John George Severson Jr., Ph.D.: 1940-2024
04/12/2024
John George Severson Jr., Ph.D., professor emeritus in the Department of Biology, died Saturday, March 23, 2024. He was 83.
Severson was a professor at Saint Louis University from 1971 until his retirement in 2011.
John George Severson Jr., Ph.D. SLU File Photo..
Severson was born on Dec. 14, 1940, in Wenatchee, Washington. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in his home state in 1964. He majored in biology with a minor in chemistry at Washington State University.
In 1968, Severson earned his master's in teaching from Washington State. In 1971, he achieved his doctorate in botany from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. His dissertation was titled “Studies with naphthenic acid in the bush bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L.”
Severson began his career in education while an undergraduate student at Washington State. He worked as a research technician in the Department of Botany from 1962-64. Upon earning his teaching certification, Severson took a job with the Kiona-Benton City School District in Benton City, Washington. While there, he worked as a junior high science teacher, high school biology teacher and more.
In 1971, he moved onto higher education and took a job at SLU as an assistant professor in biology. At SLU, he became an associate professor of biology and and associate dean at the College of Arts and Sciences. Severson also served as Coordinator of Undergraduate Programs for the Department of Biology.
During his lengthy tenure at SLU, Severson served on a number of committees. He was involved in University searches for department chairs, deans, and a registrar.
He also received a number of grants and wrote numerous articles and multiple books. He retired in 2011 and was given emeritus status.
His research interest at SLU was in plant growth stimulation by petroleum-derived naphthenic acids.
Latest Newslink
- Fontbonne University’s Center for Bosnian Studies Moving to SLUSLU will become the permanent home of the Center’s unique oral histories, rare collections, circulating materials and growing digital archives. The move ensures that the Center’s mission continues and its work remains accessible as Fontbonne ends instruction and closes its operations after the summer term.
- Saint Louis University Offers Scholarship Opportunity to Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri’s ADVANCE HER Leadership Movement ProgramSLU and the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri announced a partnership to provide a new scholarship opportunity for Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri who wish to pursue higher education as part of the Advance HER Leadership program.
- Raymond Benoit, Ph.D.: 1936-2025Raymond P. Benoit, Ph.D., professor emeritus in English, died Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. He was 88.
- SLU Hosts Lights of Remembrance to Honor Those Enslaved by the UniversityAs part of Black History Month, Saint Louis University held the inaugural Lights of Remembrance ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 27, honoring the lives and contributions of enslaved individuals who helped build and sustain the University and other Jesuit missions in Missouri in the 19th century.
- Four SLU Researchers Named Senior Members by the National Academy of InventorsFour Saint Louis University faculty members were recently named Senior Members of the National Academy of Inventors. SLU’s four inductees include Enrico Di Cera, M.D., the Alice A. Doisy professor and chairman of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Koyal Garg, Ph.D., associate professor of biomedical engineering; Nicola Pozzi, Ph.D., associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology; and Silviya Zustiak, Ph.D., professor of biomedical engineering and pharmacology and physiology.
- Golf and Give Innovation Challenge Stocks Billiken Bounty's ShelvesThe Saint Louis University community stocked Billiken Bounty's shelves this week by playing through a mini golf course built out of shelf-stable food items. The event, led by Saint Louis University’s School of Science and Engineering and the Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship in the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business, provided nearly $3,00 in food and pantry items for the food pantry