Profiles in Business Excellence: Wilkes University

      The Ecological Society of America recently recognized Wilkes University biology professor Ken Klemow with its 2010 Eugene P. Odum Award for Excellence in Ecology Education.

      Former student Rachel Curtis, who graduated from Wilkes in May, nominated him.

      “It was because of his teaching skills that I began to truly enjoy studying biology,” Curtis explained. “Not only is Dr. Klemow extremely knowledgeable in a wide array of subjects, but he also is able to instill his excitement for the material into his classes.”

      She switched her major from biochemistry to biology because of Klemow’s enthusiasm for his subject and the opportunity to do hands-on projects with him. She spent the 2009-2010 academic year in Costa Rica researching poison frogs and medical practices at Duke University’s Organization for Tropical Studies, where she now works as a teaching assistant.

      “He does a good job of treating students with respect,” Curtis said of Klemow. “I got a lot of good ideas from him about community education. He has a passion for that and passes it on to us.”

      Klemow, a Hazleton native living in Kingston, has helped launch the science careers of hundreds of students teaching such courses as general ecology, field botany, medical botany and alternative energy. In 2007, he launched an innovative series of podcast trail guides in Kirby Park to introduce hikers to natural features of the area.

      Klemow’s research has included work on ecology of plants colonizing mine-impacted sites, wetland ecology and mapping, remediation of streams impacted by abandoned mine drainage, and conservation of rare plants. He was recently named the associate director of the Wilkes Energy Institute.

      Klemow, who said he is honored to be recognized with one of the most prestigious awards in his field, said, “It is better to be nominated by a student than by almost anyone else. We mentor our students – and then they turn around and mentor us.”