Quick Navigation

Northern Illinois University

Department of Biological Sciences

Photo of Outstanding Graduates

From left to right: Carl von Ende, Bethia King, Rich King, Jerry Zar (B.S., 1962), Barrie Bode, Tom Near (B.S. & B.A., 1993; M.S., 1995), Ken Gasser, Mary Katherine Kraus (B.S., 1990), and Kevin Folta (B.S., 1989; M.S., 1992). Not pictured: Arnold Hampel (B.S. 1963).

LAS 50th AnniversaryCLAS 50th Anniversary—

Five Biology Alumni Chosen for the 50 Outstanding Graduates

by Professor Kenneth Gasser - August 2009

The 2009-2010 academic year will mark the 50th anniversary of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Northern Illinois University. To mark this significant milestone, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will host a series of special events throughout the year, including a recognition of the 50 outstanding graduates from the 17 departments that make up the college in September 2009. The 50 Golden Anniversary Alumni were chosen based on outstanding professional accomplishments or involvement in civic and cultural activities.

Five of those to receive this prestigious honor are alumni of the Department of Biological Sciences. They include:

  • Dr. Jerrold Zar, (B.S. 1962) who returned to NIU and the Department of Biological Sciences in 1968 as an assistant professor. He was the chair of the department from 1978-1984 and Dean of the Graduate School and Vice-Provost for Research from 1984 until his retirement in 2002. Dr. Zar’s scientific specialty was in ecology and biostatistics, and he is the author of the widely used textbook “Biostatistical Analysis.”
  • Dr. Arnold Hampel, (B.S. 1963), was a Professor of Biological Sciences at NIU for 30 years and achieved an international scientific reputation for his pioneering work on catalytic RNA.
  • Dr. Kevin Folta (B.S. 1989, M.S. 1992) is currently a professor of plant molecular biology in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at the University of Florida, with research programs in photomorphogenesis and strawberry genomics.
  • Mary Katherine Krause (BS 1990) is the Associate Vice President for University Relations at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Mary has received numerous honors for health care administration.
  • Dr. Thomas Near (B.S. 1993, M.S. 1995) is currently a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Yale University and is the Curator of Ichthyology at the Yale University Peabody Museum of Natural History.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has nearly 70,000 graduates in its 50 year history. To be part of the select fifty is a great honor for which we congratulate the awards winners, pictured below: (left to right) Jerrold Zar, Arnold Hampel, Kevin Folta, Mary Katherine Krause, Thomas Near.

Photo of Jerrold Zar

Photo of Arnold Hampel

Photo of Kevin Folta

Photo of Mary Katherine Krause

Photo of Thomas Near