DR. WILLIAM E. FENNEL Presidential Award for Advancing Philanthropy
Dr. William E. Fennel’s infectious love for biology and spirited teaching have drawn students to his classroom for decades. Now at 90, he continues to make regular treks to campus to visit and advise with faculty, students, and former colleagues. After his retirement in 1993, Dr. Fennel, now emeritus faculty, continued to teach several classes, volunteered his time on the College of Arts and Sciences Resource Development Board, and remains a strong supporter of arts and sciences, athletics, WEMU and the Undergraduate Symposium. Dr. Fennel was a significant contributor to the Kresge Science Equipment Initiative Endowment, a project that raised $1.5 million to support science equipment maintenance at EMU. He was honored (and surprised) with a generously funded endowment in his name established by his former student, Dr. Mark Sadzikowski, in support of the Kresge Science Initiative. Widely known as “Doc Fennel,” Dr. William E. Fennel joined the EMU faculty in 1970. He taught introductory biology classes — likely teaching close to 20,000 students. Dr. Fennel was honored with EMU’s Outstanding Teaching Award and the Ronald Collins Distinguished Faculty Award in 1980, served as biology department head from 19881992, and was recognized in 2007 by the EMU Alumni Association with its highest award: the Dr. John W. Porter Distinguished Service Award.