2/2/99

Contacts:
Brian Meyer, Agriculture Information, (515) 294-0706

ISU COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE PRESENTS AWARDS TO FACULTY, STAFF

AMES -- Iowa State University's College of Agriculture presented annual awards to faculty and staff at its recent spring-semester convocation. Award winners were:

o James Kliebenstein, professor of economics, received the Outstanding Adviser Award. A faculty member since 1986, Kliebenstein advises more than 70 agricultural business students each semester. Last year he received an adviser evaluation of 5.0 on a 5-point scale from his graduating seniors. He also has advised the college's student council for the past three years.

o Curtis Youngs, associate professor of animal science, received the Outstanding Teacher Award. Since he joined the faculty in 1989, Youngs has taught 15 courses on his own or with other instructors, and lectured in 11 others. He developed two courses focusing on livestock embryo transfer and related technologies.

o Lee Burras, assistant professor of agronomy, received the Early Achievement in Teaching Award. Burras, who joined ISU in 1995, was instrumental in establishing an environmental science degree, including the development of several new courses.

o Jay-lin Jane, professor of food science and human nutrition, received the Outstanding Achievement in Research Award. Jane, a faculty member since 1987, is an internationally recognized carbohydrate chemist and food scientist. She works to better understand the structure of starch and to apply that knowledge to make new kinds of products, like biodegradable plastics. She holds seven patents, with two others pending.

o William Batchelor, assistant professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, received the Early Achievement in Research Award. Batchelor, a faculty member since 1994, is a national leader in the use of computer-based crop growth models, which may help solve problems in crop management and precision farming. He leads a five-state project involving 30 scientists that is studying soybean stresses. Results may help farmers increase yields.

o Sandra Oberbroeckling, a program coordinator in the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, received the Professional & Scientific (P&S) Award for Achievement and Service. Since 1992 Oberbroeckling has managed international projects in Russia, Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania. She also serves as language, cultural and liaison officer for visiting scholars and dignitaries from many countries.

o Lyn VanDePol, a secretary in the Department of Animal Ecology, received the Merit Award for Achievement and Service. VanDePol has worked in the department for 13 years. One of her main duties is to serve as student services coordinator, helping students find answers to questions and solutions to problems.

o Neil Harl, distinguished professor of economics, received the Excellence in International Agriculture Award. Harl, a faculty member for 35 years, is director of the Center for International Agricultural Finance. Since 1990 he has worked to help many countries make the transition from a government-controlled economy to a market economy. The center has held 49 schools, instructing more than 1,350 people in agricultural banking, credit and finance.

o TEAMPork, a group of faculty specializing in pork production, received the Team Award. Since 1993 TEAMPork has worked with Iowa pork producers to help them remain competitive. The team provides expertise in facilities, nutrition, genetics, health, manure management, and financial issues. Team members are Thomas Baas, Palmer Holden and Wendy Powers, animal science; Dwaine Bundy and Jay Harmon, agricultural and biosystems engineering; John Lawrence, economics; and James McKean, veterinary medicine.

o Michael Lee, professor of agronomy, received the Raymond and Mary Baker Agronomic Award. Lee, a faculty member since 1986, has worked to develop and use genetic-mapping information to improve corn.

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