Biological Sciences graduate students receive funding to develop talks for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Two Ph.D. students in the Department of Biological Sciences have received a professional development opportunity from WMUx, The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), and the WMU Graduate College. Ellen Badger Hanson’s area of study is in microbial ecology and her supervising professor is Dr. Kathryn Docherty. Adam Austin’s area of study is wetland conservation and herpetology and his supervising professor is Dr. Tiffany Schriever.

With other recipients, Ellen and Adam will work with the WMUx Office of Faculty Development and with WMUx instructional designers to propose a short 1-4 session course on a topic related to their research that will be delivered during the Spring 2022 semester as part of the OLLI curriculum. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute affords community members aged 55 and over to attend university-oriented enrichment courses on a wide variety of topics.

All participants will have the opportunity to develop their instructional skills in a supportive environment and to receive mentoring and feedback, including advice on material delivery, as well as discussion or laboratory methods. Participants will also receive a $300 Award to be used for course, research, or travel expenses. The award will be disbursed as a scholarship to the student’s WMU account once all program requirements have been completed.

Biological Sciences congratulates Ellen and Adam on their receipt of this award.