COSAM News Articles 2015 June Feminella named COSAM’s Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Feminella named COSAM’s Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Published: 06/15/2015

Jack Feminella, professor and chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, was appointed to succeed Vince Cammarata as COSAM's associate dean for academic affairs. Feminella received his bachelor of science from SUNY Oneonta, his master of science from the University of North Texas, and his doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley. He joined COSAM’s Department of Biological Sciences in 1991, and served as graduate program office from 1999 to 2008 and department chair from 2008 to 2015. Feminella is a professor of stream ecology, and he has studied the ecology of a wide variety of stream organisms and ecosystems in Oregon, California, Washington, Arkansas and across the Southeast since 1978. At Auburn, Feminella’s research has centered on ecological questions at the population and community levels of organization using model organisms ranging from stream microbes like algae, bacteria and fungi, to macrobiota such as benthic invertebrates and vertebrates, to study the influence of environmental conditions on the organization and function of stream ecosystems. He has served as faculty advisor to approximately 20 graduate students, has secured numerous grants and publications, and regularly teaches organismal biology, general ecology, invertebrate biodiversity, stream ecology and undergraduate seminar in ecology. He was named outstanding faculty member of the Auburn University Graduate School in 2008, received the COSAM Dean’s Award for faculty service and outreach in 2009, and the President’s Outstanding Collaborative Units Award in 2011. Feminella will officially begin his term on Aug. 1, 2015. Robert Boyd, professor and undergraduate program officer in the Department of Biological Sciences, will serve as interim chair of the Department of Biological Sciences.