Published on March 7, 2019 by Sean Flynt  
The tooth of an ancient mega-tooth shark
The tooth of an ancient mega-tooth shark

Samford University’s Howell-McLaughlin Distinguished Lecture Series will host paleontologist Jun Ebersole for the 2019 lecture honoring longtime Samford biology professors Mike Howell and Ellen McLaughlin. The free public event–a discussion of Alabama’s ancient mega-toothed sharks–will begin at 7 p.m. in Brooks Hall Auditorium March 21.

Ebersole is the Director of Collections at McWane Science Center in Birmingham and oversees the largest paleontology collection in the state. He is both an archaeologist and paleontologist, and is one of the only individuals in the state to have peer-reviewed publications in three academic fields – archaeology, paleontology and history. Ebersole's prior research has included investigating Homo erectus sites in East Africa, Native American and historic sites in the northeastern and southeastern U.S., and he currently researches the fossil vertebrate diversity in Alabama. He has named several new fossil species including the “Bryant Shark” and Eotrachodon (pronounced ee-oh-track-oh-don), Alabama’s newest dinosaur, and is co-author of the book, The Gorgas House at the University of Alabama. Aside from his research, Jun has curated numerous exhibitions at McWane Science Center and has taught as an Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Anthropology at UAB. Jun has also served on the councils of both the Alabama Museums Association and Birmingham Archaeological Society, and is an active member of the Alabama Paleontological Society.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.