Professor Pippen enjoys snowbird life Dr. Richard Pippen, former Resident Director of the Western Michigan University-Sunway College Twinning Program in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia checked in recently to report he’s living the good life as a retiree in Naples, Fla.
Professor Pippen retired from Western Michigan University on 31 December
2003. He currently resides in Naples, Florida. He is married, has one son,
and a granddaughter. Professor Pippen earned his Bachelors Degree (1957) in Secondary Education
(majoring in Botany) at Eastern Illinois University, his Master's (1959) and
Ph. D. (1963) degrees in Botany from The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
He joined the faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences at Western
Michigan University, in Kalamazoo, in 1963. He was promoted to the rank of
Professor in 1978. From 1975 - 1991 he was the Chairman of the Department
of Biological Sciences. In the 40 years he was with Western Michigan
University Professor Pippen taught a number of plant related courses
including introductory botany, plant systematics, plant morphology, marine
biology, graduate seminars, and travel study courses in tropical biology in
Central America and Puerto Rico. He also served as Curator of the Hanes
Herbarium at Western Michigan University. Dr. Pippen was the recipient of the Western Michigan University Alumni
Teaching Excellence Award in 1970 and again in 1982 (the first faculty
member to receive this award twice). With research interests in plant
systematics (classification), life history and reproductive biology of
plants, and vegetation studies of wetlands, Prof. Pippen has over 21
publications in professional journals. Prof. Pippen was invited by Western Michigan University's Office of
International Affairs to become the Resident Director of the Western
Michigan University-Sunway College Twinning Program in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia. He served in this position from June 1992 thru July 1995. In
September 1995 Professor Pippen returned to the ranks of a teaching
professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Western Michigan
University. In May, 1997 Prof. Pippen began a joint appointment with the
Department of Biological Sciences and the Office of International Affairs as
Twinning Program Administrative Officer. In August, 1997 Prof. Pippen
returned to Malaysia for a second time as the Resident Director of the
American Degree Transfer and Western Michigan University Twinning Program at
Sunway College where he served until December 2003. When in Michigan Prof. Pippen was active in The Michigan Botanical Club, The
Nature Conservancy, and the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy. He served
on the Board of Directors of all three of these organizations.
Dr. Pippen may be reached by e-mail at: rpippen@comcast.net
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