Amy L. Downing
Sherwood Dodge Shankland Award for Encouragement of Teachers (2007)
Bishop Herbert Welch Meritorious Teaching Award (2021)
2006-2007 Commencement Ceremony Excerpt
I am pleased to announce that the winner of the Sherwood Dodge Shankland Award for the Year 2007 is associate professor of zoology, Dr. Amy Downing.
Dr. Downing graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Lawrence University with a major in Biology. She received her Master of Science degree and Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Chicago. Prior to coming to Ohio Wesleyan, Amy was a research associate at Wright State University and instructor at the University of Chicago’s Graham School of General Studies. Since arriving on our campus Dr. Downing has received several grants including an NSF grant to study the effects of community structure on ecological systems in response to environmental fluctuations…as well as NSF grants to support undergraduate summer research. She has published over a dozen scientific articles in such prestigious journals as Science, Nature, and Ecology and has become an internationally recognized scholar in conservation biology. Her research explores how biological diversity and the loss of species influence ecosystem processes in freshwater ponds.
According to Amy’s students and in their own words, she “is an excellent, very knowledgeable professor—she knows so much information about a ton of topics. She is very, very enthusiastic about what she teaches. She is extremely helpful, presents material clearly, and encourages students to ask questions. It was a fun class”.
Another student said Dr. Downing “is an awesome professor who loves what she does and is always willing to help her students. She is very approachable and knowledgeable. Dr Downing is amazing. She is wonderful.”
Amy, some great tributes! Congratulations!