Westminster Biology Department to Honor Professor Emerita

The Westminster College Biology Department will honor Dr. Monika Becker, professor of biology emerita, during a ceremony to dedicate the "Monika Becker Electron Microscopy Suite" Thursday, May 16, at 5 p.m. in Hoyt Science Resources Center.

"The suite houses the department's two electron microscopes: a Zeiss 109 transmission electron microscope, and a JEOL 35-CF scanning electron microscope," said Dr. Ann Throckmorton, associate professor of biology and chair of the department at Westminster College.  "These sophisticated instruments, unique for institutions the size of Westminster College, are used by students and faculty in their courses and research."

Becker came to Westminster College in 1980, and became a permanent member of the faculty in 1983.  During her hears at Westminster, she taught a variety of courses, including electron microscopy, recombinant DNA, cell and molecular biology, principles of biology, foundations of biology, and microbial and viral genetics.  She was also instrumental in the development of the molecular biology major at a time when very few colleges had such a major.  She served as chair of the department for four years.

Dr. Becker, and her husband Dr. Robert Gardner, a 1957 Westminster graduate and former chair of the Board of Trustees, will attend the ceremony, which will take place in the green lobby on the second floor of Hoyt.  A reception and a demonstration of the electron microscopes will follow.

Becker earned her undergraduate degree from Youngstown State University, and her Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University.

The event is free and open to the public.  For more information, contact Throckmorton at (724) 946-7209 or e-mail athrock@Westminster.edu.