After 29 years of teaching at Wesleyan, Dr. Katharine Gregg remains as faithfully devoted to independent research as when she first pursued her doctorate at the University of Miami. Within the past three years, the North Carolina native has published seven articles in respected peer-reviewed journals. "Research and writing keep my thinking sharp," she says. "I also review manuscripts for journals and occasionally critique grant proposals for the National Science Foundation, both of which keep me on my toes and aware of what's going on."

Since moving to West Virginia, Dr. Gregg's main interest has been in ecology, reproductive strategy, pollination biology and population dynamics of orchids native to the Appalachian area. Ironically, to analyze these data, she often collaborates with other biologists around the world.

"Recently I've worked with researchers at Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, England, to clarify relationships among spreading pogonia orchids using DNA analysis," she explains. "While looking at their distribution in the United States, I noticed that the location of West Virginia's population seemed rather isolated. One hypothesis was that the orchids had arrived when the farmer's daughter-in-law had transplanted wildflowers when she moved here from eastern North Carolina. By analyzing the DNA of several populations in the mountains and coastal plain of the southeastern United States, my colleagues and I were able to determine that the migration had most likely taken place naturally from the North Carolina mountains rather than by human-assisted transport in a dishpan."

Dr. Gregg has made significant contributions to the understanding of orchids, most recently presenting a novel way to study one of the quirky phases of the terrestrial orchid life cycle, termed the "unobservable life-state." Teaming up with a Swiss biologist Mark Kéry, she used zoological mark and recapture modeling to help understand why orchids have the intriguing habit of "mysteriously disappearing for a season and then reappearing in a seemingly unpredictable manner." Another recent publication describing damage and recovery of showy lady's slippers from grazing by white tailed deer is one of the longest such studies of herbivory by deer in the literature. In 1992, working with a Canadian biologist, she even had the privilege of naming an orchid species, Cleistes bifaria Catling and Gregg.

On Wesleyan's campus, Dr. Gregg teaches Principles of Biology, the first course for majors, as well as Experimental Biology, Plant Systematics, and General Microbiology. She believes her personal research enhances the classroom atmosphere for students. "I tell stories about real science questions and how they have been addressed," she explains. "My students hear personal anecdotes about research and about interactions among scientists. These stories help make today's science and the possibilities of becoming scientists themselves come alive." You can reach Dr. Gregg at gregg@wvwc.edu.

The OrangeLine Online continues its series on assisting alumni with its educational initiative Greetings from the Annie Merner Pfeiffer Library.

Lifelong Learning from Your Library: Online News

Would you be surprised to learn that West Virginia has a rich literary heritage? The Mountain State has produced Noble Prize winners, Newbery award winners, and New York Times bestsellers. The Annie Merner Pfeiffer's West Virginia authors site seeks to highlight and showcase authors from or who write about West Virginia.

Each author entry contains biographical information, a summary of the critical responses to the author's works, a list of published works, and a selected bibliography. Entries also have links to author websites where available. The site is indexed by author and by county, as well as a section focusing on authors for children. Information to library resources for the study of Appalachian literature and to useful websites is also included.

This resource can be found under Find Books on the Library home page, or you can access it directly at http://www.wvwc.edu/lib/wv_authors/index.htm.

Dr. Harold T. Elmore Hon. '82 Receives Rhododendron Award

During the Founders Day celebration at Homecoming, Dr. Harold T. Elmore Hon. '82, Emeritus Club coordinator at West Virginia Wesleyan College, will be the recipient of the Rhododendron Award for his service to Wesleyan. This will be only the ninth time in the last 35 years this honor has been awarded.

The Rhododendron Award was established in 1967 by the College for the purpose of honoring distinguished West Virginians for exemplary acts of leadership on behalf of Wesleyan.

"Harold epitomizes what service is truly about," remarked President William R. Haden. "It is service to our College and service to his community and state. West Virginia Wesleyan College is proud to recognize his contributions."

Previous recipients included author and Nobel Prize winner Pearl S. Buck, Senator Jennings Randolph, author and publisher Jim Comstock, Arthur Dunlap, executive director of the West Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges, now known as West Virginia Independent Colleges and Universities, Herb Sharp, a Wesleyan development officer, philanthropists Olive and Ross Culpepper, music writer and publisher E.W. James, businessman James R. Thomas II, and Dr. M. Homer Cummings Jr.

Dr. Elmore, a native of Seebert in Pocahontas County, is a graduate of Morris Harvey College, Vanderbilt University, and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He served as campus pastor at WVU, pastor of churches in the WV Annual Conference, and District Superintendent. As a U.S. Army Chaplain, he served three years on active duty and thirty years on reserve duty. He retired from Spruce Street UMC in Morgantown in 1993. During the 1995 spring semester, he was Interim Dean of Wesley Chapel and in 1996 was appointed the Coordinator of the Emeritus Club at Wesleyan. A trustee of the College from 1979 to 1994, he received a Wesleyan honorary degree in 1982.

Harold, and his wife, the former Sylvia Conklyn, have four children, Thomas '81, Wesley, Heather '85, and Jonathan. The Elmore family has established two endowed scholarships: the S. Azo F. Wagner and Vivian Brady Wagner scholarship for Christian ministry or Christian service students and the Sylvia Conklyn Elmore Elementary Education Scholarship. The Elmores reside in Buckhannon, WV.

In addition to a citation, a rhododendron bush will be planted on the Wesleyan campus to commemorate the occasion and to honor Dr. Elmore.

Bob Skinner '75 Appointed Director of Marketing & Communication

Robert (Bob) Skinner has been appointed Director of Marketing and Communication at West Virginia Wesleyan College. His responsibilities will include the development of a comprehensive marketing and communication program, internal and external communication, media relations, publications, and the College’s website. ...(read more)

David Esaias '05 New College Web Programmer

West Virginia Wesleyan is pleased to announce the hiring of David Esaias as the College's new Web Programmer. David is a 2005 graduate of Wesleyan's graphic design ...(read more)

SIFE team Participates in HSBC Financial Literacy Forum in Toronto

West Virginia Wesleyan College's Student in Free Enterprise (SIFE) organization was one of 19 colleges and universities represented at the HSBC Educational Trust and the Corporate, Investment Banking and Markets division ....(read more)