Spotlight on new CNCC staff

RANGELY I Liz Johnson is a new member of the Colorado Northwestern Community College physical and life science faculty on the Craig campus.
Johnson teaches a variety of sciences including chemistry, biology and geology. Her expertise is interdisciplinary teaching and hands-on learning, which includes field trips, innovative labs and, where appropriate, explosions to engage students of all ages. Johnson has been teaching in the Colorado community college system in Denver for the past year and a half. After she graduated with her bachelor’s degree in earth sciences at Montana State University in Bozeman, she earned her Master of Science degree in molecular paleontology at North Carolina State University in Raleigh.
Molecular paleontology is the study of preserved organics that remain in bone for millions of years.
Johnson has been a part of many field excursions into the badlands of Montana looking, excavating, and analyzing preserved fossils that contain protein original to the animal deep within the bone mineral.
Consistent with her fieldwork experience, Liz enjoys hiking and backpacking. She also enjoys playing soccer, painting and is currently training for a half marathon.
She grew up in a small town on the outskirts of Boise, Idaho, where she developed her passion for anything outdoors.