Awards

National Academies - 1955

American Association for the Advancement of Science

About Prevo Whitaker

Prevo L. Whitaker was a native-born Hoosier, the son of William A. and Araminta Ralston Whitaker. After his birth in Terre Haute, Indiana on June 29, 1914, he completed his elementary and high school education in area schools. In 1936, he earned a B.A. from Indiana State University and then he began his career as a teacher at Otter Creek High School in the Vigo County School Corporation. Over the next two years, while teaching, he studied for and earned a master’s degree from Indiana State University in 1938. He remained in the Vigo County Schools until 1943 when he accepted an appointment as an instructor and critic teacher in the University School of the School of Education at Indiana University. This appointment started a career of 36 years with Indiana University. He served as an instructor and critic teacher in the University School until 1956 when he was appointed assistant director of student teaching in the School of Education. In 1966, he was appointed assistant director of graduate studies in the School of Education and served in this capacity until 1968 when he assumed additional responsibilities as admissions officer and advisor in Education Student Services, a position he held until 1979.

Professor Whitaker devoted much of his professional career to the field of conservation or environmental education and he was recognized as one of the early leaders in environmental and conservation education nationally and in the state of Indiana. In 1938, he was one of the founders of the National Association of Biology Teachers and he was the second president of that organization in 1947. Additionally, during the 1970's he was president of both the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the Conservation-Outdoor Education Association of Indiana. At the time of his retirement in 1979, Whitaker was president of the Monroe County Farm Bureau Association. At his retirement, he was named assistant professor emeritus of education. Whitaker died on January 24, 1997.