(COVINGTON, La.) — Dr. Randall Ford, a Biology teacher from Holy Cross high school, began teaching at St. Paul’s during this 2018-2019 school year. Ford teaches Biology and Physical Science, alongside coaching 8th Grade Football. Ford was born and raised in Metairie, La. where he attended Archbishop Rummel High School. He then attended Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. to attain his Undergraduate Degree. After his graduation from Rhodes, Ford returned home to New Orleans to attend the University of New Orleans to obtain his Masters in Biology. Later education included a year of studying Physical Therapy at LSU, until he decided to branch off and pursue his P.H.D. at Duke University.

Although he also teaches Physical Science to Freshmen, his true interest is Biology. Specifically, the science of evolution because, “Nothing in Biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.” – Theodosius Dobzhansky, a famous Biologist and Physicist.

This quote hangs on a poster in Ford’s classroom because, “When you take out all evolutionary explanations, all biological knowledge is just a random collection of facts. Evolution is what ties Biology together and makes sense of it.”

His passion for Biology even led him to do field research in the jungles of Costa Rica. Ford spent a year studying primates and said, “It was a cool experience, but spending 12 hours a day in the forest with nobody around but Howler Monkeys can get tedious at times.” One of his favorite memories from his time studying the Howler Monkeys was how smaller monkeys would constantly switch between supporting the Alpha Male and the male challenging the Alpha Male. Ford still enjoys the outdoors and is fond of camping.

Even though St. Paul’s is a bit different from the Costa Rican jungle, Ford has enjoyed his time here at St. Paul’s so far. “The students are great, the faculty here is awesome, and the administration is very supportive. Other places I’ve been to have had more negativity around them, but the environment here is great,” Ford said.  He continued by saying that he “hopes his students learn something during his class, but more importantly that they grow into better young men than they were before.”