James W. Atkinson
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Kenyon Undergraduate Years
From Palos Verdes Estates, California, James Atkinson, Class of 1964, was a Biology major and member of Phi Kappa Sigma.
In his Freshman year, he was Football Manager and Wrestling Manager and a member of the Kenyon Singers during all four years. He sang in the Chapel Choir in his Sophomore and Junior years and, as a Senior, he was secretary of Phi Kappa Sigma. Active in the Kenyon College Dramatic Club's activities, he participated in the productions of Much Ado about Nothing and Thieves Carnival.
He was awarded the Robert Bowen Brown, Jr., Prize in Biology in 1964.
Later Career
Thanks to the support and encouragement of Dr. Francis W. Yow, Atkinson enrolled as a graduate student in the Biology Department of Emory University in Atlanta, GA. He attained his MS in 1966 and Ph.D. in 1969. In 1968 he joined the faculty of Michigan State University, serving 20 years in the Natural Science Department and the last 20 years (21 in the Fall 2009) as Professor of Zoology, serving for one semester as interim Chairperson of Zoology. Although his research areas have involved the reproduction, development and behavior of gastropod molluscs, he has also published in the areas of the philosophy of science, and the history of science. Atkinson's areas of teaching are the biology of invertebrates, and the history of evolutionary biology. Much of this biological activity is found at [1]
Other Activites
While in graduate school Atkinson continued his acting performing as Catesby in the Academy Theatre production of Richard III. Once at MSU, in addition to his faculty activities, Jim Atkinson spent 13 years as the choir director of a small Episcopal church in Mason, Michigan, several years as 4-H archery instructor, and 7 years as assistant coach of the MSU Archery team. In recent years he has been painting with various invertebrates as his principle subjects. In October 2008 two of his works depicting cephalopods in action were shown as part of the "Animal Intelligence" exhibition at the Gallery Project in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Art Jurors have awarded him a couple of honorable mentions and several "we don't want this in our shows" over the last 4 or 5 years; yet he perseveres and may be getting better! You can judge for your self at [2]
Personal Stuff
While in graduate school, Jim met and married fellow grad student, K. Elizabeth Hood with whom he has spent a delightful 41 years (going on 42). Jim and Elizabeth are the proud parents of two children, Hugh and Gwyn and (so far) one grandchild, Hudson James Atkinson.
