School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences
Richard Brinker, Dean334-844-1007
www.sfws.auburn.edu
Smith Named Arboretum Curator
Danita (Dee) Smith was recently named curator of the College of Sciences and Mathematics Donald E. Davis Arboretum.
"The Davis Arboretum serves in many ways: teaching, research, outreach, and as a place for a community gathering or solitude. Thus, it calls for an innovative, energetic and dedicated collaborator," says COSAM Dean Stewart Schneller. "With her experience, vision and contagious passion for her profession, we were delighted we could bring Dee to the COSAM arboretum. We will all benefit from her efforts."
An Auburn alumna, Smith earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in horticulture. She previously taught herbaceous ornamentals for AU’s horticulture department, then left to manage the gardens at the Callaway Estate, the private Callaway home and historic boxwood garden, that opened to the public in LaGrange, Ga., in 2004.
"I was at the Callaway Estate from 1999-2006, and commuted from Opelika during that time," Smith explains. "Splitting my time the way I did, I really didn’t feel like a part of either community. Having the opportunity to come home and contribute to the arboretum has been wonderful, and I feel I can be a part of, and contribute to, the community in which I live."
Under COSAM’s direction, the arboretum continues to thrive as one of the most beautiful classrooms on campus. The 13.5 acres of the arboretum is home to 515 identified native species and is the world’s most concise and complete public collection of Alabama’s hundreds of native trees. With an extensive collection of native plants, an abundance of wildlife and an open-air pavilion, it is an ideal place for many types of education.
Smith is enthusiastic about her work at the arboretum and says she looks forward to working with a number of various groups and departments on campus to ensure that the arboretum continues in its support of research, education and outreach. "The arboretum is a valuable resource for the university," she says. "There are so many avenues to explore and opportunities to develop; I see so many exciting things in the future of the arboretum."
The arboretum is located only a few hundred yards south of the president’s mansion on the corner of South College and Garden Streets. For more information, contact the arboretum at 334-844-5770.
Society of Women in Sciences and Mathematics Hold Symposium
The College of Sciences and Mathematics Society of Women in Sciences and Mathematics recently hosted their second annual symposium, featuring former astronaut and AU alum Kathryn C. Thornton. The symposium consisted of a panel discussion featuring accomplished women in the fields of sciences and mathematics, a keynote address and luncheon.
More than 50 area high school students with special interest in the sciences and mathematics were invited to interact with panelists from various fields including physics, chemistry, biological research, patent law and education.
"We were delighted to have such a distinguished group of women join us for the symposium," says COSAM Associate Dean for Research Marie Wooten. "Their career paths serve as a blueprint for the younger generation of women entering the fields of sciences and mathematics. The diverse experiences of these women provide a glimpse of the many ways in which students can fulfill their passion and interest to work in the field."
The highlight of the symposium was the keynote address, providing a glimpse into the life of Kathryn Thornton as a female shuttle astronaut. Thornton is a veteran of four space flights, logging more than 975 hours in space, and is currently professor and associate dean for graduate programs in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University of Virginia.
SWSM seeks to provide role models who are committed to increasing awareness of opportunities available for women in sciences and mathematics. Funds support mentoring programs including Leadership Institute for Females Exceptional in Science and Leading Auburn in Developing Interest in Experimental Sciences. SWSM also funds scholarships to Auburn University women who demonstrate leadership in promoting women in sciences and mathematics and to high school girls with an interest in pursuing careers in the basic sciences and mathematics.
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HIGH-FLYING ALUMNA–Former astronaut Kathryn C. Thornton and a 1974 graduate from COSAM was keynote speaker for the College of Sciences and Mathematics Society of Women in Sciences and Mathematics second annual symposium. |
COSAM Professor Receives 2007 Leischuck Award
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LEISCHUCK HONOREES–Roland Dute and Pamela C. Boyd were the 2007 winners of the Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching. Pictured at the presentation were, from left, former AU President Ed Richardson and his wife, Nell; Boyd, a faculty member in the College of Education; Dute; and the Leischucks. |
Roland Dute of the College of Sciences and Mathematics is one of two recipients of this year’s Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching.
An AU faculty member for 25 years, Dute is a professor of biological sciences, where he teaches freshman biology courses for majors and non-majors as well as advanced undergraduate and graduate courses. He also advises undergraduates in the zoology and pre-veterinary medicine curriculum, mentors graduate students and has served on 38 graduate student committees.
The award carries a $10,000 stipend for each recipient. Emeritus senior administrators Gerald and Emily Leischuck established the endowment in 2005 to recognize the university’s teachers, and AU presented the first Leischuck Endowed Presidential Awards the same year. Both the Leischucks had taught in public schools in the 1960s, and both maintained close ties to the AU College of Education during lengthy careers as administrators at Auburn.