I am an Assistant Professor of Biology in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at Longwood University

I can be found in Chichester 301 and on Twitter as @KennyPeanuts and @FortinoLab

I am deeply invested in undergraduate education and I strive to provide my students with habits of scholarship that will allow them to continue their education throughout their lives.

Courses I Teach:

• Integrative Biology – BIOL 120
• Introduction to Ecology and Evolution – BIOL 251
• Biology Sophmore Seminar – BIOL 288
• Ecology – BIOL 341
• Ecosystem Ecology – BIOL 434
• Integrated Environmental Investigations – ENSC 201

My research investigates carbon cycling in freshwaters with an emphasis on small human-constructed ponds. Small ponds are the dominant freshwater habitat in many parts of the world but their impact on the transport, storage, and transformation of carbon remains incompletely understood. Carbon cycling is integral to climate regulation through its control on the concentration of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere and to water quality through its connection to the growth of undesirable algae. Understanding carbon cycling in small ponds will allow us to make better decisions to control climate change and support healthy freshwater ecosystems.