Longtime biology professor dies

Richard F. Shand, a longtime professor in biology who was known for his commitment to undergraduate research, died March 7, 2008.

“Dr. Shand will long be remembered for his absolute dedication to the pure conduct of science, for the extremely high academic expectations he had of all students he instructed, and for the deep caring and concern he expressed for students and colleagues on a daily basis,” said Maribeth Watwood, chair of NAU’s Department of Biological Sciences.

Dr. Shand was born March 23, 1951. He joined the NAU faculty as an assistant professor of microbiology in 1990.

He earned his doctoral degree in microbiology from the University of California, Davis, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, San Francisco. He also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Western Samoa.

In 2003, Dr. Shand was organizing chair of the Gordon Research Conference on Archaea: Ecology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology.

Dr. Shand’s family is planning a life celebration memorial for a later date.

In 2006, the Richard F. Shand Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Research in Microbiology was established to honor his commitment to the active engagement of undergraduate students in rigorous professional scientific research. The award provides financial support to students and acknowledges Dr. Shand’s contributions in mentoring the next generation of microbiologists.

To donate to the fund, mail donations to the NAU Foundation at PO Box 4094, Flagstaff, AZ 86011. Write Shand Scholarship Fund 5055 in the memo line.