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Presidential Award of Excellence for Faculty Service to International Students Awarded

Announced: April 13, 2007

Dr. Lloyd W. Rooney, Regents Professor and Faculty Fellow in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, was awarded the 2007 Presidential Award of Excellence for Faculty Service to International Students at the spring Texas A&M University International Board dinner on Thursday, April 12, 2007.

The award, created through the generosity of the Executive Committee of the International Board in 2005, was in response to the University’s challenge to create a welcoming environment for our international students through integrated them students on campus, and increase international awareness of Texas A&M students.

Interim President Eddie Joe Davis expressed appreciation for the Award provided by the Executive Committee of the International Board.

"The University appreciates the support of the International Board in recognizing our faculty's contributions to creating a welcoming environment and for their service to international students," Davis said.

Mr. Herbert I. Goodman, the Chairman of the Texas A&M International Board said he and the Board were pleased to create an award that recognizes faculty for their involvement with and development of international students.

"For the second year we have had a good response in terms of nominations for this award and all the nominees were outstanding," Goodman said.

According to one of his nominators, Dr. Rooney has made his international students feel welcome, and integrated them into his teaching, training, mentoring and research activities in food science that has included extensive long-term efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa, Central America, Mexico and India.

Dr. Rooney challenges his students to gain experience and make mistakes to be better prepared for the real world. He has fostered informal social interactions among the students and encourages every student to participate in team activities and professional associations. Dr. Rooney provides consistent nurturing, but challenging research and teaching for large numbers of domestic and international students who gain appreciation for other cultures.

The Presidential Award of Excellence for Faculty Service to International Students recognizes a faculty member who has made extraordinary efforts to assist international students. The award includes a check in the amount of $2,000 for the recipient. In addition, the recipient has the privilege to serve as "an agent for change" by having the authority to designate an additional $1,000 cash award to a departmental, college, or university effort/activity that facilitates international student integration into the fabric of the campus or local community.

Receiving special recognition as finalists of the 2007 nominations are Dr. Toby Egan, assistant professor of Educational Administration & Human Resource Development; Dr. Jyotsna Vaid, professor and interim director of the International Studies Interdisciplinary Degree Program; and Dr. Kirk Winemiller, professor of Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences. The 2006 recipient was Dr. David A. Bessler, professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics.

For more information about the award visit
http://intlcenter.tamu.edu/PresAwardExcForFacServ.asp.

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