Mississippi State celebrates research success with annual banquet
Contact: Jim Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Sixty Mississippi State students, faculty and staff are 2016 selections for exceptional research and leadership honors.
91传媒 President Mark E. Keenum welcomed honorees, their guests and senior administrators to a campus awards luncheon Thursday [April 28] in the Hunter Henry Center鈥檚 Hal and Linda Parker Ballroom.
Keenum praised the researchers and scientists for their work and contributions to the university.
Wes Burger was recognized with the afternoon鈥檚 top honor: the 2016 Ralph E. Powe Research Excellence Award.
Burger is associate director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, associate director of the Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Dale Arner Distinguished Professor of Wildlife Ecology, and Grisham Master Teacher in the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture at Mississippi State.
He has secured more than $19 million in research grants, and authored 229 publications including 89 peer-reviewed journal articles, 47 peer-reviewed proceedings articles, 14 book chapters, and 79 semi-technical bulletins and articles. He has been a leader in the precision conservation movement emphasizing strategic delivery of targeted conservation practices in working landscapes.
During his 23 years at Mississippi State, he has held appointments in the College of Forest Resources, the Forest and Wildlife Research Center, the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, the 91传媒 Extension Service, and the Geosystems Research Institute.
In his current role as associate director, Burger works to define, develop and administer a broadly-based research program of national significance in agriculture and natural resources.
Burger holds B.S. degrees in biology and mathematics from Murray State University, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in wildlife biology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is a 2013 graduate of the Food Systems Leadership Institute.
![Graduates of the 2015-2016 Fred Tom Mitchell Faculty Leadership Program were recognized during Mississippi State's annual research awards banquet Thursday [April 28], and congratulated by 91传媒 President Mark E. Keenum (right). They are (l-r) Lakieshia Williams, Bonnie O鈥橬eill, Amanda Clay Powers, Janet Donaldson, Kimberly Hall, Deborah Lee, Shien Lu, Kathleen Sherman-Morris, Dean Jousan, Lisa Wallace, Jack Smith and Joe Wilmoth. (Photo by Russ Houston)](/sites/www.msstate.edu/files/inline-images/researchban_20160428_REH9918-%2528002%2529.jpg "Graduates of the 2015-2016 Fred Tom Mitchell Faculty Leadership Program were recognized during Mississippi State's annual research awards banquet Thursday [April 28], and congratulated by 91传媒 President Mark E. Keenum (right). They are (l-r) Lakieshia Will")
The Powe Award is a memorial to the 91传媒 alumnus and longtime research vice president who died in 1996. It is selected at the university level from nominations received from the 91传媒 community.
The annual research awards program honors individuals who contribute significantly to 91传媒鈥檚 mission of research. In addition to faculty, it recognizes and rewards students and staff for accomplishments and creative endeavors, as well as for increasing awareness of the university鈥檚 many research programs and capabilities.
![Mississippi State scientists who were awarded patents in Fiscal Year 2015 were recognized during Mississippi State's annual research awards banquet Thursday [April 28], and congratulated by 91传媒 President Mark E. Keenum (left) and Bill Herndon (right), associate vice president for the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine. They are (l-r) Phil Steele, Wayne McLaurin, Todd Byars, David Wise, Patricia Knight, Terry Greenway and Fei Yu. Not pictured: Brian Mitchell and Mark White. (Photo by Russ Houston)](/sites/www.msstate.edu/files/inline-images/researchbaninvent_20160428_REH9913-%2528002%2529.jpg "Mississippi State scientists who were awarded patents in Fiscal Year 2015 were recognized during Mississippi State's annual research awards banquet Thursday [April 28], and congratulated by 91传媒 President Mark E. Keenum (left) and Bill Herndon (right), ass")
The program and banquet are co-sponsored by the offices of the vice presidents for Research and Economic Development and the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine.
鈥淭he annual awards banquet brings together researchers from every college and from a wide range of disciplines to showcase the breadth of Mississippi State鈥檚 research enterprise,鈥 said Greg Bohach, vice president for agriculture, forestry and veterinary medicine.
David Shaw, vice president for research and economic development, echoed Bohach鈥檚 assessment.
