A marine biologist by training, Dr. Nadine Rorem didn’t expect to teach at Wheaton longer than a few years. Despite the many virtues of Chicagoland, it has a conspicuous lack of marine life. Now, however, she’s celebrating 25 years at the College and feels confident in where God has placed her.

“The best part of teaching is getting to mentor students and interact with them. I get to know them personally, spiritually, and academically. I learn from them and they learn from me. God really uses those relationships in powerful ways,” Dr. Rorem says.

Whether in the lab or in the field, Dr. Rorem continues to fall deeper in love with her discipline, especially the invertebrate “critters.” The hydroid Cordylophora, a tiny underwater organism, is one of her areas of expertise and provides a welcome opportunity for her to work alongside research students at Wheaton and witness their growth as scholars.

Dr. Rorem’s passion for exploring God’s creation motivates her pursuits outside the classroom. “It gives my whole heart and soul freedom,” she says about being outdoors while biking, gardening, SCUBA, or cross-country skiing. “There’s always something new to learn and that’s true while learning alongside students as well.”

HOMETOWN: DAYTON, OHIO

TITLE: PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY

DEPARTMENT: BIOLOGY

YEARS AT WHEATON: 25

EDUCATION: PH.D., UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE; M.S., UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE; B.S., UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI

FUN FACT: DR. ROREM THROWS POTTERY IN HER FREE TIME, EVEN ASSISTING IN SOME CERAMICS CLASSES