Lee Kats
Biography
Lee Kats has served Pepperdine for more than 30 years. He is currently the interim dean of Seaver College, having a long history of service within the University’s administration. Kats was the vice provost from 2011 to 2023, and from 2001 until 2011 he served as the associate dean of research. As vice provost, he worked closely with Pepperdine's Information Technology Department; Office of Research, Grants, and Foundation Relations, and with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. Kats also serves as academic director of the Center for Faith and the Common Good, and is involved in the University's strategic planning process and implementation.
Kats’ current research is focused on the ecology and conservation biology of stream animals. This includes examining possible causes of amphibian decline. He and his students focus their studies on the effects of ultraviolet radiation, wildfire, and the introduction of exotic species. He has a significant background in the areas of animal behavior, conservation, animal ecology, tropical biology, and stream ecology. Kats conducts most of his research in the Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California; however, he also leads classes and conducts research in Costa Rica and Argentina.
He has published numerous research articles on amphibian ecology and conservation ecology, served on the board of editors for the scientific journal Conservation Biology since 1996, and the editorial board of Hydrobiologia, the European scientific journal on freshwater biology, since 2000.
Education
- BA, Biology, Calvin College, 1984
- PhD, Biology, University of Kentucky, 1989
Areas of Expertise
- Amphibian ecology
- Conservation biology
- Stream ecology
- Tropical forest and stream ecology
Topics
- Amphibian ecology
- Conservation biology
- Stream ecology
- Tropical forest ecology
Courses
- Tropical Forest Ecology
- BIOL 109: Introduction to Animal Behavior
- BIOL 311: Introduction to Ecology
- BIOL 340: Natural History of Vertebrates
- BIOL 360: Environmental Politics and Policy
- MATH 317: Laboratory for Statistics and Experimental Design