New Faculty Profiles
In September 2000, we welcomed Jeff Podos, our new behavioral ecologist.  Jeff comes to us with a B.A. magna cum laude from Franklin and Marshall University, a Ph.D. from Duke University and a postdoc at the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, U. of Arizona, where he worked on the Analysis of Biological Diversification project.  Jeff spent this winter in the Galapagos studying Darwin's finches (see page 1). At right is a Galapagos tortoise being studied by the young Daniel Podos.
This Fall we will be joined by Elizabeth Dumont, our new vertebrate evolutionary biologist.  Her research goal is to understand "the integrated roles of morphology, behavior and ecology in mammalian evolution."  Elizabeth obtained a B.A., with honors, in anthropology at Indiana University and a M.A. and Ph.D in anthropology at SUNY Stony Brook.  Elizabeth was voted "Teacher of the Year" by the Class of 2002 in her recent position as Assistant Professor in the Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Northeastern Ohio University.

Activities of Retired Faculty
Retirement does not mean metamorphosis into a couch potato.  Some retired professors continue to contribute to campus programs.  Art Stern is Faculty Advisor in Commonwealth College (CC is the Honors College).  Some of the best students on campus are enrolled in CC, and that makes advising enjoyable.  Art also teaches occasionally in Introductory Biology.  Some retired faculty provide service to home town, Amherst.  John Roberts is Trustee of the Jones Library.  Otto Stein is Member of Amherst Town Meeting.  Arthur Mange is on the Board of the Burnett Gallery of the Jones Library and recently exhibited his photographs.  Other retired faculty continue with scholarly endeavors.  Jack Palmer just finished a book (his eighth) entitled The Living Clock.  He spends summers at Woods Hole where he can be found in his office at the Capt. Kidd.  Ted Sargent just published an essay in "Human Traditions in United States History" (1924-1940 volume)  He gives talks on two continuing passions, birds and American historical figures. Ted has several books in preparation including a history of recent bird extinctions, "Burden of Sorrow: The Passing of American Birds."  Bud Moner is writing his memoirs of growing up (from tap dancer to budding scientist) in Bayonne, NJ.  Bob Wilce continues his research on Arctic algae.  

Continue Helping Us Help You
We are very grateful to our alumni and friends for responding to our plea for help. Thank you! Your generosity has enabled us to support the projects you have identified; the unspecified donations are being used to enrich the undergraduate research experience, enhance undergraduate field trips, and support the undergraduate organization BioSci. We welcome your ideas and contributions; please contact us!
The Biology Department continues to support students through scholarship funds established with and supplemented by alumni contributions. These include the Ray Ethan Torrey Scholarship for undergraduates in the plant sciences and the William and Margaret Nutting Scholarship in field biology. The Massachusetts Museum of Natural History has also benefited from alumni support.  All contributions, targeted or unrestricted, are greatly appreciated.  The University budget has been tight for many years and alumni contributions are an extremely important source of funds for many initiatives for our students.  If you respond to the annual UMass Telethon, you can direct your donation, or a portion of it, to the Biology Department.
Direct contact with our alumni has been and continues to be important to us.  For years, alumni in academic departments throughout the U.S. or holding nonacademic positions have been invaluable to our recent graduates by providing advice, and helping to locate support for graduate studies and to find jobs.  We want to remind all alumni that help from nonacademic quarters is more important than ever.  If you would like to be on our list of potential contacts, please send a brief description of your field of work and how best to reach you to Ed Davis or Bruce Byers, Biology Department, Morrill Science Center, University of Massachusetts, 611 North Pleasant St., Amherst MA 01003-9297 or Email bbyers@bio.umass.edu.  Many student ask to have individuals with "real life" (nonacademic) jobs come speak with them. Should you be available for such talks with small student groups, or for one-on-one conversations, please let us know.
If you are interested in biology alumni who have joined the internet age with a presence on the WWW, visit the alumni links page and learn about their academic and commercial exploits. To list your WWW page, or make changes, contact us by Email through the Alumni Forum, or write directly to Joe Kunkel at joe@bio.umass.edu.
The Biology Alumni Website provides professional links which can help young biologists explore alternative career paths in biology. One link may help academics plan sabbaticals. Any links you might wish to share with other alumni should be Emailed to us for posting.  Please communicate with us via the enclosed return card or by Email.