Cecie Starr - For the past two decades, Cecie Starr has been known as one of the best selling biology textbook authors. Her texts, appreciated for their clarity in both the written word and the visual representation of Biological concepts, include multiple editions of UNITY AND DIVERSITY OF LIFE, BIOLOGY: CONCEPTS AND APPLICATIONS, and BIOLOGY TODAY AND TOMORROW. While her original dream was to become an architect, instead of building houses, she now builds with care and attention to detail incredible texts based on this philosophy: "I invite students into a chapter through an intriguing story. Once inside, they get the great windows that biologists construct on the world of life. Biology is not just another house. It is a conceptual mansion. I hope to do it justice."Ralph Taggert ? Former Chair of Biological Sciences at Michigan State University, Ralph Taggert is now the chair of Geological Sciences. Known for his outstanding research in Paleobotany, he taught the general biology course for over 20 years.