Welcome . . .
. . . to the inaugural edition of the Department of Biological Science Newsletter. Did you know that for several years running, the department has been the most popular major at FSU? As a result, we now have a broad base of B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. alumni spread across the country. We plan to publish this newsletter regularly as a way of keeping in touch and showcasing the accomplishments of our current students, faculty, and alums. For example, our feature story in this edition is about Fran James. Many of you will recall courses that you took from Fran in ecology, higher vertebrates, or conservation. Or, if you were one of our graduate students, Fran may have been on your committee. Fran is already the holder of a Named Professorship and is an FSU Distinquished Research Professor. This year she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a particularly prestigious honor. We are all proud of Fran.
Three other faculty have also received Named Professorships. This program, which Florida State launched two years ago, not only provides a way to recognize our top current faculty but allows them in turn to honor former mentors and colleagues in naming their positions. We are proud that all four have chosen to honor past members of the department. For example, Fran is the Pasquale Graziadei Professor of Biological Science. Marc Freeman is the Lloyd M. Beidler Professor of Biological Science, Bill Herrnkind is the Robert K. Godfrey Professor of Biological Science, and Walter Tschinkel is the Margaret Menzel Professor of Biological Science.
At a time when many of our faculty are being honored for their contributions, we are also undergoing some dramatic changes. Six faculty have retired in the past two years and five more will retire by 2004. Overall, we will experience a 50% turnover of our faculty over a six-year period. This year alone we have added five new faculty members, whom we profile in this issue. Last fall, we initiated a nationwide search to fill a senior professorship named in honor of a former colleague, the late J. Herbert Taylor. This new position was established by Herb's wife and scientific collaborator, Shirley.
We hope this newsletter will provide a forum for the exchange of news among alumni and friends, including what you are doing and how your time in the department has affected your life. So talk to us. In future issues, we plan to include an Alumni News section. You can contribute by returning the form on page 4 (of the print version) by mail or fax (850-644-9829) or by simply sending an e-mail message to biology@bio.fsu.edu. We also want to enlist your support. The department continues to be a campus leader in both undergraduate training and graduate research. If you encounter bright students interested in the life sciences, please point them in our direction. Bob Reeves (reeves@bio.fsu.edu), our Associate Chair for Undergraduate Students, and George Bates (a href="mailto:bates@bio.fsu.edu">bates@bio.fsu.edu
), Associate Chair for Graduate Studies, will be happy to discuss how you can actively assist in our recruiting efforts.
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