Martha J. Powell

Martha Jane Powell (27 January 1948 – 20 June 2023) was an American Mycologist, Distinguished Professor of Botany at Miami University, and Chairman of the Biological Sciences Department at The University of Alabama. Powell was an elected fellow at the Mycological Society of America and served as Treasurer, Vice President, President, and Program Director for the organization.

Personal life Powell was born in Charlotte, North Carolina to parents John James and Martha Lee Powell. She was inspired to study mycology by the glow of Omphalotus olearius mushrooms she had placed in her bedroom after finding them in the woods. She completed her Ph.D. in Botany an award for outstanding early career mycologists. She later went on to hold roles of Treasurer from 1986 to 1989, Vice President in 1989, President in 1991, and Program Director at MSA. Powell became the Chairman of the Biological Sciences department at The University of Alabama in 1997.

Powell published over 140 times, demonstrating commitment to her field.

Awards

1981 - Mycological Society of America C. J. Alexopoulos Prize