Iowa State’s science departments suffered the loss of two faculty members during the holiday vacation. Dennis Michael Warren, 56, a professor of anthropology, and Dr. Glen A. Russell, 72, a distinguished professor of chemistry, both passed away during break.

Warren was traveling with his wife, Mary, in her homeland of Nigeria shortly before Christmas.

Although early reports surrounding his death are sketchy, The Ames Tribune reported Warren died on Dec. 28. ISU representatives are still awaiting more details on the exact cause of his death.

“We understand [the cause of death] was an apparent heart attack, but we’ve had no direct contact,” said John McCarroll, director of university relations.

McCarroll emphasized ISU representatives know very little about the details regarding Warren’s death.

McCarroll said ISU has lost two popular professors with the deaths of Warren and Russell.

“In both cases, they were extremely well-known,” McCarroll said. “It’s obviously a blow to the university to lose two distinguished faculty members.”

According to information published by The Ames Tribune, Warren and his wife have taken several hundred trips to Africa in past years to study African languages and culture.

Warren was buried in Nigeria.

According to The Des Moines Register’s News Service, Warren had worked at ISU since 1972. He also acted as director of Iowa State’s Center for Indigenous Knowledge for Agriculture and Rural Development and received awards for his work both in the United States and Africa.

Warren held a Ph.D. in anthropology, linguistics and African studies from Indiana University.

He taught at ISU for 25 years and was honored with a university professorship in 1997.

He served as co-chairman of the NASA-supported International Partners Forum for the Consortium for International Earth Sciences Information Network, and he also organized the Global Education Association in Iowa and the Iowa African American studies program.

At ISU, he served as president of the ISU chapter for the Society for International Development and as president of Phi Beta Delta.

“He was a very congenial individual,” said Joseph Tiffany, associate professor of anthropology and a friend of Warren’s for nearly 20 years. “He was a good colleague and friend.”

Tiffany called Warren’s untimely death a shock to himself, the anthropology department, and its faculty and staff.

Tiffany said Warren was a “great mentor” to his students.

“It will be awfully hard to replace someone with his expertise,” Tiffany said. “He was a well-liked, excellent teacher.”

McCarroll said Warren’s classes for spring semester have been canceled.

Besides his wife, Mary, Warren is also survived by his daughter Medina.

Russell, a chemistry professor, died at his home on New Year’s Day after a battle with cancer. His memorial service will be held Friday, Jan. 16 at 4 p.m. in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union. The service is open to the public.

Russell, an Ames resident for nearly 40 years, will be buried in the Iowa State Cemetery.

Richard Larock, a colleague of Russell’s for 25 years, said ISU has lost a first-class scientist.

“He was also a very kind, gentle, fair person,” Larock said. “He was very popular on programs of study for foreign and domestic students. He was definitely an internationally-known chemist.”

Larock remembered Russell as a “colleague who really cared about the students and worked well with the rest of the faculty.

“He will truly be missed,” Larock said.

According to information provided by Adams Funeral Service of Ames, Russell received his undergraduate degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Ph.D. from Purdue University. After serving as a research chemist at General Electric, Russell began teaching at ISU. He became a distinguished professor in 1972. At ISU, a symposium was held to honor Russell’s 70th birthday in 1995.

During his long career, Russell presented nearly 400 lectures outside of the classroom, was awarded seven U.S. patents and published nearly 300 papers.

Since he began his tenure at ISU, Russell has received numerous accolades and awards, including the Iowa Governor’s Medal for Science Achievement (1988) and the Iowa Award (1971). He also received several fellowships, such as the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship (1959) and the Guggenheim Fellowship (1972.)

Russell enjoyed driving his vintage MG, as well as gardening, carpentry, playing bridge and traveling abroad, including recent visits to Taiwan, Korea, Denmark and Italy.

Russell is survived by his wife Martha, who is also part of ISU’s chemistry department. He also leaves behind his two daughters, Susan and June Russell, son-in-law Jeff Bjorklund, granddaughter Kylie and mother Marion Russell.