Patty Kaishian ’13 sheds light on fascinating world of fungi

In the sciences, fungi often are overlooked, as many perceive them as deadly, gross or weird, according to mycologist, taxonomist and educator Patty Kaishian ’13.

Of the more than 3 million species of fungi thought to exist, only 150,000 have been described. As such, the fungi kingdom is ripe for scientific research and a greater understanding of its special place in the tree of life, she said.

“We’ve barely scratched the surface of what fungal diversity exists around us,” said Kaishian, a visiting professor of biology at Bard College.

The alumna, who majored in biology, has dedicated her career to fungi. She presented the LaDonne Heaton Schulman ’57 Alumnae/i Lecture on October 5, in Hindle Auditorium at the Diana Davis Spencer Discovery Center Dedicated to Free Speech and Innovation. The following day, she led students in Professor of Biology Scott Shumway’s “Environmental Science” course on a mushroom hunt in Wheaton Woods.

Fungi—which are more closely related to animals than plants—provide a lens into the Earth’s rich biological diversity and may offer solutions to some of the planet’s greatest challenges, Kaishian said.

For instance, some species may help fix damaged habitats through their ability to break down heavy metals or even radioactive materials. Also, research into fungal profiles within the human body may provide the groundwork for future cancer treatments, she said.

Kaishian first discovered a love of fungi during a naturalist course. At Wheaton, she enriched her knowledge through biology courses and research experiences in Costa Rica and China. She also studied mites that live on bees at a local farm with Professor Emerita of Biology Betsey Dyer.

“At Wheaton, I learned to become a scientist and how to do work in the field. What made me excited about studying mycology, in addition to the organisms,

More photos online wheatoncollege.edu/wheaton-magazine is the excuse to be outside because that is where I felt most like myself, inspired and happy,” she said.

Following Wheaton, she spent a summer in Peru studying fungi with the nonprofit Project Amazonas. In 2020, she completed a Ph.D. in mycology at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. As part of her doctoral research, she named and described 13 new species of fungi.

Equally important to Kaishian is her work as an activist. In 2018, she collected biological data on rare species in Ecuador to help prevent mining on Indigenous land. She also is involved in peacemaking efforts in Armenia—her ancestral homeland.

“Science is an enormously powerful tool for resisting climate change and trying to protect the places that we love. It has to be done with other socially informed concepts, principles and action,” she said.

Mary Hodge ’25, a biology major, described Kaishian’s lecture and visit as inspiring.

“I also found it very comforting to see a younger scientist who is successful in a pure science field and is also able to integrate social justice into her work,” she said.

—Laura Pedulli