Photo Caption: Above Dr. Barger is congratulated on his award by Ashley Morris of Furman University
Dr. Wayne Barger, a biology instructor at Southern Union State Community College (SUSCC), was recently selected AS the 2026 recipient of the Southern Appalachian Botanical Society’s prestigious Elizabeth Ann Bartholomew Award.
The award is presented in memory of Elizabeth Ann Bartholomew’s untiring service as a public educator, as a champion for plant systematics, and for her devotion to the Southern Appalachian Botanical Society (SABS). The society is a professional organization founded in 1935, dedicated to studying and promoting the flora and ecology of the eastern United States. The Bartholomew Award is presented to individuals who have distinguished themselves in professional and public service that advances our knowledge and appreciation of the world of plants and their scientific, cultural, and aesthetic values, as well as exemplifying exceptional service to SABS. Bartholomew was a long-time faculty member and curator of the herbarium housed at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV.
“It is hard to describe what being selected for this honor truly means to me. When I look at the list of past winners, they are my professional heroes in the field. To be counted among them is such an honor,” Barger said.
Barger is a first-year faculty member at SUSCC. Before joining Southern Union, he taught biology and many introductory and upper-level plant courses at two different universities. He later served as a botanist in the Alabama Natural Heritage Section (ALNHS) for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, where his work focused on protecting habitats, developing plant conservation strategies, and supporting research that advances plant knowledge.
A native of Glencoe, AL, Wayne developed an interest in botany during high school. That early introduction led to a career centered on studying and preserving plant life.
“Few people know that Alabama is the seventh most plant-diverse state in the US. We are surrounded by an astounding variety of plant species; however, many people suffer from ‘plant blindness.’ I am really passionate about helping people discover the flora around them and want to help them learn about the plant life of Alabama,” he said. Dr. Barger even started a “Plant Life of Alabama” Facebook page where the public can log on daily to discover new and interesting facts about the state’s wealth of plant species.
Over the years, Barger built an extensive collection of dried plant specimens for the state’s ALNHS herbarium. This collection houses more than 12,000 specimens, with almost 3,900 species represented in the holdings from Alabama, making it one of the most complete collections of the flora in the state. This work reflects his life-long commitment to documenting plant diversity and supporting conservation efforts.
Since beginning at Southern Union in Fall of 2025, Barger says “I have felt nothing but support from my colleagues at Southern Union,” Barger said. “I look forward to continuing to work with students and hopefully opening some eyes and convincing them to pursue botany!”
An alumnus of Gadsden State Community College and Jacksonville State University, Barger earned his Ph.D. from Auburn University.
