • Dendritic Plasticity
  • Neuroimmunology
  • Olfactory Toxicity
Bio: 

Dr. Christine Byrd-Jacobs supports graduate student success in many ways as dean, including advocating for graduate education, coordinating the Interdisciplinary Studies Doctorate program, developing advising and mentoring resources for faculty and overseeing the Responsible Conduct for Research course that is required for all new graduate students at WMU. She also keeps an eye on enrollment numbers, communicating with WMU faculty and staff to help them promote graduate studies and enhance their recruitment and retention strategies. She works closely with the Graduate Studies Council of the Faculty Senate to improve policies for graduate education and with the Research Advisory Team to facilitate and promote involvement of graduate students in WMU’s discovery mission.

In addition to serving as an administrator, Byrd-Jacobs is a neuroscientist and a full professor of Biological Sciences, with more than three decades of research experience. Her expertise is in understanding degenerative and regenerative responses in the adult brain to facilitate recovery from injury and disease, using the zebrafish olfactory system as a model. Dr. Byrd-Jacobs loves being in the lab and working with her talented and diverse graduate and undergraduate students. She says she’s inspired by their enthusiasm and energy. To learn more about Dr. Byrd-Jacobs’ research and publications, visit her website.