Alumnus Dr. Robert Feranec (BS 1997), Director of Research and Collections and Curator of Pleistocene Vertebrate Paleontology at the New York State Museum, returned to his roots at Syracuse University for a guest appearance in Professor Linda Ivany’s Introduction to Paleobiology class last spring. Bob arrived with a treasure trove of vertebrate fossils, including an assortment of fossil and modern skulls and the skin and hair of a mastodon collected in New York State. He gave a lecture about the Pleistocene and Holocene mammals of New York and how communities changed with climate and vegetation during deglaciation. He then unpacked the complete, but disarticulated, skeleton of a pig! Spreading the bones out over the lab bench, he invited students to reassemble the animal using what they could glean from their shapes and articular surfaces. Along the way, Bob shared stories and guided students to learn about movement, growth, ecology, and evolution of modern and fossil mammals. No bones about it, the students had a tremendous experience!

Like Professor Ivany (BS 1988), Dr. Feranec got his start in paleontology at Syracuse University, taking classes and doing research with Professor Cathryn Newton. Both credit Professor Newton with the inspiration, curiosity, and tools needed to succeed in academic paleontology. Professor Newton said, “What a galvanizing moment this was: Bob, Linda, and I having a chance to mentor our tremendous current students together! Unforgettable."

Bob went on to receive a Ph.D. at UC Berkeley before moving back to CNY and his position at the NYS Museum.