Adnan Alrubaye, assistant professor of poultry science and associate director of the graduate program in cell and molecular biology, has been presented the prestigious University of Arkansas Faculty Gold Medal award and the national Educator Award from the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture professional organization.

The Faculty Gold Medal was presented at the annual State and National Awards reception held in April and the Educator Award at the NACTA Annual Conference in early June.

The Office of Nationally Competitive Awards selects only five to six faculty members each year for recognition, and the Gold Medal represents its highest distinction. This esteemed honor, awarded only once in a faculty member's career, celebrates Alrubaye's consistent support of "students through the application process for state and national scholarships, for competitive research grants or for other forms of recognition."

"I am deeply honored to receive the Faculty Gold Medal award," said Alrubaye. "Supporting students through the scholarship and grant application process is one of the most meaningful aspects of my work. Their success reflects their hard work and potential, and I'm proud to play a part in that journey. Mentorship goes far beyond the classroom. Helping students compete for national and international awards gives them the confidence to reach beyond what they thought was possible — and that's what education is truly about."

Alrubaye teaches classes in the Department of Poultry Science in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, and the Department of Biological Sciences at the U of A.

"It is a true honor to receive the NACTA Educator Award," said Alrubaye. "This recognition reflects not only my efforts but also the passion of the students I've been privileged to teach and the support of my colleagues at the University of Arkansas. For me, teaching is not just about delivering knowledge—it's about inspiring curiosity, critical thinking and the confidence students need to lead in agriculture and science."

Alrubaye was born and raised in the South region of Iraq, and completed his bachelor's degree in veterinary medicine from the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Baghdad, in 2000. He earned a master's degree in medical microbiology from the College of Medicine, University of Baghdad. He earned a master's degree in science education and a doctoral degree in cell and molecular biology from the University of Arkansas.

He teaches one of the largest courses at the U of A, General Microbiology, with an average enrollment of more than 450 students. In addition, he teaches domestic animal microbiology classes and laboratories.

"Our students at the U of A are capable of extraordinary things," said Alrubaye. "Both awards remind me how powerful good teaching can be in shaping futures, and that when we invest time and guidance into their growth, they rise to meet every challenge. These honors are shared with the dedicated staff in the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards, Bumpers College staff and my colleagues who share the same commitment to student success. It's a privilege to be part of a community that believes in empowering future leaders. I am grateful for the collaborative spirit at the University of Arkansas that allows innovation and mentorship to thrive in the classroom and beyond."

Alrubaye is a poultry microbiologist studying the etiology and mitigation measures of bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) lameness in broiler chickens. BCO lameness is one of the highest priority animal welfare issues in the broiler industry worldwide. It can be caused by various bacterial species and typically starts to develop in the growth plates of the long bones of the leg, leading to lameness. It causes hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue annually in the United States and many other countries worldwide because of bird condemnation at the marketing age. Alrubaye's research focuses on developing mitigation measures to control BCO lameness in broiler chickens.

He has received the U of A Imhoff Award for Outstanding Teaching and Student mentorship, the Bumpers College Jack G. Justus Award for Teaching Excellence, the Most Outstanding Faculty Member award from the Associated Students Government, the Collis Geren Award for Excellence in Graduate and International Education, the Hoyt H. Purvis Awards for Service in International Education, the Outstanding New Faculty Advisor of the Year Award, the Golden Tusk Award, the Outstanding Mentor Award, the Imhoff Outstanding Research Publication Award, the Imhoff Outstanding Research Publication Award, and the Honors College Distinguished Faculty Teaching and Research Award.

NACTA is a professional society focusing on the scholarship of teaching and learning agriculture and related disciplines at the postsecondary level. Members are from two-year and four-year colleges, and public and private sectors.

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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.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.