Professionalism, intelligence, passion and personality--these were qualities College of Sciences and Mathematics Dean Marie Wooten embodied.
Wooten, an Auburn faculty member since 1987 and newly appointed dean of COSAM, died Nov. 5 after being struck by a vehicle while jogging at the intersection of South Donahue Drive and South College Street.
"Marie, in my opinion, was one of the most talented faculty members I've ever met," said Lawrence Wit, associate dean of COSAM. "She was good at everything--whether that was teaching, or her research program, or her outreach to the community at large--everything she did, she did a superb job."
Wooten, who began her tenure as dean Aug. 1, was interested in researching cellular and molecular developmental neurobiology and neurodegeneration and had recently discovered a genetic link between obesity and Alzheimer's disease.
She earned two patents and commercialized one technology.
Passionate about women in sciences and mathematics, Wooten also co-founded the Institute for Women in Sciences and Engineering.
She also held grants from the National Science Foundation, the American Heart Association, NASA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Despite her accomplishments and numerous responsibilities, Wooten remained humble, approachable, energetic and organized.
"She was one of those people that even though she was giving to so many different relationships and so many different commitments, she was never spread too thin," said Dana Woods, senior in biomedical sciences and president of COSAM Leaders. "She was wholeheartedly giving to whatever it was at that time."
Wooten cared deeply about undergraduates, even after she was chosen as dean.
Shaista Walji, junior in molecular biology, worked with Wooten in her research lab.
Whereas most other research labs rely on graduate students to do most of the research, Walji said Wooten had a different perspective and encouraged her to not only assist graduate students, but to pursue her own research as well.
"I just know personally it's a loss for me because I've always looked at her as a role model," Walji said. "She was kind of like that other motherly figure over here, where you know, if you had any concerns or anything, you know you could go to her."
Wooten often mentioned focusing on three P's--planning, persistence and passion, said Jack Feminella, professor and chair of the department of biological sciences.
"There's a fourth P that I think really personifies what Marie is and what she's meant--and the fourth P is people," Feminella said. "Very few deans have the combination of intellect, passion and people skills, and she had that."
President Jay Gogue remembers Wooten for her energy and humor during meetings, as well as the fresh ideas she presented.
"The part that I'll always miss is her smile and her sense of humor," Gogue said. "If she was gonna meet with you, you were excited about the meeting because you knew it was gonna be a fun meeting. You could tease and kid her, and she would tease and kid you back. When I think of Marie, I think of a smiling face."
When someone young dies unexpectedly, there is a deep sadness and a sense of lost potential, said Sharon Roberts, associate professor of biological sciences.
However, Roberts said she feels the same sadness when she thinks about Wooten's death, even though she was 53 years old.
"All this potential, all of these ideas, all this excitement--and now it's gone, and it seems unfair to us, and I also have a sense of it being incredibly unfair to Marie," Roberts said. "She had done so much. She was looking forward to this, she knew what she wanted to--I just feel like she should have gotten the chance. There's kind of a little sense almost of anger that way--real disappointment."
Before her death, Wooten laid foundations for many ideas for the future of COSAM that Wit said are important for the college to continue to strive to fulfill.
"I think she would want us to move on with the vision she had, and I think that is what everyone's intention is--that is, to pursue toward excellence individually and collectively," Wit said. "The vision was bigger than herself--it was the institution, and the institution has to pick it up and go on."
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