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Professor, students to create wetlands area at Hickory park

Wendy Bumgarner | Hickory Daily Record

CVCC Biology Professor Emily Whiteley will be working, educating and establishing a mini-wetland project for her biology students to participate in.

By Sarah Newell Williamson | Hickory Daily Record

Published: January 3, 2010

Hickory - Catawba Valley Community College biology professor Emily Whiteley knows what interests her students the most.

After all, she was a student herself only a few years ago.

"I started college when I was 29 because I was bored," Whiteley said. "I started at Western Piedmont (community college), and wound up with my master's degree. I found out how much I missed learning."

Whiteley said she intended to take just a few classes at the community college. However, those few classes turned into two degrees.

It was during graduate research that Whiteley discovered a new species of spider that was named for her: the anthrobia whiteleyae.

"I was researching spiders and the ecosystem. The more complicated the ecosystem, the more types of spiders you can find, because there are more niches for them," Whiteley said.

The spider she discovered in the mountains is about 1 millimeter long, and is also in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Whiteley said, although they are most prevalent in North Carolina.

Whiteley currently teaches general biology, zoology and entomology and is the head of her department at CVCC, where she has worked since 2001. She said she hasn't had much time for research, but doesn't mind.

"My students come first," she said. "They're my top priority."

Whiteley, 47, gets her students interested in science not just in the classroom, but in real life, as well.

She does community service at Riverbend Park in Conover, taking a group of students with her two times a year to participate in Riversweep.

"We remove exotic, invasive plants, like loblolly pines and Chinese privet," Whiteley said. "We want to keep the park native."

Whiteley and a group of students also are working to remove exotic plants from the St. Stephens Park in Hickory and create a wetlands area.

"We're working on an area along a creek that has multiflora rose and Chinese privet — basically, plants that people would plant in their yards, but that aren't native to the area," Whiteley said. "We remove them and reintroduce native plants that like wet areas. In January and February, we'll start removing the plants."

It isn't easy to remove a species that's been introduced to an area, she said. Whiteley said it will likely take between two and three years of regular maintenance of the area to ensure the wetland is successful.

"Once I get the students trained, then they can go out on their own," she said. "It's hard labor, but you have a feel-good feeling about it. It's something you've accomplished."

Whiteley said the biggest group she's had participate is 63. Usually, about 20 students come with her.

Although many are students she teaches, most are not biology majors. During her last trek, Whiteley said most of the students were Challenger High School students who are dual-enrolled in classes at CVCC.

Whiteley also takes a group of students to Florida twice a year to a state preserve.

"There are animals there that they may never see again because of their endangered status, like the Florida scrub jay," she said. "There are also bald eagles, whooping cranes and alligators. Students can get an appreciation for nature there."

She is looking to take the students to the Everglades in May.

Whiteley said she loves her job and working with the students.

"I went through the community college system and was given a chance, and I want to give it back," she said.