Homecoming 2016: New ISC Building Edition
Professor (and Chair) Eric Bradley and Marc Presler '10 Julia Polentes '16
Muri (Jacobs) Dueppen '91, Prof. Eric Bradley, and Patrick Dueppen '90 Julia Polentes '16
Emeritus Professor Norm Fashing, Ann Tate '75 and Margery Daughtery '75 Julia Polentes '16
Emeritus Professor Norm Fashing and Jim Welch '90 Jim Welch is now Assoc. Professor and Chair of the Biology Department at Wittenberg University. Julia Polentes '16
Stephanie Chambers '05 and Shivani Desai '05 Julia Polentes '16
Bethany Hsia '04 and daughter Addison Julia Polentes '16
Brooke Matson '11 Julia Polentes '16
Greenhouse Manager Patty Jackson and Joey Thompson '14 Joey Thompson was a long-term greenhouse volunteer and is pursuing a MS degree in Coastal Plant Ecology at VCU Julia Polentes '16
Caroline Golino '17 and Susan Hildebrand Ruegger '75 Alumna Susan Hildebrand Ruegger taught current student Caroline high school biology and was incredibly proud of Caroline's contribution to the award-winning iGem team. Julia Polentes '16
A group photo including staff, volunteers, and alumni Julia Polentes
Hannah Ritsema '15 Julia Polentes '16
Conor and Tracie Sipes '00 It was wonderful to have the next generation show up at the Biology Homecoming Reception Julia Polentes '16
Professor Paul Heideman and student Andy Halleran Current students presented research results in posters at the Biology Department homecoming open house Julia Polentes '16
Emily Anthony '13 and Emeritus Professor Norm Fashing Julia Polentes '16
Hannah Brookes '16 and Prof. Laurie Sanderson Julia Polentes '16
Jennifer and Eric Yttri ('05 and '04) Julia Polentes '16
Merci Best '17 and Marquis Stokes '12 Julia Polentes '16
MK Rieder '15, Veronica Gray '15, and Alvaro Aunon Julia Polentes '16
Asst. Prof. Harmony Dalgleish with Ruth Mead '80 and Jim Mead Julia Polentes '16
Assoc. Prof. Mark Forsyth and Anthony Bennia '15 Julia Polentes '16
Emeritus Professor Norm Fashing Holding scorpion Julia Polentes '16
Assoc. Prof. Oli Kerscher (with his children) and Alyssa Beda '13 This reunion was full of hugs, as Dr. Kerscher's children remember his student Alyssa with much affection! Julia Polentes '16
Returning alumni had great weather to celebrate their Homecoming in 2016, and were welcomed to the newest edition of the Integrated Science Center. The first year after the closing of Millington Hall, BIology held two events in the new building. Alumnus Doug Soltis '75 spoke in the the new ISC auditorium, in our tradition of having alumni give the Department Seminar the week before Homecoming. Doug is a Distinguished Professor at the Unitversity of Florida, and spoke passionately about biological research and the "Moon Shot" project publishing the first draft of the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life is an evolutionary tree showing relationships of 2.3 million species known on Earth.
On Saturday, the department joined the Applied Sciences, Chemistry, and Psychology departments (and the Neuroscience Program) in hosting an Open House of the new Integrated Science Center wing (ISC3). The new addition covers as much area as the other two wings combined, and includes a bright Atrium and outdoor patio. Several alumni wished they would have had such a beautiful space, while others reminisced about the joys and troubles of old Millington.
Highlights included the "BioMakerSpace", a laboratory outfitted for work with molecular DNA technology, a new research-friendly greenhouse, a 3-D printer display by students in Dr. Laurie Sanderson's lab, and Dr. Jon Allen's aquaria display ("A kid magnet", explained Dr. Paul Heideman).
To top it all off, "William & Mary rallies to first CAA win, 24-17 over Delaware" was the headline after the Homecoming game!
