A Professorial Life

John C. Jack Briggs was namedprofessor emeritus upon his retirementfrom the University of South Florida. Heis now affi liated with the Departmentof Fisheries and Wildlife at OregonState University. He and his wife Eila aretired economics professor spend theirsummers in Oregon and winters inIndio California. Jacks research interestis primarily in evolutionary biology. Hisstudies in early years were devoted tofi sh life history and systematics. Workon systematics led to an interest in theevolutionary implications of biogeographicpatterns. Work on contemporarypatterns of distribution and biodiversity led to the study of paleobiologyand the historical development of such patterns. To date he has produced150 publications including six books or monographs. In 2005 he receivedthe Alfred Russel Wallace Award from the International BiogeographySociety for his lifetime contributions to biogeography. In addition to hisscientifi c works he has published a science-fi ction book written for hisgrandchildren A Mesozoic Adventure Xlibris Philadelphia 2007. Thepresent work A Professorial Life is both a professional autobiographyand a concurrent account of family life.