News
October 2002
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Rose Ann Alters is the recipient of the 2002 Ella Reagle Staff Assistant Award. This award is to honor and recognize staff assistants who support the College of Agricultural Sciences and have demonstrated outstanding dedication and commitment to the College and their work unit. Congratulations Rose Ann! |
PROMOTIONS
- Dr. Timothy W. Kelsey has been promoted to Professor of Agricultural Economics
- Dr. Janelle M. Larson has been promoted to Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics
- Dr. Diane K. McLaughlin has been promoted to Associate Professor of Rural Sociology and Demography.
GRADUATE STUDENT NEWS 2002
Mark Brennan, Ph.D. student in Rural Sociology, was awarded funding for his dissertation
research, “Community Agency: A Comparison of Rural Ireland and Rural Pennsylvania” from the Rural Sociological Society Endowment Committee. Congratulations Mark!
Tim Slack, Ph.D. student in Rural Sociology, was awarded funding from the Rural Sociological
Society Dissertation Award to conduct a survey on economic strategies of low-income rural households. The title of the proposal was, “Alternative Economic Strategies in an Era of Recession, Restructuring, and Welfare Reform.” Congratulations Tim!
FACULTY NEWS 2002
November
Dr. Darren Frechette, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics, has been selected as the recipient of the 2002 (and first ever) Roy C. Buck Award in the Agricultural Sciences. This award recognizes the best refereed article on social or human sciences published in a scholarly journal by and untenured, tenure-stream faculty member. A distinguished faculty panel worked through seven nominated articles and selected Dr. Frechette's article "The Demand for Hedging and the Value of Hedging Opportunities" as the winning submission.
October
Dr. Richard Stedman, Assistant Professor of Rural Sociology, has been appointed to the editorial boards of Rural Sociology and Society and Natural Resources. These are two of the leading journals in the rural sociology field.
June
Dr. James G. Beierlein, Professor of Agricultural Economics, has been appointed case study editor of the International Food and Agribusiness Management Review. The journal is published by the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, the largest international association devoted to improving the efficiency of the world's food and fiber system.
Dr. Robert D. Weaver, Professor of Agricultural Economics, received funding for his project, "Building a Learning Community to Support Market Price Analysis" from the University's Fund for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (FELT).
May 2002
Dr. Shannon Stokes has been named to a Visiting Scientist Award at the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations for 2002.
Dr. Jim Shortle, Professor Agricultural Economics, is the next President Elect of NAREA for 2002-2003. Dr. Shortle has also been appointed by The National Research Council for a new study on Water Quality Improvement for the Pittsburgh Region. The committee will conduct an assessment of the wastewater and water quality problems of the Pittsburgh area and make recommendations on how these issues and needs of the region can be best addressed by the multiple jurisdictions on a cooperative basis. The study should help the public and private organizations of the Pittsburgh region develop public awareness of the issues and the need for collaborative strategies for water quality improvement and management, such as planning for wastewater treatment plant capacity and various issues related to waterborne pathogens.
Dr. Jayson Harper, Professor Agricultural Economics, and the Plum Pox Team were selected as the recipients of the Vice President’s Award for Innovation, the “Pathfinder Award.”
Barry Zoumas, Alan R. Warehime Professor of Agribusiness, was recently elected to the National Academy of Sciences Food Forum. This is a group within the Academy that coordinates food safety policy. Dr. Zoumas will also be a member of the Academy’s Food and Nutrition Board, which coordinates nutrition policy.
Dr. Donald J. Epp, Professor of Agricultural Economics, is the recipient of the 2002 Excellence in Academic Advising Award.
This award is sponsored by the College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Society to recognize excellence in advising undergraduate students in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Dr. Epp will be honored at Spring Commencement ceremonies on May 11 with an engraved brass plate and $1,000 honorarium. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Epp for receiving this important award.
March 2002
Kathryn Brasier |
Kathryn Brasier will be joining the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology in January 2003, as an assistant professor of rural sociology. Kathy is completing her doctoral degree in sociology/rural sociology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Her interests focus on the relationship between human behavior, particularly the behavior of farmers, and environmental quality. Kathy was involved in a study of farmer’s use of conservation practices in the Great Lakes region, and the socioeconomic and technical barriers to reducing sediment and nutrient loss to surface waters. She has also examined determinants of the use of pest management practices among Wisconsin fruit, vegetable and corn producers. She is currently involved in a large inter-disciplinary study, funded by the National Science Foundation, which deals with human and aquatic systems interaction. Kathy has taught in the environmental studies program at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. At Penn State, she will conduct research into land use and water quality issues, and will develop a public education program based upon her research. |
January 2002
Robert Steele, |
Dr. Fern "Bunny" Willits has been selected by the President and the Provost to receive the title of University Distinguished Professor. Dr. Willits has been with The Pennsylvania State University for over 37 years, she has accumulated an outstanding record of achievement and impact in teaching, research and service. Please join the Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Department in congratulating Dr. Willits on achieving this honor. |
