Marilyn Loveless

Loveless, who earned her Ph.D. at Kansas, was pleased to join the faculty at Wooster because she wanted to teach at a small liberal arts college similar to her undergraduate alma mater, Albion, and she had a clear vision of what type of educator she wanted to be. "You have to have a command of the discipline, but also be able to identify what is essential and what can be acquired over a longer period of time," she says. "You have to be focused on what students are learning and how you can generate interest and enthusiasm so they become engaged in the discipline."

Not only did Loveless cherish the opportunity to inspire the students who majored in biology, but also those outside of the sciences. "I taught a class in tropical biology to non majors, and I found that very rewarding," she says. "It was an opportunity to encourage these students to take the sciences seriously."

Loveless, who also spent six years as department chair, has been deeply committed to her craft and is especially passionate about the environment. She has been a member of the environmental studies faculty and was actively involved in sustainability issues on campus. She also worked closely with the Expanding Your Horizons Workshop, a program that provides early exposure to the sciences for elementary school girls. In addition, she continues to serve on the Board of Directors for The Wilderness Center and is a member of Friends of Wooster Memorial Park.