MBioS PSM Option - Advisors

Norah McCabe
Director of PSM, Assistant Director Distance Degree Program, Clinical Associate Professor, SMB

Norah McCabe is a Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Molecular Biosciences (SMB) and is the Director of the PSM. She also serves as the Assistant Director of online Molecular Biosciences courses within SMB. Dr McCabe has been a faculty member at WSU for 15 years where she teaches courses in Genetics and Introductory Biology both online and on-campus. Her research interests are in human genetic diseases in particular the genetics of cancer cells. Dr McCabe’s educational background reflects her interest in interdisciplinary education as she has degrees in Pharmacology and Neurochemistry, with post-doctoral research in human genetic diseases. Dr McCabe has worked on the development of this new Master’s option, as she recognizes the demand of interdisciplinary training in workplace readiness and adaptability for current and future employees in the ever growing global workplace.

John Nilson
Director, School of Molecular Bioscience, Professor, SMB

John H. Nilson is an Edward R. Meyer Distinguished Professor and Director of the School of Molecular Biosciences at Washington State University. He received a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Tulsa in 1972, a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of New Mexico in 1976, and completed postdoctoral studies from 1976 to 1980 in the laboratory of Dr. Fritz Rottman in the Department of Biochemistry at Michigan State University. Prior to joining WSU in 2003, Dr. Nilson was a faculty member in the School of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University where he served as Director of the Medical Scientist Training Program and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology.

Dr. Nilson belongs to numerous scientific organizations including the Endocrine Society and Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR). He has served the Endocrine Society as Vice-President for Basic Sciences from 2003 to 05 and is currently President of the SSR. He has also served on three NIH study sections, as a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, a member of the editorial board of Endocrine Reviews, and from 1998 to 2003, as Editor-in-Chief for Molecular Endocrinology.

Dr. Nilson’s laboratory has had a long-standing interest in deciphering critical elements and factors responsible for correct temporal, spatial, and hormonal regulation of the genes that encode the two subunits of LH, aGSU and LHb. Recent awards include the Beacon in Reproductive Research Award from the Frontiers in Reproduction Program (2009) and election in 2010 as AAAS Fellow.

John Alderete
Associate director of Outreach and Development, Professor, SMB

Janet Ross Kendall
Director, Center for Distance and Professional Education

Janet Ross Kendall is Director of WSU Online at Washington State University. She has been at WSU for 22 years, helping to coordinate WSU's distance learning degree and certificate programs and working with departments and colleges to develop additional programs and courses. Under Janet’s leadership, WSU Online has been recognized as a national leader in the services available to students enrolled in WSU’s online programs. Janet has worked closely with PSM faculty to help develop the program. She has held a variety of leadership positions in both the University Professional Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) and the Western Cooperative for Educational Telecommunications (WCET). She received the Professional Contributions to Continuing Education award from the western region of UPCEA in 2009. Her research focuses on assessing the services and programs offered through WSU Online. Before coming to WSU in 1987, Janet taught undergraduate and graduate reading courses at several universities in Canada and the U.S. She received her AB from Occidental College and her PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Iowa.

Valipuram Manoranjan
Associate Dean for Research and Academic Affairs, COS, Professor, Mathematics

Desmond O’ Rourke
Professor Emeritus, Ag Econ, and President of Belrose Inc.

Dr O’Rourke is a native of Northern Ireland. He has undergraduate degrees in Classics from Queens University, Belfast, and in Commerce from University College, Dublin and an M.A. and PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of California, Davis. He served on the Agricultural Economics faculty of Washington State University from 1970 to 2000 and headed their international marketing program from 1985 to 2000 when he moved to the private sector to set up his own consulting company, Belrose, Inc., world fruit market analysts. That company publishes the monthly World Apple Report and other annual reviews of global fruit markets. Dr O’Rourke is the author of over 200 publications and a frequent invited speaker around the world on various aspects of food marketing and international trade. He and his wife have three grown children and three grandchildren.

Dr O'Rourke is a strong supporter of the PSM program because he believes that the future competitiveness of American business depends on having leaders with a strong training in both science and management.

Douglas R. Cobos
Research Scientist, Decagon Devices

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