Ronnee K. Yashon--a nationally known expert in teaching genetics, ethics, and the law on all levels--teaches Law and Genetics at the Experimental College of Tufts University and Boston University School of Medicine. She has a law degree and a background in teaching on the high school, undergraduate, graduate, and law school levels. A recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching and the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award in Illinois, Yashon was the Educational Coordinator for the Wright Center for Science Education at Tufts University, during which time she ran numerous workshops for science teachers and disseminated interdisciplinary lessons at local and national conventions, including NSTA and NABT. A genetics seminar at Ball State University in 1985 sparked her interest in law. She then applied and graduated from law school with a specialty in science and law. A popular speaker at in-service meetings for secondary teachers and for two- and four-year college associations, Yashon has helped bring new ways of presenting old topics. Her case study methodology for introducing bioethics and law in the curriculum uses simple, personalized, and current scenarios that involve the student in decision making. Yashon has presented this case study method all over the country. She has six case study books, including two minibooks that focus on genetics and environmental issues. The implementation of science-oriented law courses in current law school curriculum is a continuing interest in addition to educating jurists and attorneys on the subject of genetics.
