Background
Dawson, William Ryan was born on August 24, 1927 in Los Angeles, California, United States. Son of William Eldon and Mary (Ryan) Dawson.
Dawson, William Ryan was born on August 24, 1927 in Los Angeles, California, United States. Son of William Eldon and Mary (Ryan) Dawson.
Student, Stanford, 1946. Bachelor, University of California at Los Angeles, 1949. Master of Arts, University of California at Los Angeles, 1950.
Doctor of Philosophy, University of California at Los Angeles, 1953. Doctor of Science, University Western Australia, 1971.
Faculty zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1953-1994;
professor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1962-1994;
D.E.S. Brown professor biological science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1981-1994;
chairman division biological science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1974-1982;
director Museum Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1982-1993;
D.E.S. Brown professor emeritus, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, since 1994. Lecturer Summer Institute Desert Biology, Arizona State University, 1960-1971, Maytag professor, 1982. Researcher Australian-American Education Foundation, U. Western Australia, 1969-1970.
Carpenter lecturer San Diego State University, 1996. Member Speakers Bureau, American Institute Biological Science, 1960-1962. Member of advisory panel National Science Foundation environmental biology program, 1967-1969.
Member of advisory committee for research National Science Foundation, 1973-1977. Advisory panelNSF regulatory biology program, 1979-1982. Member R/V Alpha Helix New Guinea Expedition, 1969.
Chief scientist R/V Dolphin Gulf of California Expedition,1976. Member R/V Alpha Helix Galapagos Expedition, 1978.
Served with United States Naval Reserve, 1945-1946. Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science (council delegate 1984-1986), American Ornithological Union (Brewster medal 1979). Member American Society Zoologists (president 1986), American Physiological Society, Ecological Society American, Cooper Ornithological Society (honorary, Painton award 1963, Miller Research award 1996), Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, Kappa Sigma.
Married Virginia Louise Berwick, September 9, 1950. Children: Deborah, Denise, William.