| January 29, 2009 | |
Dr. Fred Pfaender
A well-known and loved professor of the Department of Environmental Engineering (ESE), Dr. Fred Pfaender retired from the School on December 31, 2008. Yet, for the love of microbiology, he is back in the Spring 2009 semester to teach, for his last and 37th time, ENVR 412: Ecological Microbiology. Dr. Pfaender was born and raised in Long Beach, California where he pursued his undergraduate and masters degrees in microbiology at California State University at Long Beach. He then earned his PhD at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Dr. Pfaender joined ESE in 1971 and has been at UNC since. During his long career in the ESE, Dr. Pfaender has served as Deputy Chairman of the department, Director of the Carolina Federation of Environmental Programs, Chairman of the Board of Education of the American Society for Microbiology and a member of the EPA Science Advisory Board for Ecological Processes and Effects Committee. He has also taught several courses in Ecological Microbiology, Microbial Ecology, Microbial Biodegradation with Dr. Mike Aitken, Sources Fate and Transport of Materials with Professors Harvey Jeffries and Russel Christman, and Environmental Health. Among all these classes, he declares that Ecological Microbiology is by far his favorite. Past students of Dr. Pfaender applaud him for his enthusiasm and his style of teaching -where personal stories and jokes are woven into the lecture. Kevin Plotkin, a 2008 alum of the undergraduate Environmental Health Science program comments that Dr. Pfaender is one of the best professors he has ever had. Plotkin recommended ENVR 412: Ecological Microbiology to four students who are currently taking the class this semester. When he is not teaching, Dr. Pfaender lives part time on a golf course in the mountains of North Carolina. He plays golf often with his family and tennis. Dr. Pfaender is also busy with his company, Applied Micro Products Inc., which produces environmentally friendly wood treatment products which are based on his patents licensed from UNC. Want to know more aboutmicrobiology? Check out “Intimate Strangers: Unseen Life on Earth” on PBS. ************************************************************************************************** Got ideas for stories about students? Involved in interesting events coming up? Email Alice or Chirag, student assistants in the SPH Office of Student Affairs. |
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