Thomas J. Burrill joined the faculty in 1868 and served as Acting Regent from 1891 to 1894. He used microscopes in botanical instruction and was a leading researcher in plant pathology. As Dean of the College of Science from 1878 to 1884 and Dean of the Graduate School from 1894 to 1905, he guided the development of many areas of scientific research. As Acting Regent, he reorganized the faculty, liberalized the curriculum, secured increased appropriations and guided the institution's first steps toward becoming a leading 20th century state university.