Purdue Office of Engagement presents 3 faculty awards
December 4, 2014
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University's Office of Engagement has named the winners of three faculty engagement awards for 2014.
The awards honor faculty members who combine scholarship and community partnerships to have a positive impact beyond campus.
"Our winners bring the highest level of scholarship to their work with outside partners," said Steve Abel, associate vice president for engagement. "The results are a better world."
The honorees are:
* Nicole Olynk Widmar, associate professor of agricultural economics, the Faculty Engagement Scholar Award. This award is given to an assistant or associate professor with an outstanding record of early achievement and a strong indication of future contributions to engagement.
Widmar has worked with Indiana Dairy Producers to support farmers as they make business decisions in an ever-changing market environment and contend with factors such as environmental concerns and public perceptions of agricultural practices.
* Darcy Bullock, professor of civil engineering, and his research team, the Corps of Engagement Award. This award is given to a team of faculty, staff, students and/or community stakeholders for outstanding partnership and achievement in engagement.
Through the Joint Transportation Research Program, of which Bullock is director, the team has worked on successful transportation projects, in particular with the Indiana and Utah departments of transportation.
Team members, all from the Lyles School of Civil Engineering, include Deborah K. Horton, JTRP managing director; Teresa Morris, JTRP communication specialist; Christopher M. Day, JTRP senior research scientist; Howell Li, senior software engineer; Alexander M. Hainen, research scientist; Stephen M. Remias, transportation research engineer; Michelle M. Mekker, David M. Knox Fellow; and Steven M. Lavrenz, graduate research assistant.
* Allan Gray, Land O' Lakes chair and professor of agricultural economics, Faculty Engagement Fellow Award. This award is given to a full professor whose work has led to a strong record of engagement.
Gray has worked with Land O' Lakes to develop and deliver educational materials to help managers of agribusiness firms establish a strategic focus for managing their business. This ultimately has contributed to a food supply chain that provides safe, abundant and affordable food, feed and fiber.
The engagement awards were presented at a luncheon Dec. 2.
Writer: Judith Barra Austin, 765-494-2432, jbaustin@purdue.edu
Source: Steve Abel, 765-494-2744, abels@purdue.edu
