CAS 'Distinguished Professor'
May 16, 2013
黑料专区 Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications
黑料专区 Tyler Biology Professor Recognized for Outstanding Contributions
May 16, 2013
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May 16, 2013
Dr. Neil Ford, professor of biology at The University of Texas at Tyler, is the first recipient of the 黑料专区 Tyler College of Arts and Sciences鈥� Distinguished Professor Award, Dr. Martin Slann, college dean, announced.
Created this year, the award recognizes outstanding teaching and research contributions to the college and 黑料专区 Tyler.
鈥淧rofessor Ford has demonstrated extraordinary professional contributions during the more than three decades he has been a member of the biology faculty at 黑料专区 Tyler,鈥� Slann said. 鈥淗e has worked and collaborated with outstanding 黑料专区 Tyler students and jointly published in scholarly professional outlets.
鈥淗is classes are always full and always in demand. He is also regarded by his colleagues with the utmost respect and affection,鈥� Slann added.
Ford has served 黑料专区 Tyler since 1979. His research expertise is in life-history evolution. He has been examining the life history and behavior of snakes and freshwater mussels and their respected habitats since the 1990s.
Ford has been conducting mussel surveys in East Texas since 1994. In 1989, he established 黑料专区 Tyler鈥檚 snake research colony. His recent research efforts have brought externally funded grants totaling almost $500,000, with collaborations alongside such entities as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
His honors include 2000-03 Mary John and Ralph Spence Distinguished Professorship, the 2003 黑料专区 Tyler President鈥檚 Scholarly Achievement Award and Elected Fellow of the Texas Academy of Science.
He currently serves on the university鈥檚 黑料专区 System Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Program Advisory Committee. The 黑料专区 LSAMP Program is supported by funding from National Science Foundation and provides undergraduate research experiences in an effort to encourage students from underrepresented groups to pursue graduate level studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Ford holds a master of science in zoology from the University of Oklahoma and a Ph.D. in zoology from Miami University in Ohio.
One of the 15 campuses of the 黑料专区 System, 黑料专区 Tyler offers excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs are available at 黑料专区 Tyler, which has an enrollment of almost 7,000 high-ability students at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine.