Upon completion of his PhD degree in insect systematics from Ohio State University in 1980, under the direction of Professor Charles A. Triplehorn, Wheeler joined the faculty of Cornell University where he was professor for 24 years, serving terms as chair of both the Department of Entomology and the Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium.Taking a leave of absence from Cornell, Wheeler became director of the Division of Environmental Biology at the National Science Foundation. Next, he accepted an appointment as Keeper and Head of Entomology in The Natural History Museum in London, England.Returning to the U.S., Wheeler was named Virginia M. Ullman professor of Natural History and the Environment, senior Sustainability Scientist, director of the International Institute for Species Exploration, vice president, and dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sc ...