A gray wolf stares out into the distance with a calm but intent gaze that betrays its predatory nature. Farther to the right, an entire pack of canines gather around each other, playfully nipping at one another’s heels.
Wolfe joined Houghton’s ranks in 1988 as a professor of biology. Wolfe, who had never heard of Houghton before, was at once drawn to Houghton’s woodland location. He stated that his passion for nature was “very strange for a kid who grew up in suburbia and parents from New York City.” The North east has been his home for the majority of his life, having been born in New York City but growing up in Norwalk, Connecticut. Wolfe received a B.A. in biology from Gordon College, his M.S. in botany at Oklahoma University, and finally his Ph.D. in biology at the University of Rhode Island.
Having accumulated over twenty-five years of teaching experience at Houghton, Wolfe has taught a large variety of classes ranging from genetics in the classroom to field courses out in the Alaskan wilderness.
“Dr. Wolfe is definitely one of my favorite professors at Houghton,” said sophomore Vivian Chappell ‘18, a student from his Alaskan field course. “He is incredibly knowledgeable about the earth and the environment.”
Besides instructing students, he displays his passion for nature through his ongoing research on lake and stream ecosystems in Allegany County and in the Adirondacks, which has been his focus over the last ten years.
Wolfe has new plans for the upcoming semesters. During an interview with him, Wolfe sketched out a study of coyotes he will be conducting in the upcoming months. Sitting in his office chair, he scooped up a gray collar off the floor by his feet. The collar, he explained, fastens around the coyote’s neck and transmits a signal to a GPS system whereby Wolfe can monitor the animal’s movements. Pointing to a knob that protrudes from the collar, Wolfe explained how the knob will “pop” out and sever the collar after a set period of time.
Wolfe’s love for these four-legged creatures can be seen in the pictures posted about his office space. Right now, Wolfe has two Alaskan Malamutes which he said much resemble wolves, each weighing over a 100 pounds with long fluffy coats.
Over his years at Houghton, he has had four dogs. His first dog, Wolfie, was actually a stray some students had found. The students asked him to adopt the “puppy” as they called it (leaving out the fact that the dog was already full grown). The professor hemmed and hawed for two weeks before accepting.
“It became a sort of tradition,” Wolfe said. After Wolfie died, he adopted another stray called Ranger, and finally the two Alaskan Malamutes he has presently, Kiska and Kenai.
His dogs are a large part of his life,which is evident to his students. Chappell remarked that he “shows his passion for God’s creation through the love he has for his dogs.” Dr. Wolfe loves the opportunity to introduce them to his students. “Many of my students have met my dogs,” Wolfe said.
A gray wolf stares out into the distance with a calm but intent gaze that betrays its predatory nature. Farther to the right, an entire pack of canines gather around each other, playfully nipping at one another’s heels.
Wolfe joined Houghton’s ranks in 1988 as a professor of biology. Wolfe, who had never heard of Houghton before, was at once drawn to Houghton’s woodland location. He stated that his passion for nature was “very strange for a kid who grew up in suburbia and parents from New York City.” The North east has been his home for the majority of his life, having been born in New York City but growing up in Norwalk, Connecticut. Wolfe received a B.A. in biology from Gordon College, his M.S. in botany at Oklahoma University, and finally his Ph.D. in biology at the University of Rhode Island.
Having accumulated over twenty-five years of teaching experience at Houghton, Wolfe has taught a large variety of classes ranging from genetics in the classroom to field courses out in the Alaskan wilderness.
“Dr. Wolfe is definitely one of my favorite professors at Houghton,” said sophomore Vivian Chappell ‘18, a student from his Alaskan field course. “He is incredibly knowledgeable about the earth and the environment.”
Besides instructing students, he displays his passion for nature through his ongoing research on lake and stream ecosystems in Allegany County and in the Adirondacks, which has been his focus over the last ten years.
Wolfe has new plans for the upcoming semesters. During an interview with him, Wolfe sketched out a study of coyotes he will be conducting in the upcoming months. Sitting in his office chair, he scooped up a gray collar off the floor by his feet. The collar, he explained, fastens around the coyote’s neck and transmits a signal to a GPS system whereby Wolfe can monitor the animal’s movements. Pointing to a knob that protrudes from the collar, Wolfe explained how the knob will “pop” out and sever the collar after a set period of time.
Wolfe’s love for these four-legged creatures can be seen in the pictures posted about his office space. Right now, Wolfe has two Alaskan Malamutes which he said much resemble wolves, each weighing over a 100 pounds with long fluffy coats.
Over his years at Houghton, he has had four dogs. His first dog, Wolfie, was actually a stray some students had found. The students asked him to adopt the “puppy” as they called it (leaving out the fact that the dog was already full grown). The professor hemmed and hawed for two weeks before accepting.
“It became a sort of tradition,” Wolfe said. After Wolfie died, he adopted another stray called Ranger, and finally the two Alaskan Malamutes he has presently, Kiska and Kenai.
His dogs are a large part of his life,which is evident to his students. Chappell remarked that he “shows his passion for God’s creation through the love he has for his dogs.” Dr. Wolfe loves the opportunity to introduce them to his students. “Many of my students have met my dogs,” Wolfe said.