Gar Rothwell

Gar Rothwell holds a Courtesy Professor appointment at Oregon State University's Department of Botany and Plant Pathology and is the Edwin and Ruth Kennedy Distinguished Professor of Environmental and Plant Biology at Ohio University. He has extensive experience in academic leadership, including serving as Chair of Ohio University's Department of Environmental and Plant Biology (2003-2010) and President of the International Organisation of Palaeobotany (2008-2012).

Education: Ph.D., Botany (University of Alberta, 1973); M.S., Biology (University of Illinois, Chicago, 1969); B.A., Biology (Central Washington University, 1966).

Research focuses on plant evolution using morphological, anatomical, and molecular data to study phylogeny and evolutionary ecology. Key interests include reproductive biology, ontogeny, and organismal interactions. Current research group members include Ruth A. Stockey (Courtesy Professor) and graduate student Alex Bippus (PhD, since 2018), alongside undergraduate researcher Nethaniel Edmonds.

Professional affiliations include the American Society of Plant Biologists, Botanical Society of America, and Paleontological Society. He has received prestigious awards such as the International Organisation of Palaeobotany Honorary Membership and Edgar T. Wherry Award.

Advising and grants include mentoring Alex Bippus and leading research teams at Ohio University and Oregon State. His work integrates paleobotanical studies with modern flora analysis, contributing to evolutionary ecology frameworks.