Christie Cesar PhD

Dr. Christie Engesser Cesar (Dr. EC) joined the Biology faculty in the Fall of 2016. She earned her earned her doctorate in Biology with a specialization in Neurobiology and Behavior from the University of California, Irvine (2006) and her undergraduate degree in Exercise and Movement Science and Psychology from the University of Oregon (1997). During both undergraduate and graduate school, Dr. EC was an NCAA track athlete, specializing in the 800 meters. She has taught science courses to students at all levels from middle school to graduate school. In between her undergraduate and graduate studies, she earned a Secondary School Credential (Biology) in California from the University of California, Irvine and taught high school science for two years. Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Portland, Dr. EC taught in the Departments of Biology and Physical Therapy at Chapman University in Orange, CA. At UP, she teaches lecture and lab courses in Anatomy and Physiology, and Foundations in Biology. Dr. EC enjoys working with students to help them develop their own best practices for learning science in the university classroom. Dr. EC is from Huntington Beach, CA, lives in Portland with her husband, children and their dog. She spends any free time she has with her family, coaching youth sports, running or with a good book.