Lincoln, Nebraska- Joseph Fauver spoke at the Rotary District 5650 Conference on the importance of Rotaract
and Peru State faculty in his decision to study biochemistry. Fauver is currently
a Ph.D. candidate at Colorado State University studying Microbiology and Medical Entomology.
Jennifer Brinkman, the district conference planner, writes, "Joseph's talk was such
a hit and it was really wonderful to meet all of the people invited to hear him speak."
Originally, Fauver attended Peru State on a football scholarship with the intention
of eventually studying physical therapy. While at Peru State, he was an undergraduate
researcher under the direction of Dr. Rich Clopton. Through research and coursework,
he was exposed to the scientific side of neglected tropical diseases.
Fauver told his story at the conference, “Dr. Rich Clopton approached me in the hallway
of the Hoyt Science Building with an opportunity to join his research lab. Little
did I know Dr. Clopton and wife, Deb, studied cockroaches, to be more specific they
study little parasites called gregarines that lived inside of cockroaches.”
“It also turns out that studying gregarines in fact would not help me get into physical
therapy school, because I was no longer going to physical therapy school. I was going
to be a scientist. I spent my next three years traveling across the country with Dr.
Clopton, Deb and my fellow lab mates presenting research at conferences, doing field
work, smuggling cockroaches onto airplanes and, most importantly, learning how to
be a scientist. It is a strange thing to realize how in just four short years, the
way I saw the world completely changed. “
Fauver finishes, “Peru State College has a small, but dedicated faculty of science
professors, to whom I am forever indebted for introducing me to my passion, this collective
human undertaking to understand the world around us, what we affectionately refer
to as science.”
While at Peru State, Fauver was a founder of the Peru State Rotaract club in 2012.
He was president of the club and their largest project was a fundraiser for the BAWA
Health Initiative. This initiative is dedicated to improving lives in sub-Saharan
Africa through health care intervention and providing the resources to villagers in
rural Cameroon to combat disease.
“Right around this time, a colleague of Dr. Clopton and fellow parasitologist, Dr.
Dennis Richardson, came to Peru State as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series.
Dr. Richardson spoke about how and why he started a non-profit organization called
the Bawa Health Initiative. The Bawa Health Initiative aims to improve the quality
of life in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically Cameroon, by providing locals with the
infrastructure, education and resources they need to combat their most common inflictions,
namely malaria and other infectious diseases.”
This led directly to Fauver’s last project as Rotaract President at Peru State College.
It was a dinner and music to raise money for the Bawa Health Initiative.
“That night we raised over $1300 for the Bawa Health Initiative, which subsequently
helped build a healthcare clinic in rural Cameroon. I still get choked up thinking
about this, because a group of like minded college students came together under the
right guidance, and because people in the community were so supportive of us and our
projects, the lives of hundreds of people in Cameroon, people we had never met nor
will ever meet, were changed forever.”
“This was powerful. We made a discovery that night. We found that not only did we
have the ability to help people in a country that we likely couldn’t have even pointed
out on a map, but in fact we found out that we should be helping these people. We
should be actively striving to make a difference for the better. It was no longer
an option. It was an obligation.”
“I spent four years at Peru State having my mind prepared by people like Dan and Elaine
Hanson, Rich and Deb Clopton, Dr. Mike Barger (a fantastic ecologist and one of the
best lecturers I have ever met), not to mention the unwavering love and support I
received from my mom, Roxanna, and my dad, Mike, who seems to be an infinite source
of wisdom and provides a perspective uniquely his own.”
“All of this resulted in me doing what I do today, and what I plan on doing for the
rest of my life. I study infectious disease. I study mosquitoes and the pathogens
they spread to people.”
From the combination of research, coursework, direction from mentors, and Rotaract,
Joseph decided to dedicate his career to helping fight neglected tropical diseases.
Fauver continues, “I am so proud to say I’m a part of a group like Rotary that works
to treat and end diseases and infections across the world. The Rotaract Club didn’t
stop at Peru State. The principles of Rotaract continues into our careers and lives
today.”
Family including his father and stepmother, Mike and Amanda Fauver; his mother and
stepfather, Roxanna and Mark Sok; and his girlfriend, Taylor Lite, witnessed Fauver’s
speech at the Rotary District Conference. Rich and Deb Clopton, Dan and Elaine Hanson
and four of the Peru State Rotaract founding members, Nathan Bianchi, Jon Holman,
Tyler Nutsch and Jake Hedden, were also present.
Fauver with Elaine Hanson and four of the Peru State Rotaract founding members, Nathan Bianchi, Jon Holman, Tyler Nutsch and Jake Hedden.
The four Rotaract Clubs in District 5650 are Wayne State College, University of Nebraska
– Lincoln, Omaha and Peru State College. Local Rotary clubs sponsor each Rotaract
club. Peru State College Rotaract is sponsored by the Rotarians of Auburn, Falls City,
Humboldt, Nebraska City and Pawnee.
Rotaract is a part of Rotary International. There are 8,754 Rotaract clubs and 20,342
members around the world. Individual Rotary clubs sponsor Rotaract clubs and offer
guidance and support, making the Rotaract club true “partners in service” and key
members of the family of Rotary.
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For more information, visit www.peru.edu or call 1-800-742-4412.
About Peru State College: Nestled in the historic hills of the Missouri River, the
“Campus of a Thousand Oaks" is Nebraska’s oldest college and will celebrate its sesquicentennial
anniversary in 2017. Peru State College’s constant commitment to academic excellence
has resulted in a unique and innovative mix of online, traditional, undergraduate
and graduate programs. Similarly, the college's ongoing student engagement promotes
inquiry, discovery and innovation on-campus and across the region. Peru State College
is committed to being a good steward of education, students, the region and Nebraska
for another 150 years.