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Peter Motavalli, associate professor and director of graduate studies received the Maxine Christopher Schutz Distinguished Teaching Award! This MU campus-level award is given to a faculty member who has "demonstrated extra efforts to involve undergraduates in active learning experiences and to personalize the undergraduate experience of students." Peter epitomizes those criteria.

The Mizzou Alumni Association presented its highest honor, the Distinguished Faculty Award to Jack Jones, fisheries and wildlife sciences J. Michael Dunmire professor. Jones' acceptance speech was an outstanding representation of the life, passion, and commitment of an academic – a wonderful portrayal of what motivates faculty, how they impact society at large and students at the university.

John Poehlmann, assistant director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, was recently honored as the "Agriculture Man of the Year" during the Boone County Extension Council's 49th annual Town and Country Dinner.

Lesa J. Beamer, associate professor of biochemistry and Steven R. Van Doren, associate professor of biochemistry and director of Graduate Education were awarded a $1.04 million NSF grant to study "Dynamics, catalysis, and residue networks within a phosphohexomutase."  

Bob Schnabel, research assistant professor, and Jerry Taylor, professor and Wurdack Chair in Animal Genomics, are members of a team that received the 2009 Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer.

University of Missouri Interdisciplinary Plant Group (IPG) faculty members have received awards for their research from the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB). They will be presented with the awards at the society's annual meeting in Honolulu this July. Thomas Guilfoyle, professor, and his long-time research partner and wife, Gretchen Hagen, research professor, both with the Division of Biochemistry, received the Charles Reid Barnes Life Membership Award. The award, which recognizes meritorious work in the field of plant biology by an individual who is at least 60 years old, was given to Guilfoyle and Hagen for their pioneering work on how auxin, a hormone, controls gene transcription and expression in plants. This is the first time the award has been bestowed to a research team.

Melvin Oliver, a research geneticist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service and an adjunct professor in the Division of Plant Sciences, received the Fellow of the ASPB award. This award recognizes long-term contributions to both research in plant biology and service to the Society. Oliver was recognized for his research on the mechanism of desiccation tolerance and its importance in the evolution of the land plants and for his roles in recruitment of students and minorities by the ASPB.

Newell Kitchen, soil scientist with USDA ARS and an adjunct associate professor in the Division of Plant Sciences and School of Natural Resources, was elected president of the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) for the year 2011. His three-year service begins Jan. 1, 2010. He will serve for a year as president-elect, a year as president and, finally, a year as past-president. The ASA is an international scientific society headquartered in Madison, Wis. Society members are dedicated to the conservation and wise use of natural resources to produce food, feed and fiber crops while maintaining and improving the environment.

Tim Safranski, associate professor of extension and state swine breeding specialist at CAFNR, was awarded the 2009 MU Chancellor's Excellence Award for Best New Advisor. He is the faculty adviser to the Mizzou Swine Club. The annual Chancellor's Excellence Awards are designed to recognize leadership, multiculturalism and involvement. As a swine-breeding specialist, Safranski provides state-wide leadership for producers, regional extension faculty, veterinarians and other industry support personnel in the areas of genetics and reproductive management of swine.

Judith Stallmann, professor in agricultural economics, rural sociology and public affairs, has been honored with Fellow status in the Southern Regional Science Association. The Fellows represent the best of the SRSA membership in research, providing policy assistance, and supporting the association. Stallman will be formally recognized at the annual SRSA meetings in 2010.

David Ledoux, animal sciences professor, and Corinne Valdivia, agricultural economics associate professor, received the International Engagement Awards. This award honors outstanding work done to internationalize the University of Missouri, whether through research, service, or teaching. Read more about Ledoux and Valdivia >>

Joshua Millspaugh, an associate professor of fisheries and wildlife sciences in the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, has won the 2009 Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. Read more about Joshua Millspaugh >>

Robert Torres, director of graduate studies in agricultural education at the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, is one of five University of Missouri educators awarded the 2009 William T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence. Read more about Robert Torres >>

See the Celebration of Excellence 2009 winners >>

Debbie Lingle, Plant Sciences, was named the February winner of the CAFNR Staff Council's Above and Beyond Award. Read more about Debbie Lingle >>

Jan Russell, Division of Applied Social Sciences, was named the January winner of the CAFNR Staff Council's Above and Beyond Award. Read more about Jan Russell >>

J. Sanford (Sandy) Rikoon, professor of rural sociology and director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security and the Community Food Systems and Sustainable Agriculture Program, was named a University of Missouri Curators' Distinguished Teaching Professor. The professorship is among the most prestigious recognitions given by the University. Read more about Sandy Rikoon >>

Genevieve Howard, CAFNR Web Specialist, was named the November winner of the CAFNR Staff Council's Above and Beyond Award. Read more about Genevieve Howard >>

Charlie Fay, office support staff IV in the Dean's Office, was named the October winner of the CAFNR Staff Council's Above and Beyond Award. Read more about Charlie Fay >>

Tony Lupo, soil, environmental and atmospheric sciences department chair and associate professor, was selected to serve as the General Faculty Marshal at the Graduate School's December graduation ceremonies.

Dave Davis, superintendent at the Forage Systems Research Center, won the 2008 Missouri Grasslander of the Year Agency Award. The award is presented by the Missouri Forage and Grassland Council for outstanding service to forage and livestock producers, researchers, agencies, industry representatives, legislators and conservationists.

Mike Smith, professor of reproductive physiology in the Division of Animal Sciences, was awarded the Maxine Christopher Shutz Award and Lecture for Distinguished Teaching. Read more >>

Joe Horner, a beef and dairy economist with the University of Missouri Extension's Commercial Agriculture Program, was named the 2008 campus facility winner of the Vice Provost's Award for Outstanding Achievement. Read more >>

Jessica Orsini, computer support specialist in CAFNR, helped the International Camarilla Club to raise over $26,000 for St. Jude's Hospital and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at the annual convention in Detroit, and was named International Camarilla Member of the Year.

Jean Miller, staff member in plant sciences, was nominated for the Hero of the Year and will be featured in the Columbia Tribune in recognition of her volunteer work. Read more >>

Pamela Donner, coordinator of publications & communications at the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute, will serve as vice-chairperson elect for the Media Relations group of ACE (Association of Communication Excellence in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Life and Human Sciences) for 2008-2009. ACE members are writers, editors, photographers, graphic designers, videographers and other communications specialists. They work in universities, government agencies and research organizations in the public sector, as well as companies and firms in the private sector. ACE develops professional skills of its members to extend knowledge about agriculture, natural resources and life and human sciences to people worldwide.

James Groves, CAFNR hotel and restaurant management chair and associate professor, has won the University of Missouri 2008 Excellence in Teaching with Technology Award in the Undergraduate Teaching Category. Read more >>