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St. Olaf convocation to kick off 'Science and Liberal Arts'

By David Gonnerman '90
September 3, 2008

Opening Convocation for St. Olaf College will take place Thursday, Sept. 4, beginning at 11:10 a.m. in Boe Memorial Chapel. Ted Johnson, professor of biology and director of biomedical studies, will give the address. The event will include a formal procession by faculty. The St. Olaf Band, conducted by Timothy Mahr '78, will provide music. The event is open to the public, and will be streamed live and archived online.

Johnson, who has taught at St. Olaf since 1977, will present his talk, "Students, New Science Building, and the Liberal Arts." The event officially kicks off the college's current academic theme of "Science and the Liberal Arts" that was inspired in part by the opening of the new Regents Hall of Natural and Mathematical Sciences.

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Johnson
During his career at St. Olaf Johnson has worn many hats, initiated many programs and played many roles -- all of which have enhanced and broadened the scope of student education in and well beyond the borders of biology. Johnson is first and foremost a teacher who creates opportunities for his students on and off campus while instilling in them a passion for his passions: microbes, immunology and the health and well being of all people.

Global learning also is central to Johnson's work. He and his wife, Michelle, have led students on Global Semester, the Term in Asia and Environmental Science in Australia. In addition, he has developed a number of interim programs, including Environmental Microbiology in Alaska, Cancer Biology in New York and his current interim course, Peruvian Medical Experience.

Johnson earned his bachelor's degree from Augsburg College and an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in microbiology, immunology and virology from the University of Illinois Medical Center in 1973. He began his faculty career at Mankato State University in biology before moving to St. Olaf.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.