By Nicole Gregory, contributing writer
Cal State Fullerton professor William “Bill” Hoese has been inspiring students of biology, ornithology and the environment for more than 20 years with a unique blend of in-class time, field research and practical career guidance for future employment.
Hoese is the 2023 recipient of the Wang Family Excellence Award —Outstanding Faculty Innovator for Student Success.
He shares his knowledge and enthusiasm for the environment with scores of CSUF students by emphasizing research in the diverse landscapes of Southern California.
“I try to do some kind of field-based activity with most of my classes,” he said, adding that he and his ornithology class are soon heading to a field trip to Bolsa Chica to observe a tern colony that nests there. He’s also gearing up for his class to camp at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to visit the nearby Salton Sea. “We’ll look at the birds that are using that as a resource as they migrate through Southern California,” he explained.
The California coast is also rich with possibilities for student research. “Last semester with the intro class, we took everybody to the tide pools on the coast,” Hoese said. “For a lot of the students, it’s the first time they’ve been to look at tide pools. It’s just a fantastic place to go to introduce students to the biodiversity that’s around here.”
He grew up in San Diego enjoying the coast, the mountains and the deserts of the area. “All of those were favorites of mine,” he recalled.
He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Stanford University and then went on to receive his doctorate at Duke University.
Over the years, Hoese said, he’s added a key component to his classes: teaching students how they can earn a living as a biologist or environmentalist.
“A lot of our students are really interested in the sorts of things that you can do with a biology degree,” he said. “In the ornithology class, I…
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