Ruth A. Campbell Professorships Announced

Dean Frank Pezold announces the appointment of Drs. Ian R. MacDonald and Joe Fox as the college’s first Ruth A. Campbell Professor of Coastal and Marine System Science, and Ruth A. Campbell Professor of Marine Biology, respectively. These new professorships were recently established in honor of donor Ruth A. Campbell, to be competitively awarded to two tenure-track faculty members in the College of Science and Technology.   These first professorships are for 4.5 years, effective immediately.

Dr. Ian MacDonald has served as Professor of Environmental Science since joining the College in 2002.  His research interests include biogeography of oil and gas seeps on continental margins, geology and geochemistry of submarine gas hydrates, imaging and remote sensing, ocean observation, and long-term monitoring of coral reef communities. He received his Ph.D. in Oceanography from Texas A&M University, has conducted extensive research particularly in the Gulf of Mexico, and is the author of numerous publications.

Dr. Joe Fox is Associate Professor of Mariculture and Environmental Science. His research interests include aquatic animal nutritional research, chemoattraction, food-borne disease research, and construction and management of aquatic animal systems.   He received his Ph.D. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Texas A&M University and joined the College in 1998.  He has collaborated with numerous researchers and has presented and published his research internationally.

Each Ruth A Campbell Professor will receive funds to recruit and support a Ph.D. graduate student in the Coastal and Marine System Science (CMSS) and Marine Biology PhD programs (proposed to begin in 2008) for each year of the award period, plus an additional small amount to be used at the awardee’s discretion.  The Ruth A Campbell Professors are expected to maintain a distinguished and substantial research agenda at the national and international levels, and to maintain strong extramurally funded research programs supporting CMSS and Marine Biology graduate students. 

Only tenure-track faculty members in the CMSS Ph.D. or proposed MARB Ph.D. programs were eligible to apply.  Those holding endowed chairs were ineligible.  A Ruth A. Campbell Professorship Selection Committee composed of external and internal reviewers evaluated the applications and recommended the awardees.  Evaluations were based upon a number of criteria including indicators of research productivity, external funding, successful graduate student mentorship and service to the program.  These endowed professorships are critical to the development of the college and the CMSS and Marine Biology Ph.D. programs. Drs. MacDonald and Fox were selected from an outstanding pool of applicants because of their recognized talents and significant contributions in their fields as well as to the graduate programs of the College.  They are anticipated to continue to serve as leaders among the faculty as the College establishes a profile as a significant focus of marine science research.