Source: Sharon Thielen, 785-532-5121, sthielen@k-state.edu
Friday, May 16, 2008
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AT K-STATE HONORS OUTSTANDING FACULTY OF SEMESTER, ADVISER OF THE YEAR
MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University's Cathie Lavis, assistant professor of horticulture, forestry and recreation resources, and Telmo Amado, adjunct associate professor of agronomy, have been selected as the College of Agriculture's outstanding faculty of the 2008 spring semester.
Lavis also has been named the college's adviser of the year.
The awards were announced at the college's recent Awards Assembly. Student organizations in the college nominate faculty for the semester honor, with recipients selected based on their teaching, advising and research contributions to their departments, the college and the university, as well as their community involvement.
The college's adviser of the year is selected by the Agriculture Student Council. The award recognizes advisers who go beyond the basic requirements of their duties. The winner is selected based on evaluations completed by the students the adviser serves.
Lavis teaches several upper-division courses, including landscape maintenance, landscape irrigation systems and design, and arboriculture. Her research interests include intellectual development of college students and irrigation/water use studies. Lavis serves as academic adviser to around 40 undergraduate students. In addition, she has been faculty adviser to the K-State Horticulture Club since 2003 and partners with Greg Davis, associate professor of horticulture, forestry and recreation resources, to coach the Landscape Contracting Competition Team.
Amado teaches a course in tropical soil management. His research interests include no-tillage systems, carbon sequestration in agriculture, cover crops and soil rehabilitation, tropical agriculture and sustainable agriculture. Through his K-State Research and Extension duties, Amado works with county agents, farmers and agribusiness personnel to improve soil management and alternatives to improving carbon sequestration on agricultural lands.