Tom Whitlow, SIPS Section of Horticulture, has been selected as a Frank Rosenblatt Faculty Fellow  for his “longstanding and deep commitment to the Hurburt Residential College for Environmental Education and Awareness”.  Whitlow has been a faculty fellow at Hurlburt, also known as Ecology House, since 1994. The award letter from Rebecca Stoltzfus, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, cited the many hours Tom has devoted to enriching student experience through dinner discussions, exploring the local environment, and long term mentorship.

Whitlow reflected on many notable experiences during his time as a faculty mentor such as house dinners hosting Jane Goodall and other A.D. White Professor’s-at-Large.  Other activities have included local canoe trips arranged as alternatives to Slope Day, hiking trips to Lick Brook, bicycling, and Halloween-themed events. Weekly dinners with the faculty fellows often attract 40 or more Ecology House residents.

The Frank Rosenblatt Faculty Fellow designation was created by Walter C. Johnson ’73 to honor one of his Cornell mentors and is funded by the Frank Rosenblatt Faculty Fellow Endowment. In addition to recognition, Rosenblatt Fellows receive programming funds and access to endowment funds through a faculty grant program.

Around 100 students live at Ecology House and are drawn from a diverse schools and majors.  Taryn Bauerle, Section of Horticulture, also serves as an Ecology House faculty fellow.  Jeremy Pardo ’17, majoring in the Plant Sciences, is one of five resident advisors.

Learn more about Ecology House