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m ApubHcatidnfor^^M^^^ pcirmts a the Summer 1989 Plyler steps down as dean to resume teaching and research In his 23 years with Wilmington Col lege and The University of North Caroli na at Wilmington, Dr. Daniel Belk Plyler has touched the lives of many students, faculty, and staff. In January of this year, he announced his decision to step down on July 31, 1989, as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, a post he has held since 1979, when the position was cre ated. Because of his long tenure as dean, UNCW Today thought that you might enjoy hearing in his own words why he decided to make this change, how he measures his achievements, and what he plans for the future. Mimi Cunningham interviewed Plyler for UNCW Today ■ tions in my research. Now I want to get back to those questions. I am also eager now to get back into teaching. Until 1984,1 maintained some instructional ac tivities along with my administrative re sponsibilities, but I eventually had to give them up. What were you teaching? A course in genetics and human affairs. It’s a non laboratory course that attracts students from virtually all areas - philosophy and religion, psychology, education, nursing, medical technology, and of course biol ogy. With that kind of class composition, one could do lots of interesting things that can’t be done effectively when work- in the laboratory, Plyler examines Cakile under the microscope. ing with students who are all majoring in the same discipline. Is this what you want to get back into? I want to do some of that, but my primary interests are in botany and plant physiology. One of the research inter ests I will pursue deals with developmen tal phenomena of a plant that has a world wide distribution, but grows only along the sea coasts; in fact, it grows only on the ocean side of sand dunes. It’s a flowering plant with the common name of sea rocket and scientific name of Cakile. Does it look like a cactus? It has some structural features like a cactus. It’s found all along North Carolina’s bar rier islands. Some very interesting prob lems with this plant range from factors relating to its distribution throughout the world to those concerning its restriction to a very specific habitat. As a plant that grows on the dunes, it may have some importance with regard to beach stabili zation, but of primary Interest to me is the fact that it literally thrives in what would be a very hostile environment for most other plants. Have you been interested in the Ca kile all along? I have been interested in CakUe as an unusual plant for a long time, but I have not conducted research on it before now. Cakile belongs to the same family as mustard greens and turnips. Its seeds apparently contain a germination inhibitor that prevents germination until conditions for growth are optimal. This is a phenomena that is more characteristic of desert plants than most other kinds. The biological significance here is that the amount of water required to leach out the inhibitor is also the amount needed to Plyler poses with his collection of Irish Setter figur ines. Why did you nuike the decision to step down at this time? Upon accepting the position of dean, I made a commit ment to myself to reserve the last sever al years of my career for teaching and research. When I went into administra tion, I left hanging some important ques- Champion IMcDoweii Davis establishes scholarship fund Academically superior students attending UNCW have gained increased scholarship op portunities, thanks to the generosity of the Champion McDowell ^vis Charitable Founda tion. The Foundation’s board of directors present ed a check for $100,000 to Chancellor William H. Wagoner May 17. The money will be used to establish the Champion McDowell Davis Schol arship Fund. This fund represents the third largest scholarship endowment program cur rently in place at UNCW. In addition to the base funds for the endow ment, the directors also presented the chancel lor a second check for $10,000. This money will provide scholarships for fall semester '89, while waiting one year for earnings to accrue on the base fund. The scholarship fund will provide full tuition and fee scholarships, plus a stipend, based on academic excellence and merit. Recipients, to be known as Champion McDowell Davis Schol ars, may choose any field of study offered by UNCW. In awarding the scholarships, preference will be given to North Carolina residents. Michael D. Brown, president of the Davis Charitable Foundation, presented the check to Chancellor Wagoner, Brown commented that a scholarship program to award high achievers at UNCW was a "worthy charity, one that sets an example to others, and provides an education for our youth." He noted that Davis would have been especially proud to support such a schol arship because it's believed he did not finish high school. (please see page S) sustain growth once the seed germi nates. It’s a survival mechanism. I am interested in pursuing a possible link be tween this phenomena and the plant’s restriction to a saline environment. You have been at UNCW, or Wil mington College, since 1966. And this place has changed quite a bit. It’s changed considerably. When I came down in ’65 for an interview, the campus consisted of three buildings - James Hall, Alderman, and Hoggard. Kenan Hall was in the final stages of completion as was Hanover Hall - that was it. The biology department which now has a fac ulty of 28, had only 5, and one of them was on leave at that time. So when I came, I was the fifth person in biology. At that time, the first floor of Hoggard Hall housed the departments of biology, chemistry, physics, and nursing. Biology had one lecture room, and one generi laboratory. We literally taught from sunup until late at night. Laboratory ses sions were scheduled back to back from 7 in the morning until 10 p.m. This was necessary because we didn’t have any- Plyler, a scholar of plant physiology, exhibits one of his Sally Middleton wildflower prints. where else to teach. We had fewer than 1,000 students then and no more than 70 faculty members campus-wide, but space availability was a greater problem then than now. What positions have you held here? I first came here as associate professor of biology, and later I became chairman of the biology department. A short time later, I assumed an additional responsibil ity as the first director of the marine science program. My first full-time ad ministrative position was that of assistant (please see page 3) Mtffiiien of tin Ciumiiion McDomll D»is dBrjtakli Foufldatlsft present tin scholarship onilowimnt cbock to Citaoctlior Wiliian H. Wafontr. Thei art, from loft- Dr. R.T. Sinclair; Michatl C. Broin, chaimon; Join R. MwcliisoR; Vafooar; Enuieir A- Lanty; xnl Dr- JoIhi B. CadlngtOR. Not pictured, Cyras D. Ho|oe Jr. and Potor B. Roflin.
UNCW Today (University of North Carolina Wilmington Alumni Newsletter)
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June 1, 1989, edition 1
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