Lawrence Gene Kolenbrander

(1943-2011)

He earned his master’s and doctoral degrees at Colorado State University in Fort Collins CO in 1975 and 1981, respectively. He worked as an independent planning consultant in Loveland CO, before joining the Western Carolina University faculty in 1985 as coordinator of the university’s new program in natural resources management.
During his 20 years of leadership, the natural resources management program grew from one to four faculty members and more than 300 students graduated. He also served as head of the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resources for more than 10 years, and under his leadership the department grew in faculty, resources, majors and quality.
Known as “Doc” to his students he retired as emeritus professor.