John P. Friel

John P. Friel, Ph.D., currently serves as the Director of the Alabama Museum of Natural History at The University of Alabama, a role held since March 2015, where leadership focuses on promoting knowledge and appreciation of natural sciences. Additionally, John holds the position of Interim Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, overseeing one of the largest academic departments at the university, along with responsibilities as the Museum Studies Program Advisor and Internship Coordinator. Prior experience includes serving as Curator of Fishes, Amphibians & Reptiles and Senior Research Associate at Cornell University, and as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Florida State University. John P. Friel earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology from Duke University and a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from the University of Central Florida.