Ag Econ head wins Violet Haas Award

Thompson

Sally Thompson, professor and head of the Department of Agricultural Economics since 2002, is one of two Purdue faculty members to win the 2007 Violet Haas Award.

Established in 1990 to honor a woman who was an electrical engineering professor from 1962 to 1986, the Violet Haas Award recognizes individuals, programs or departments that have helped the advancement of women at Purdue.

“Her efforts in direct recruiting, as well as her work to facilitate two-career couples, has helped bring the number of women faculty in agricultural economics from four in 2002 to 11 today,” according to Randy Woodson, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture.

The Council on the Status of Women on the West Lafayette campus sponsors the award. The other recipient of the 2007 award is Klod Kokini, professor of mechanical engineering.

Biochemistry prof now ‘distinguished’

Clint Chapple is one of four faculty members appointed a designated professor by the Purdue University board of trustees. A faculty member since 1993, Chapple’s title now is Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry.

Designated professorships honor individuals whose academic achievements have been internationally recognized or who have made contributions to the university through scholarship, research, teaching or leadership functions. Purdue now has 134 designated professors.

Chapple’s research focuses on understanding and manipulating a compound in cell walls (lignin) that contributes to the structural strength of a plant but which hinders conversion of plants into other materials. His lignin research already has improved processing techniques for producing pulp for paper. He now is working on additional ways to alter lignin so that cellulose from plants such as poplar trees can be used for ethanol production.

College recognizes 4 staff, 4 students

Purdue Agriculture honored four staff members and four students at the college’s awards reception in April.

Christine Wilson, a faculty member since 2001, received the Richard L. Kohls Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award. Wilson, an associate professor of agricultural economics, also leads the department’s honors program.

Mark Balschweid, associate professor in the Department of Youth Development and Agricultural Education, was named outstanding counselor. Balschweid advises students in the agricultural education major. He also teaches graduate-level courses. He has been with Purdue since 1998.

The outstanding graduate educator award went to Kenneth Foster, professor and associate head of the Department of Agricultural Economics. Foster leads the department’s graduate program and serves as an Extension specialist in the area of livestock production economics. Foster has been with the department for 17 years.

Tracie Egger is the recipient of the Outstanding Service to Students Award. The assistant director of academic programs, Egger is the contact for prospective College of Agriculture students and is faculty adviser to the Purdue Ag Ambassadors.

Four students, one from each year of study, were honored as the outstanding students in the college.

Outstanding senior is Rachel Cumberbatch of Lebanon, Ind., student member of the Purdue board of trustees and an animal sciences major. Dustin Potts of Newburgh, Ind., a double major in horticultural science and public horticulture, is the outstanding junior. Outstanding sophomore is Ryan Crane, a farm management major from Exeter, Maine. Erin Kischuk, a biochemistry major from Muncie, Ind., is the outstanding freshman.

Trio honored as Faculty Scholars

Angus Murphy (Horticulture and Landscape Architecture), Shawn Donkin (Animal Sciences) and Osvaldo Campanella (Agricultural and Biological Engineering) have been named 2007 University Faculty Scholars. They will receive additional funding to support their research.

“The program is designed to recognize outstanding faculty who are on an accelerated path for academic distinction,” according to Purdue Provost Sally Mason. Select associate and full professors who have been tenured within the last five years are awarded this distinction in recognition of their scholarship.
Murphy has been a faculty member since 2001; Donkin, since 1995; and Campanella, since 1999.

13 ag faculty earn promotion

The Purdue University Board of Trustees has approved the following faculty promotions, effective with the 2007-08 academic year.

To professor:

To associate professor: