Forty Years of Selfless Service

If one were asked to choose a model of unselfish service to Andrews University and her students, Billy Chobotar must be top on the list. For forty years he has poured himself out in unselfish Christ-like service to others on this campus.

Dr. Bill Chobotar, a parasitologist, was appointed to the Biology faculty in 1968 with a freshly minted Ph.D. from Utah State University.

Over the years he has served as academic adviser to several thousand students who have since gone on to become highly successful health professionals, scientists and teachers. Chobotar has served as major professor, mentoring 23 graduate students and post-doctoral fellows through to completion.

Dr. Chobotar has authored, or coauthored, more than 70 professional publications in peer reviewed journals and he currently serves as Editor of the international journal Parasitology Research, a volunteer position that he has held for almost 20 years. He serves as a peer reviewer for eight other scientific journals and maintains research collaborations with colleagues in government and other universities.

For all this hard work, Chobotar has received more than 30 honors and awards including a pre-doctoral fellowship from the National Institutes of Health, numerous excellence in teaching awards including the coveted Zapara Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1989 and the John Nevins Andrews Medallion in 1996. He has also been named as an Alexander von Humbolt Fellow for 14 of his 40 years here. Former students have gone on in their scientific careers and have named two newly discovered parasites in his honor: Eimeria chobotari and Isospora chobotari.

One award in particular showcases Chobotar's passion for service and that is the Award for Excellence in Student Advising given in 1993. For many years Chobotar has regularly served more than 100 advisees every term. And his advisees get the best of care. Couple the heart of a loving father with an encyclopedic knowledge of ever changing class schedules, professional school requirements, and admissions protocols and statistics, and it is no wonder his advisees sing his praises. But more, Chobotar personally escorts his advisees to any office that might be new to them and introduces them to a financial aid officer or an honors director, or a registrar who can help resolve one of their problems.

Billy Chobotar: Excellent teacher, skilled scientist, humble servant to all.