The Division of Agriculture recently presented the annual and Division of Agriculture and Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences awards. These awards recognize employees who have made notable and outstanding contributions to the Division and Bumpers College. 

Adnan Alrubaye, assistant professor of poultry science and associate director of the Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, was awarded the Jack G. Justus Award for Teaching Excellence. This award honors Bumpers College employees who are outstanding teachers and employ novel and innovative teaching methods to achieve success in student learning.

"It is an absolute honor and pleasure to have been recognized with the Jack G. Justus Award for Teaching Excellence," Alrubaye said. "I am glad that my students and fellow faculty recognized my teaching efforts."

Caroline Jackson, a student studying poultry science, nominated Alrubaye for the award. She took Domestic Animal Microbiology and the corresponding lab last semester, where she learned from Alrubaye.

"Dr. Alrubaye is determined to see his students succeed and be able to apply what he has taught them to poultry science, animal science and their daily lives," she said. "He goes above and beyond what is required of him as an instructor."

Beyond the normal responsibilities of lecturing and exams, Alrubaye offers convenient office hours, personal study sessions, extra time in the lab and presents material in different ways for different learning styles to understand the lessons better, Jackson explained. His attitude in the classroom also encourages students.

"Dr. Alrubaye is positive, available, encouraging, dedicated and knowledgeable," Jackson said. "He welcomes mistakes because they are learning opportunities. He is personally invested in student success and empowerment."

David Caldwell, head of the Department of Poultry Science and director of the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, spoke about the microbiology course that Alrubaye teaches.

"His course in general microbiology is one of the largest courses taught at the University of Arkansas," Caldwell said. "For him to receive such impressive evaluation scores and comments while teaching approximately 450 students each semester speaks to his overall commitment to instruction. He is truly deserving of this recognition."

Alrubaye's commitment to student success goes beyond academic success, Caldwell said.

"I have observed him in the classroom with his students, and he places the highest emphasis on students learning the material in his course and their long-term success," Caldwell said. "We are very proud to have him on the faculty in poultry science."

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

About the Division of Agriculture: The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation's historic land grant education system. The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

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. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.