2008 News and Honors
Amorphophallus titanum bloomed in the greenhouse. After six and a half years of vegetative growth, the largest flowering plant in the world flowered for the first time in Thut Greenhouse. Its huge flower and powerful roadkill aroma attracted several hundred flies and three thousand visitors.
Alexandra Baluka received a College of Sciences Graduate Student Investigator Award. Steven Daniel, mentor.
William Beatty received a Graduate School/Research Creative Activity Award. Zhiwei Liu and Tom Nelson mentors.
Janice Coons was elected as a Fellow in the Illinois State Academy of Sciences.
Joanne Crawford's Master's thesis "Mating, Kinship, and Population Structure in Illinois Beaver Populations" was selected as Eastern's nomination for the 2007 Distinguished Master's Thesis Award of the Midwest Association of Graduate Schools. This is the highest form of recognition for a graduate thesis at Eastern Illinois University. Tom Nelson, mentor.
Steve Daniel was promoted to full professor.
Danyelle Dehner received a Graduate School/Research Creative Activity Award. Robert Fischer, mentor.
Robert Fischer was awarded the 2008 Distinguished Faculty Award.
Peter Frey received a College of Sciences Graduate Student Investigator Award. Scott Meiners, mentor.
Megan France is the recipient of the Rachael Richardson Scholarship which is presented to Honors students in recognition of their superior academic achievement. Megan also received a College of Sciences SURE Award. Marina Marjanovic, mentor.
Ann Fritz has received one of the 2008 Woman of Achievement Awards presented by the Women’s Studies Program of EIU.
Dr. Craig Gatto, a former undergraduate and graduate student at Eastern and now professor at Illinois State University, has received a 2008 Outstanding Graduate Alumni Award.
Amanda Hance received a College of Sciences Scholars in Undergraduate Research at Eastern Award. Kipp McGilliard, mentor.
Sharon Hickman was awarded the best graduate poster presentation in the division of Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology at the recent Illinois State Academy of Sciences meeting. Gary Bulla, mentor.
New Faculty: Kai Foong (Billy) Hung
Vince Hustad's oral presentation in the Botany Division at Illinois State Academy of Sciences meeting was chosen as the best presentation at the meetings. Andrew Methven, mentor.
Vince Hustad received a College of Sciences Graduate Student Investigator Award. Andrew Methven, mentor.
Ashley Imboden received 2nd place in the John C. Johnson Competition for best poster presentation at the annual Tri-Beta District Conference. Steven Daniel, mentor.
Brandon Jutras received a Graduate School/Research Creative Activity Award. Zhiwei Liu and Jeff Laursen mentors.
Trip Krenz is one of this year's two recipients of the Undergraduate/Graduate Scholarship Award as well as one of this year's Robert Esser Student Achievement Scholarship Award from the Illinois Lake Management Association. Charles Pederson mentor.
Marina Marjanovic was appointed Interim Associate Chair for the department.
Andrew Methven stepped down as Interim Chair of the department and returned to teaching. Godson Obia was appointed as Interim Department Chair.
BreAnne Nott received 1st place in the Frank G. Brooks Competition for best paper presentation at the annual Tri-Beta District Conference. This award includes a $750 travel allowance for BreAnne to present her research at the biennial Tri-Beta National Convention. Scott Meiners, mentor.
Nikki Pisula received a College of Sciences Scholars in Undergraduate Research at Eastern Award. Scott Meiners, mentor.
Amanda Steber received a College of Sciences Scholars in Undergraduate Research at Eastern Award. Robert Fischer, mentor.
Stephen Warner received a College of Sciences Graduate Student Investigator Award. Robert Fischer, mentor.
The following faculty members from the Department of Biological Sciences were honored at the 2008 COS Publishing Scholarsand Creative Works Recognition Reception: Karen Gaines, Marina Marjanovic, Gordon Tucker, Scott Meiners, Barbara Carlsward, Zhiwei Liu, Steve Mullin, and Henry Owen.
