12/17/2003

Agriculture, AAES Honor Top Faculty Members

AUBURN, Ala. — Five outstanding faculty members from Auburn University’s College of Agriculture have earned the top awards for teaching, advising and research for 2003 from the College of Agriculture and the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station (AAES). Interim Agriculture Dean and AAES Director John Jensen presented the awards to the five — Bill Moar, Roger Lien, Jeff Sibley, Joseph Giambrone and Norbert Wilson — in a program earlier this month.

Moar, associate professor of entomology at Auburn, won the 2003 Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence. Moar, who has taught seven different entomology courses since joining the AU faculty in 1990, was cited for his genuine enthusiasm for his subject and his ability to get his students interested, motivated and involved.

Tying for the 2003 Dean’s Award for Advising Excellence were Lein, an associate professor and undergraduate program coordinator in the Department of Poultry Science, and Sibley, alumni associate professor of horticulture.

Lein is a central figure in the lives of poultry science students before, during and after their time at Auburn. Among his many roles, he directs advising, recruiting and curriculum development. He also assists with scholarship and internship programs, advises the student Poultry Science Club and facilitates interaction between impending graduates and employers.

Sibley, alumni professor of horticulture, is the adviser of record for more than 50 students and an unofficial source of guidance and encouragement for dozens of other horticulture majors. He serves as adviser to the Ag Ambassadors and other student groups and was named 2003 Camp War Eagle Faculty Honoree.

On the research front, Giambrone was presented the Director’s Senior Research Award in recognition of the significant contributions he has made to the poultry industry in his 26 years as an AAES scientist. Among his many accomplishments, he has developed numerous detection tests and vaccines for viral diseases of poultry that have saved the industry millions of dollars annual in reduced losses.

The Director’s Junior Research Award went to Wilson for the work he has conducted in the area of agricultural economics during his four years as assistant professor at Auburn. Specifically, he has focused on the economic impacts of international trade, biotechnology’s influence on markets and the economic and trade effects of invasive species.

As this year’s top professor and advisers, Moar, Lien and Sibley each received $1,000 cash and another $1,000 each to use for meetings, travel or other purposes related to their continuing development as faculty members. Giambrone and Wilson, meanwhile, received $10,000 and $5,000, respectively, for use in their research programs.

Staff members recognized for their exceptional performance during the year included Leslie Chisholm, poultry science ag technician, who received the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Technical Staff; office administrators Regina Crapps in poultry science and Ramona Sheirling-Nelson in horticulture, co-winners of the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Administrative Staff; and Matilda Bryant, poultry science research associate, and Scott Rikard, manager of the AU Shellfish Lab on Dauphin Island, recipients of the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Administrative Professional.

-30-

News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu

12/17/03

For immediate release