Complex sentence: In 1910, he was put in charge of the newly formed biology department by Howard's president, Wilbur P. Thirkield and, in 1912, he became head of the new Department of Zoology, a position he held until his death in 1941.
Split into simpler sentences: In 1910, he was put in charge of the newly formed biology department by Howard's president, Wilbur P. Thirkield. In 1912, he became head of the new Department of Zoology, a position he held until his death in 1941.