Warren Wilson professor advances to semifinals after winning first round of Jeopardy!

Warren Wilson professor of botany Alisa Hove won the first round of Jeopardy! in the game show's professors tournament on Dec. 10 to advance to the semi-finals. 

“It was a truly amazing and remarkable moment that I’ll remember for a really long time,” Hove said. “I’m really excited to represent Warren Wilson College in the next round of the competition.”

Hove faced off against J.P. Allen, a professor of business and innovation at the University of San Francisco and Deborah Steinberger, an associate professor of French literature at the University of Delaware.

The professor of botany sealed her win in the Final Jeopardy! round with a question on British literature. 

Hove ended the game with $20,000, significantly ahead of Allen, with $14,799, and Steinberger, with $9,800. Jeopardy! host Mayim Bialik surprised the other two contestants with “wild card” spots for the semifinals. 

"What a terrific ending to a terrific game," Bialik said. 

Hove will compete against Marti Canipe, a professor of elementary science education at Northern Arizona University and Hester Blum, a professor of English at Penn State University on Dec. 14.