GREENVILLE, ILL. – The farmer and the cowman should be friends, Oh, the farmer and the cowman should be friends  . . . the classic lyrics from the musical Oklahoma rumble from the voice of Dr. William (Bill) Ahern in his role as “Andrew Carnes” in GC’s spring production. This wasn’t his first performance but it will be Dr. Ahern’s last as a member of the Greenville College faculty. After 42 years of service Dr. Ahern has retired.

Growing up in Greenville, Seattle, WA and Long Island, NY while his father taught at various colleges Dr. Ahern saw much of the country at a young age. For his college choice he decided on Central College in McPherson, KS and Kansas State Teachers College (now Emporia State) receiving his B.S. in Biology Education in 1963. That same year Dr. Ahern married Sharon Ray on Easter Sunday. His first teaching job was in a two-room county school in Kansas. Once Sharon finished her degree they moved to Lawrence, KS where Dr. Ahern obtained his M.S. from the University of Kansas.

Dr. Ahern brought his young wife to Greenville College in the fall of 1966 and so was the start of an era. Harnessing his passions and talents, the Biology Department at GC has prospered because of Dr. Ahern’s involvement and leadership.

Ahern served as the head of the Biology Department and chair of the Division of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Areas of special interest and emphasis in his teaching have included Parasitology Invertebrate Zoology and Microbiology, Environmental Science and leading the renowned premedical program. Outside the classroom you may have seen him running the game clock for the soccer games, singing in the church choir or being involved with the Factory Theatre.

Working at Greenville College Dr. Ahern contributed significantly in areas of faculty leadership and advocacy. He has served 32 years as head of the Biology Department, 19 years as either vice chair or chair of the Greenville College Faculty Council and two years as faculty moderator of the Faculty Assembly.  He has also served on Dean’s Council. His peers and co-workers have been grateful for his leadership. Professor of Communication and director of the Factory Theater Dr. Cecilia Ulmer states, “Bill has never been too shy to recognize and stand up for faculty concerns, and we are grateful for his leadership.”

Dr. Ahern has secured numerous grants, been responsible for state environmental policy, and served on EPA advisory boards.  He has been faculty advisor for GC pre-med students since 1978, and both the GC Students Association and the Alumni Association have honored Dr. Ahern with Outstanding Faculty Awards.

He was also responsible for coordinating the Greenville College Zahniser Institute for Environmental Studies and leading in the development of the Ayers Science Field Station. He served as project director for the recently dedicated White Environmental Education Center. In this role, it was Dr. Ahern’s responsibility to complete the project on a truncated timetable with a majority of work being done by volunteers. It is a testament to his leadership hard work and vision that the center was dedicated on time on May 15, 2008.

In this age where people jump from job to job always looking for the greener grass, Dr. Ahern has remained committed to GC, “Greenville College ‘transforms students.’  That’s why I have been here for the past 42 years,” explains Dr. Ahern. “However, perhaps, the real reason I have stayed is that I have been transformed by the interactions I have had with students.  Whether it be questions in class or my office or our home, they stretched me to stay up with the latest advances in biology and through discussions following a colloquium on science and faith. I have grown immensely because of the influence students have had on my life.”

Greenville College is a four-year accredited Christian liberal arts school with more than 1500 traditional undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree completion students. Founded in 1892 and affiliated with the Free Methodist Church, the college is located in Greenville, Illinois, 45 miles east of St. Louis.