AUGUST 2001
LAWTON PROFESSOR
A distinguished research scientist who
came to FSU because she also wanted to be involved with students
has earned the highest honor for FSU faculty - the Lawton Distin-guished
Professor Award.
Nancy Marcus, 51, has been at FSU since 1987, when she says she
"saw an opening at FSU - I applied and luckily I got it."
"Being in a university setting is nice for me in many ways,"
said Marcus, an easy-going, suntanned oceanographer. "I
enjoy the diversity university life brings and being involved
with students as well as scientists."
And the students have been lucky to get her.
"Dr. Marcus is a very competent teacher focused on her students
and the subject," said Chris Sedlacek, a graduate student
studying zooplankton ecology (Marcus's specialty) at FSU. "She
really wants you to comprehend the material and make it yours
. Dr. Marcus gives structure about what to research and study,
but she also uses discussion extensively."
Marcus has given up her role as director of the FSU marine lab
to become director of a new student living-learning community
in the Jennie Murphree Residence Hall.
The program will focus on math, science and engineering for freshman
women who live in the residence hall.
Though she's teaching and is about to take over one of FSU's
living-learning programs, Marcus is still serious about the research
she has done for more than 20 years.
She has focused much of her basic work on the dormancy stage
of marine organisms known as copepods.
"Copepods are often referred to as the insects of the sea,"
Marcus said. "Not many people know they are there but, as
an important food item for fish, they are critical components
of the marine food web."
Marcus earned a B.A. from Goucher College in 1972 and a Ph.D.
from Yale University in 1976 in ecology and evolutionary biology.
She then went to the internationally well known Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institution, where she stayed nine years.
"I enjoyed my time at Woods Hole but I wanted to do more
than just research," Marcus said. "I love my research,
but working with young people is very rewarding to me."
- Bayard Stern, managing editor, Florida State Times
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