At the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science’s Fall Forum on Nov. 13, Dean Mark Stetter honored five faculty members for their outstanding work in diversity, research, teaching, service, and advising. Each year, the CVMBS Awards committee takes nominations to recognize faculty from one of the three ranks (assistant, associate, or professor), and the awards are presented at the Fall Forum. This year’s winners:
Diversity and Inclusion: Dr. Sue VandeWoude
Honors a faculty member who creates, sustains and encourages a college climate that welcomes diverse populations of students, faculty and staff.
Dr. Sue VandeWoude is a founding member of the CSU Women in Science network and served as associate dean for research in the college until November of this year. In April 2019, she was elected to join the National Academy of Sciences, one of science’s highest honors. In July of 2020, she will assume full-time duties as director of the CSU One Health Institute, after completing a Fulbright scholarship award in New Zealand. A veterinarian, teacher and researcher, VandeWoude studies conditions affecting cats, both big and small, including feline immunodeficiency virus. Her discoveries are linked to both animal and ecological concerns, and the findings shed light on the emergence and spread of viruses in the human population.
Nominator comments: “Sue was one of the founding individuals of Women in Science here at Colorado State University, which has grown into a movement supporting an annual symposium, career issues groups, and a lecture series.”
Teaching: Gerald Callahan, Ph.D.
Honors a faculty member who demonstrates a consistent pursuit of excellence in teaching and learning.
Gerry Callahan writes about science for general audiences and uses memoir to explore the personal meaning of modern biomedical research. He is a professor of immunology and public understanding of science, with joint appointments in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, and the Department of English. His work has been translated into Japanese, Chinese, and Portuguese, and has been featured by National Geographic Television, ABC Evening News, the Los Angeles Times, Salon.com, National Public Radio, and many more international publications.
Nominator comments: “Gerry’s ability to help students make connections, and to draw them in with storytelling, are two of his greatest gifts as a teacher. His breadth of knowledge and his ability to make complex ideas understandable to whomever he teaches is absolutely unique and worth us celebrating.”
Advising: Dr. Khursheed Mama
Honors a faculty member who demonstrates a consistent pursuit of excellence in advising undergraduates and/or graduates.
Dr. Khursheed Mama is a professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences and an anesthesiologist at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, where she is a beloved mentor to veterinary students. Her clinical Interests include anesthetic management of different species, anesthesia and cardiovascular disease, and anesthesia for cardiopulmonary bypass. Her research interests are Improving patient safety during anesthesia and developing evidence to support or refute analgesic modalities for different species.
Nominator comments: “Dr. Mama is a positive role model to all of us. What makes Dr. Mama so well-respected and appreciated by many faculty members, I believe, is her honesty, generosity, fairness, and outspokenness.”
Service: Noreen Reist, Ph.D.
Honors a faculty member who demonstrates a consistent meritorious and outstanding achievement in their professional and/or clinical activities that directly support the mission of the university.
Professor Noreen Reist is a faculty member in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, the Program in Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, and the Cell and Molecular Biology program. Her research addresses a fundamental problem in neurobiology; understanding how chemical synapses work. Most intercellular communication in the nervous system occurs at chemical synapses, and their proper functioning is required for everything from sensation and movement to learning and memory. This knowledge is required to understand and treat diseases that involve defects in neurotransmitter regulation including mental retardation, depression, schizophrenia, and learning disabilities.
Nominator comments: “She is an excellent example of a CVMBS faculty member that consistently provides outstanding service to diverse students and faculty worldwide.
Research: Dr. Richard Bowen
Honors a faculty member who displays a record of scholarship that has a major impact nationally and internationally.
Professor Richard Bowen teaches reproductive biology and virology, and is director of the Animal Models Core of the Rocky Mountain Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Disease. His lab studies the pathogenesis of West Nile virus infection, and works to develop and test vaccines to protect against that disease. Other projects include determining vertebrate and mosquito host competency for Japanese encephalitis virus; elucidating the pathogenesis of infection and evaluating the potential role of bats in virus transmission; and understanding the human-animal interface in transmission of avian influenza viruses.
Nominator comments: “Dr. Bowen is among the most collaborative faculty at CSU. His total career grant funding exceeds $46 million and his career PI funding at CSU is currently $31 million.”
