Meullenet, Proctor, Popp, Other Faculty Honored at Bumpers College Reception

Robert Morawicki, left, with Lona Robertson

Jean-François Muellenet

Jennie Popp, left, with Lona Robertson

Lona Robertson, right, with Betsy Garrison

Kelly Way, center, with Betsy Garrison and Lona Robertson

Photos by Taylor LaCour

Recipients at the annual Bumpers College Faculty Recognition Reception were (top from left) Ruben Morawicki, food science; Jean-François Meullenet, food science department head; Jennie Popp, agricultural economics and agricultural business; and lower row: interim Dean Lona Robertson; and Kelly Way, human nutrition and hospitality innovation.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Interim Dean Lona Robertson presented service awards to faculty members from the U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at an awards reception at Springdale Country Club on Sept. 22.

The college also recognized Jean-Francois Meullenet, food science department head, and Andy Proctor, University Professor of food science, as winners of the 2016 Outstanding International Education Award.

Jennie Popp, interim associate dean of the Honors College and professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness, was named winner of the inaugural Outstanding Honors Mentor Award.

Proctor has worked with universities in Austria, Belgium and France for more than 10 years and served as Bumpers College international programs director from 2011-13. He was also a 2015 Fulbright-Austria NAWI Graz Visiting Professor in Natural Sciences. Meullenet and Proctor finalized the Agreement of Cooperation and Exchange completed between the U of A and Graz University of Technology during the summer. Meullenet also leads the student exchange "Experiential Learning in Health and Culinary Sciences" program with the LaSalle Beauvais Food and Health Research Center in Beauvais, France.

Popp has been a member of the college's honors committee, directed several honors student theses, served as "first mentor" to incoming honors students in agribusiness and received an Honors College Distinguished Faculty Award in 2011

Meullenet and Proctor each received $3,000 to assist in international activities, and Popp $1,000 to assist in honors program efforts.

Faculty recognized with service awards included:

• 20-Year Award:
  • Ken Coffey, professor, animal science;
  • H.L. Goodwin, professor, agricultural economics and agribusiness, and poultry science;
  • Beth Kegley, professor, animal science;
  • Charlie Maxwell, professor, animal science;
  • Jean-François Meullenet, professor and department head, food science
• 10-Year Award:
  • Byung-Whi Kong, functional genomics and molecular virologist, poultry science;
  • Dennis Mason, instructor, poultry science;
  • Ruben Morawicki, associate professor, food science;
  • Jason Norsworthy, professor, crop, soil and environmental sciences;
  • Andrew Sharpley, professor, crop, soil and environmental sciences;
  • Kelly Way, associate professor, human nutrition and hospitality innovation

Outstanding International Education Award winners:

            2016: Jean-Francois Meullenet, department head, and Andy Proctor, University Professor, food science

            2015: Laurie Apple, associate professor, Kathy Smith, clinical associate professor, apparel merchandising and product development

            2014: Jeff Miller, professor, agricultural communications

Robertson thanked all faculty members in the college for their work and dedication, and also recognized department heads, members of the dean's staff, and new and retired faculty members in attendance.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.