Barbara Collins California Lutheran University Alumni Association will present an Honorary Alumna Award to biology professor Barbara Collins today, Thurs., May 1.

A former recipient of the President's Excellence in Teaching Award, Collins is credited with identifying and labeling many of the plants and trees on the university campus. In recognition of her work, the grounds at CLU have been named the Barbara Collins Arboretum.

Collins, a botanist and ecologist, has taught at CLU since 1963. She has led students on field trips to the chaparral, deserts, coasts and mountains of Southern California. She has written 10 textbooks on botany and produced a website that includes more than 3,000 photos of California plants indexed to common, scientific and family names.

Collins has a Master of Arts degree from Smith College and Master of Science and doctorate degrees from the University of Illinois. She lives in Thousand Oaks with her husband Lorence.