Faculty Emeriti Recognition Margaret A. O'Connell
Jodi Patterson
Dr. Margaret (Peggy) O’Connell joined EWU’s Department of Biology in 1991 and served as department chair from 2009-2017. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Prescott College in Arizona, studied the ecology of desert kangaroo rats for her master’s degree from Texas Tech University, and, with the support of a Smithsonian Fellowship, spent several years in Venezuela conducting her doctoral research on tropical rodent and marsupial ecology. In addition to her extensive contributions to undergraduate and graduate education at Eastern, Dr. O’Connell has mentored numerous students through independent study projects and paid research assistantship positions. Dr. O’Connell’s research focus is vertebrate ecology and conservation, with a focus on wildlife-habitat relationships. Over the course of her EWU career, she has published 22 scientific papers, numerous technical reports and raised over $15 million in external research funding. Dr. O’Connell has also worked closely with Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge where her research and grant funding have helped inform the refuge decision making on diverse topics. In addition, she has served as co-director of EWU’s Turnbull Laboratory for Ecological Studies and has served as president of the Friends of Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. In addition to her work with the refuge, Dr. O’Connell has served as an editor of Northwest Science; on the boards of the Northwest Scientific Association, The Nature Conservancy of Washington State, and the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy; and with committees of the American Society of Mammalogists. At EWU, she has helped to guide several critical programs and initiatives. Her most enduring contribution has been serving on the McNair Scholars Selection Committee/Advisory Board since the inception of program at EWU in 1997. The university has recognized Dr. O’Connell’s contributions on numerous occasions. In addition to several CSTEM chair, dean’s excellence and university merit awards, she was honored with the EWU Trustee’s Medal in 2006.
Professor Jodi Patterson achieved emeritus standards of excellence in teaching, intellectual contribution, and service to university, college, and department throughout her career at EWU. Jodi was promoted to Associate Professor in 2017 and to Full Professor in 2021. During her years at EWU, Professor Patterson was a beloved teacher of Art Education and an active artist. Professor Patterson was an amazing professor with a passion for teaching and art, and she taught her students how art benefits teaching, learning, and living a full life. She taught visual art and world geography for 15 years in the public school system, moved to teaching at the university level in 2000, and joined EWU in 2013. She served as the director of the Art Education program, as Art Department Chair, and on numerous committees, such as college and department Assessment committees. Jodi exhibited her work in over 100 galleries and museums across the U.S.A as well as internationally in Budapest, London, and Paris. She served as an inaugural co-editor of “Artizein: Arts & Teaching Journal” and published dozens of essays in a variety of scholarly journals. Jodi traveled to over 30 countries, photographed nearly 300 waterfalls, and once traveled around the world in seven days to photograph key UNESCO sites. Her passion and love for life was obvious and she was always working to make a positive impact. The care that she brought to EWU and the Art Department will be greatly missed.
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