Date:
5/23/2003
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
PORTALES—An Eastern New Mexico University graduate has been named a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. This year's Fellows also include legendary broadcaster Walter Cronkite and Kofi Annan, U. N. Secretary General.
Dr. William R. Atchley, who received a bachelor's degree in biology from Eastern New Mexico University in 1964, is the William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor of genetics, statistics and biomathematics at North Carolina State University. He joins 186 other distinguished Fellows and Foreign Honorary Members – including four college presidents, three Nobel Prize winners and four Pulitzer Prize winners – in this year's class.
Dr. Atchley is one of the world's leading experts in computational molecular evolution and developmental quantitative genetics, and he has published extensively in these areas. He is the director of NC State's Center for Computational Biology, which uses mathematical, statistical and computational tools to explore complex biological problems.
Dr. Atchley's hometown is Roswell, N.M., where his parents, Reid and Velma Atchley, lived for many years until they recently passed away.
The following interview was conducted with Dr. Atchley by Wendel Sloan of ENMU:
What is your specialty area?
"I am a computational biologist and work in two primary areas: computational molecular evolution and developmental quantitative genetics. My research focuses on broad questions about protein structure and evolution and the genetic architecture of complex morphological structures."
What do you believe led to you being named to the Academy, and what does it mean to you?
"Election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is generally the reflection of a lifetime of scholarly work of the highest quality. Similar criteria are employed for those in the performing arts and public service.
"My election apparently reflects my 33 years of work in genetics, statistics and related fields. Obviously, I am very honored to have been elected to membership. Among the people with whom I am being inducted include Walter Cronkite and Kofi Annan as well as a number of other luminaries. I feel very humble to be included in any group that includes such individuals.
What results do you hope to obtain from your specialty area and how could it impact society?
"My research focuses on understanding the origin and evolution of several families of genes that are fundamental in controlling growth and development. In particular, we work with groups of genes know as ‘transcriptional regulators' which function in the control of cell growth and proliferation. Because of their role in cell proliferation, many of these genes are also portrayed as ‘oncogenes' because disruption in their regulation often leads to cancers and tumors. Obviously, detailed knowledge about the regulation and expression of such genes is paramount to a detailed understanding of normal and abnormal growth and development.
"My research group integrates information and technology from molecular biology, statistics, mathematics and computer science to model the evolution, structure and function of such genes and proteins. Models of gene and protein structure and function are often powerful vehicles to help us to understand how important biological processes work, how they evolve to assume new roles, and how mutations and other perturbations might disrupt their activities. Most advances in medical science are made possible because of a solid foundation in basic science."
What are your memories of ENMU?
"I have very good memories of ENMU. First, I met my wife of almost 39 years there (Wilinda Landon Atchley). She is a graduate from the Department of Music. Second, I still have a number of close friends, particularly several fellow musicians from that era. Three of us (Campbell Clapp, John Kilmer and myself) returned last summer and played in a jazz combo honoring Doc Hogg who was one of our music professors in the early sixties.
("In fact, I created a web page about this concert which contains some high resolution pictures that you can see at: http://coltrane.gnets.ncsu.edu/hogg/).
"That was great fun since it was the first time I had been back on the campus since I was there for an Alumni Award.
"Finally, some of my very best memories of ENMU are from my experience with Dr. James E. Sublette. Dr. Sublette was professor of biology and later dean of the Graduate School. I was one of several students he took under his wing and motivated to become scientists. I am a successful scientist today in large part because of my early interactions with Jim Sublette. A prince of a man who I stay in frequent contact with to this day. Many of the interactions I have had with my own graduate students are modeled on my early time with Jim Sublette.
"Lots of things have changed at Eastern since I was there before!"
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences was founded in 1780 by John Adams, James Bowdoin, John Hancock and other scholar-patriots to "cultivate every art and science which may tend to advance the interest, honor, dignity, and happiness of a free, independent, and virtuous people." Current membership includes more than 150 Nobel laureates and 50 Pulitzer Prize winners. A full list of new members is available on the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Web site at www.amacad.org/news/new2003.htm.
The following is a quote from the Academy's web page which deals with selection of fellows: "Election to the American Academy is an honor that acknowledges the best of all scholarly fields and professions. Newly elected Fellows are selected through a highly competitive process that recognizes those who have made preeminent contributions to their disciplines. The American Academy is unique among academies for its breadth and scope. Throughout its history, the Academy has gathered individuals with diverse perspectives to participate in studies and projects focusing on advancing intellectual thought and constructive action. Among its Fellows are more than 160 Nobel Prize laureates and 50 Pulitzer Prize winners."
The American Academy web site is: http://www.amacad.org/
Dr. Atchley's web page is: http://coltrane.gnets.ncsu.edu/
An abbreviated CV is at: http://coltrane.gnets.ncsu.edu/Atchley%20CV.htm
Dr. Atchley's hometown is Roswell, N.M., where his parents, Reid and Velma Atchley, lived for many years until they recently passed away.
Dr. William Atchley