Professor Larry Hurd Named First Herwick Professor of Biology
Lawrence E. Hurd, professor of biology at Washington and Lee University, has been named to the new Herwick Professorship of Biology. Announcement of Hurd’s appointment was made by W&L Provost June Aprille.
The John T. Herwick, M.D., Professorship in Biology was created 2008 by Dr. John T. Herwick, W&L Class of 1936, and his wife, Mary T. Herwick, as a memorial to Oscar E. and Edith D. Herwick, Dr. Herwick’s parents. The donors’ gift honors William Dana Hoyt, Ph.D., W&L professor of biology from 1920 to 1945, who was Dr. Herwick’s professor from 1932 to 1936.
Hurd joined the Washington and Lee faculty in 1993 as a full professor and served as head of the biology department for 15 years. Previous to this he was a professor of biology at the University of Delaware for 20 years. He is currently editor in chief of the Annals of the Entomological Society of America and fellow of the Royal Entomological Society of London.
“Professor Larry Hurd, a valuable member of the biology department, teaches key courses in the department, including Fundamentals of Biology, Ecology, Zoology, Entomology and Ethics and Biodiversity,” said Hank Dobin, dean of the college at W&L. “Respected by his colleagues in the department, in the college and in his discipline, Professor Hurd rightly is the first John T. Herwick, M.D. Professor of Biology.”
Hurd has authored more than 90 publications in journals including Science, American Naturalist, Ecology, Environmental Entomology and Animal Behaviour. He is also co-editor of “The Praying Mantids” (Johns Hopkins Press, 1999).
Hurd’s current research interests include tropical biodiversity, indicator species and human coexistence with nature; plant community succession and arthropod consumer diversity; and what regulates predator populations.
A graduate of Hiram College, Hurd received his Ph.D. from Syracuse University.
