Kovatch & Muellerleile Memorial Trees

A Living Tribute Between Two Academic Homes

Between the Science Building and Harris Hall stand two memorial trees planted in honor of Dr. Jeffrey “Jeff” Kovatch and Dr. Paige Muellerleile, longtime Marshall University faculty members whose lives and careers touched generations of students.

Planted in 2019, the trees occupy a location chosen with special significance. Dr. Kovatch taught in the Department of Biological Sciences, housed in the Science Building, while Dr. Muellerleile taught psychology in Harris Hall. The memorial trees were intentionally placed between the two buildings, creating a lasting connection between the spaces where they taught, worked, and contributed to the Marshall University community.

The memorial planting includes two dogwood species that provide beauty throughout the year. One tree is a Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), a native Appalachian species known for its showy spring blooms and red fall fruit. The other is a Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa), a non-native species valued for its late-spring flowers, attractive bark, and colorful fruit. Together, the trees add seasonal interest to the landscape while serving as living memorials to Dr. Jeff Kovatch and Dr. Paige Muellerleile.

Learn more about Flowering Dogwood Learn more about Kousa Dogwood

Honoring Two Educators

Dr. Jeff Kovatch was a professor of biological sciences known for his dedication to teaching and mentoring students. Dr. Paige Muellerleile was a professor of psychology whose work and service likewise left a lasting impact on the university community.

As colleagues, educators, and spouses, their lives were closely intertwined both on and beyond campus. The paired planting reflects that shared legacy, honoring their individual contributions while commemorating the partnership they built together.

The 2019 Planting Ceremony

The memorial trees were planted on October 25, 2019. During the ceremony, their children, J. and C., helped turn the soil covering the newly planted trees, symbolizing the continuation of a family legacy rooted in education, service, and community.

The planting transformed a space between two academic buildings into a place of remembrance, reflection, and gratitude for the influence both faculty members had on Marshall University and its students.

Living Memorials

Memorial trees offer a unique form of remembrance. Unlike monuments of stone alone, trees continue to grow and change with the landscape around them. Their branches expand, their canopies mature, and their presence becomes woven into the daily experience of those who pass by.

The Kovatch and Muellerleile Memorial Trees embody this tradition. Standing between the buildings that defined much of their professional lives, they serve as enduring reminders of scholarship, teaching, mentorship, and the relationships that help shape a university community.

The Memorial Trees Today

Today, the memorial trees remain a quiet but meaningful feature of the Marshall University Arboretum. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors may walk between the Science Building and Harris Hall without realizing the story behind them, yet the trees continue to fulfill their purpose as living tributes to two respected educators.

As they grow alongside future generations of students, the trees provide a lasting connection to the legacy of Dr. Jeff Kovatch and Dr. Paige Muellerleile and to the impact dedicated teachers can have on a university community.

Campus Location

Visitors can find the Kovatch and Muellerleile Memorial Trees between the Science Building and Harris Hall. The map below highlights their location. Click on the map to open a larger version.

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Quick Facts

Location: Between the Science Building and Harris Hall
Dedicated: October 25, 2019
Honorees: Dr. Jeffrey Kovatch and Dr. Paige Muellerleile
Species: Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) and Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa)
Significance: Memorial trees planted to honor two Marshall University faculty members and their shared legacy