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Petty to kick off 2007-08 Faculty Dinner Series at WVU
Free event for sophomores, juniors
West Virginia University sophomores and juniors are invited to navigate the rivers of the Mountain State at Tuesday’s (Sept. 18) Faculty Dinner Series presentation – “West Virginia Rivers: Splendor, Neglect, Hope” – presented by WVU Student Affairs.
Todd Petty, an associate professor in the Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences, will join students for a dinner at 6 p.m. in the Mountaineer Room of the Mountainlair and then take them on a “tour” of state rivers, exploring their value, history, present-day problems and directions for the future.
This is an exciting chance for students to meet one of the University’s outstanding faculty members and hear about a field of study, which they may not be familiar with, say organizers.
“The program will bring students and faculty together in a comfortable, intimate environment, where they can enjoy complimentary meals and informal conversation – with the ultimate goal being to help students have a successful college experience,” said Sheila Powell, special assistant to the vice president for Student Affairs.
Petty’s fascinating career has revolved around wildlife and fisheries, she noted. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Virginia, he worked as a fisheries biologist on striped bass projects for both the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
He then attended the Warnell School of Forest Resources at the University of Georgia, earning his master’s and doctoral degrees.
In 2000, Petty joined WVU’s Davis College, where he teaches courses in limnology (the study of inland waters), fisheries management, quantitative ecology and wildlife and fisheries population dynamics.
His research has focused on basic stream ecology, fish and invertebrate community ecology, spatial population dynamics of brook trout and watershed restoration. Much of his current research is conducted through the West Virginia Water Research Institute, where he serves as the director of the Watershed Technical Assistance Center.
Petty’s interest in aquatics extends beyond the classroom. He is an avid fisherman, “stream mucker” and river floater.
Faculty Dinner Series
The Faculty Dinner Series is part of Experience WVU and the Sophomore/Junior-Year Experience initiative, a package of programs and services aimed at helping students succeed in college.
Petty’s talk is the first in the 2007-08 series. Dinner will include baked ziti, fresh vegetable saute, Caesar salad, chocolate pie and apple pie. Participants will also receive a free gift.
Space is limited and on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students interested in attending this free event should e-mail kelli.eisentrout@mail.wvu.edu as soon as possible.
Two more Faculty Dinner Series presentations are planned for this fall. Ed Etzel, associate professor in the Department of Sport Studies, will explain how to “Get Pumped for Your Set of Goals” Oct. 23, and Tom Sloane, senior associate dean of students, will present a slideshow and presentation on his trip to Japan Nov. 12.
Sophomore/Junior Year Experience on the Net: http://sophomorejunioryear.experience.wvu.edu/
Student Affairs
Office: (304) 293-5811
Student Affairs
Office: (304) 293-5811