Dr. Francis Orech is an adjunct II instructor in the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences. He teaches Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II in the Department of Natural Sciences and Research Methodology, a graduate class, and Introduction to Plant Science in the Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences. In Spring 2020, Orech is slated to teach the course Animal and Avian Physiology in the same department.
A cross-disciplinary educator, research scientist, integrator and leader, Orech aims to enhance student engagements and productivity at UMES. His main goal is to “mentor students and prepare them for their next career levels.”
“When I started teaching in 2010, I realized that there was a gap in student mentorship for their next career levels,” Orech said. “Since then, hundreds of students have graduated and have successfully completed their graduate studies or are pursuing graduate level programs in the health allied sector and in agricultural research.” The classes he teaches, he said, are needed classes for graduate programs and the graduating students must master the concepts and fundamentals of the courses. “That is exactly what I prepare them for,” Orech said.
“Dr. Orech is committed to supporting student success,” said Dr. Deborah Sauder, professor and chair of UMES’ Department of Natural Sciences. “He has taught Human A&P here for more than 8 years and has consistently had strong evaluations from his students who cite his clear classroom presentations. He relates the content of the class to everyday life and is thorough in both the content he presents and his evaluation of student learning to ensure that students know the content of the course. A&P provides fundamental knowledge required for students to meet their career objectives in the allied health professions. In addition to his classroom expertise, Dr. Orech is an active mentor to his students as they move forward towards their career goals.”
Orech’s long-term research has been on the nutritional composition of indigenous green leafy vegetables and entomophagy, looking at their safety regarding nutrient and anti-nutrient contents and potentially toxic or carcinogenic active compounds. His educational background as a UMES graduate student, 2006-10, and experiences at universities in Kenya and Denmark have shaped his multi-disciplinary skills and scholarly discipline.