聽鈥淭he diversity and collaborative research culture we have at 91传媒 are two of the key components in our success. And I can鈥檛 say enough about the hard work and dedication of the faculty, staff and students who are engaged in world-class research here,鈥 he said.
Other 2016 research award winners include (alphabetically, by academic unit):
鈥擝agley College of Engineering: Sherif Abdelwahed, faculty; Dawn Reynolds, research support; Aref Yadollahi, graduate student; and AnneMarie Kovach, undergraduate student.
鈥擟ollege of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station: Jason Krutz, faculty; Sonya Baird, research support; Sandra Schachat, graduate student; and Steven Wilhelms, undergraduate student.
鈥擟ollege of Architecture, Art and Design: Emily McGlohn, faculty; Emily Roush-Elliott, research support; and Ria Bennett, undergraduate student.
鈥擟ollege of Arts and Sciences: Brian Counterman, faculty; LeeAnn Funderburg, research support; Alexander Tice, graduate student; and Meredith Pearson, undergraduate student.
鈥擟ollege of Business: Robert Crossler, faculty; Mariquita Boone, research support; Stacie Waites, graduate student; and Justin Bailey, undergraduate student.
鈥擟ollege of Education: Ryan Walker, faculty; Wanda Brett, research support; Christopher Hill, graduate student; and Katie Wood, undergraduate student.
鈥擟ollege of Forest Resources: Peter Allen, faculty; Sasith Karunarathna, research support; Frederico Franca, graduate student; and Josh Bankston, undergraduate student.
鈥擟ollege of Veterinary Medicine: Attila Karsi, faculty; Joo Youn Park, research support; Yifei Xu, graduate student; and Lucas Ferguson, undergraduate student.
鈥91传媒-Meridian: Kimberly Hall, faculty; and Selah Weems, graduate student.
鈥擮ffice of Research and Economic Development: Devin McCalla, graduate student; and Megan Hodges, undergraduate student.
鈥擴niversity Centers and Institutes: Maggie Dannreuther, research support; Courtney Walker, graduate student; and Spencer Callicott, undergraduate student.
Also honored were new graduates of the university鈥檚 2015-2016 Fred Tom Mitchell Faculty Leadership Program:
鈥擩anet R. Donaldson, associate professor, biological sciences.
鈥擪imberly R. Hall, associate professor, Meridian Division of Education.
鈥擠ean Jousan, associate Extension professor, animal and dairy science.
鈥 Deborah Lee, professor, general library, and co-director, Maroon & Write Quality Enhancement Plan.
鈥擲hien Lu, associate professor, biochemistry, molecular biology, entomology and plant pathology.
鈥擝onnie Carr O鈥橬eill, associate professor, English.
鈥擜manda Clay Powers, associate professor, general library.
鈥擪athy Sherman-Morris, associate professor, geosciences.
鈥擩ack Smith, acting associate dean and associate professor, pathobiology and population medicine.
鈥擫isa Wallace, associate professor, biological sciences.
鈥擫akiesha N. Williams, associate professor, agricultural and biological engineering.
鈥擩oe D. Wilmoth, associate professor, School of Human Sciences.
Mississippi State鈥檚 success with developing intellectual property and licensing new technology also was part of the day鈥檚 celebration as nine inventors were recognized for obtaining patents in Fiscal Year 2015:
鈥擯atricia Knight, research professor and director, South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station.
鈥擶ayne McLaurin, visiting professor, South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station.
鈥擠avid Wise, research professor and coordinator, Delta Research and Extension Center.
鈥擳errence Greenway, assistant research professor, Delta Research and Extension Center.
鈥擳odd Byars, senior research associate, Delta Research and Extension Center.
鈥擯hilip Steele, research professor, Forest and Wildlife Research Center.
鈥擣ei Yu, associate professor, agricultural and biological engineering.
鈥擝rian Mitchell, research associate III, Forest and Wildlife Research Center.
鈥擬ark White, professor emeritus, Swalm School of Chemical Engineering.
鈥淚 am pleased to report that invention disclosures are up for Fiscal Year 2016,鈥 Shaw said.
He noted that eight of the nine patents issued in FY2015 are either licensed or under evaluation by companies.
91传媒 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .