Scholarship in Ecology, Behavior, and Natural History Honoring Jim Dole and Betty Rose

Spring 2025: 2024-2025 Academic Year Award

The Scholarship in Ecology, Behavior, and Natural History Honoring Jim Dole and Betty Rose was created to assist undergraduate and graduate students who are conducting research on the ecology, behavior, and/or natural history of terrestrial organisms.

This scholarship honors the contributions of Jim Dole and Betty Rose to undergraduate and graduate education in ecology, behavior, and natural history. Dr. Dole was a Professor of Biology at CSUN from 1963 until 2007. During those years, Dr. Dole mentored many students, both graduate and undergraduate, and contributed greatly to the development of the field-based curriculum of the ecology and evolution area within the Department of Biology. Betty Rose taught Biology for many years at the College of the Canyons and together Ms. Rose and Dr. Dole have published several field guides on the vegetation of Southern California ecosystems.

The donor of this scholarship is Dr. C. Richard Tracy, Professor of Biology and of Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology at The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). He received his B.A. and M.S. degrees from CSUN in 1966 and 1968, and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1972. From 1974 to 1995, Dr. Tracy was a member of the faculty at Colorado State University. He has also taught at the University of Wisconsin, University of Washington, University of Puerto Rico, and Pepperdine University, as well as at biological stations administered by the University of Nebraska, Colorado State University, and the University of Michigan. Dr. Tracy has a diverse research program including pure and applied projects in physiology, ecology, and conservation biology that has resulted in more than 175 publications.

Applicants:

• Must be enrolled in a degree-granting program in the CSUN’s Department of Biology.
• Must be a Biology major in the areas of ecology, behavior, and natural history.
• Must have a passion to learn about the natural history of animals and plants and the ecosystems in which these organisms live and evolve.
• Must be driven to teach others what they learn about natural history.
• Must be a graduate student with exceptional academic performance and biological research.
• Must have a GPA greater than or equal to a 3.0.
• Undergraduate applicants must be enrolled in 6 units or more for the current Spring term.
• Graduate students must be enrolled in 4 units or more for the current Spring term.
• Must request 2 letters of recommendation via the myMatador Scholarships portal.
  Letters of recommendation should highlight the student’s qualifications for the award, particularly his or her research interests and experiences in ecology, behavior, and/or natural history of terrestrial organisms.
• Must upload: a copy of your most recent unofficial transcripts.
• Must submit a personal statement.

The personal statement should be brief (no more than one typed, single-spaced page) and describe the student’s current involvement in research as well as the student’s future professional goals.

Should you have any questions regarding this scholarship opportunity contact Dr. Cristian Ruiz Rueda at cristian.ruiz-rueda@csun.edu.

Please note: If you are receiving financial aid (including loans), your financial aid award(s) may be adjusted if you receive a scholarship amount that exceeds your financial aid total limit. Speak to a financial aid counselor during walk-in hours to get a detailed overview about your individual situation. Any change to your enrollment status resulting in less than required enrollment for any term within the award year will result in a cancellation of your award.