Sahlin Faculty Excellence Award
Kathy A. Beerman
Professor
Food Science and Human Nutrition
Sahlin Faculty Excellence Award for Instruction 2007-08
Dr. Kathy A. Beerman is an exceptionally productive and creative educator at all levels of instruction. She has taught large survey courses at the 100 and 200 levels and smaller undergraduate courses at the 300 and 400 levels. Her teaching evaluations have been consistently outstanding in all of her courses. The primary instructor for more than 10,000 students at WSU, Dr. Beerman devotes an extraordinary effort to keeping her lectures up to date, delivering them in the most effective and creative ways, and demanding excellence of her students. She has played a key role in the development and use of multimedia instructional techniques at WSU and has been actively involved in the development of computerized, interactive software for use by students learning introductory human nutrition. Dr. Beerman has applied her years of teaching and research experience to publishing an innovative introductory nutrition textbook, titled Nutritional Sciences: From Fundamentals to Food, with co-author Dr. Michelle McGuire.
Washington State University is honored to recognize Dr. Kathy A. Beerman for her generous and successful contributions to instruction.
David M. Granatstein
Area Extension Educator and Sustainable Agriculture Specialist
Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources
Tree Fruit Research Extension Center
Sahlin Faculty Excellence Award for Outreach and Engagement 2007-08
Mr. David M. Granatstein began his career at Washington State University Extension as the first full-time faculty member for the newly formed Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources. Mr. Granatstein recognized that consumer preferences were changing—consumers were concerned not only about securing reliable sources of inexpensive food but also about how their food was produced and processed. He saw this change as an opportunity to advance Washington agriculture.
John Winder, associate dean and associate director of WSU Extension, describes David Granatstein as “… the epitome of a modern extension professional. He is a scholar, innovator, and motivator who applied the research base of WSU to better society.” Mr. Granatstein carefully chose and dedicated his career to a high-impact, applied research and outreach program. He supported this collaborative program with more than $7 million in extramural funding, which he directed toward: building bridges to environmental stewardship, improving soil and water quality, and advancing organic agriculture in Washington State. Mr. Granatstein created vital networks among farmers, the environmental community, consumers, and policy makers, and he became an internationally recognized expert on sustainable agriculture and organic farming.
Guy H. Palmer
Regents Professor
Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology
Sahlin Faculty Excellence Award for Research,
Scholarship and Arts 2007-08
Dr. Guy H. Palmer has been a faculty member at Washington State University since 1988 and is known worldwide as a pathologist and investigator in infectious diseases who leads important research into how microbial pathogens persist and evade the immune response.
Dr. Palmer's current research on understanding antigenic variation of vector-borne pathogens at the in-host and population levels is particularly noteworthy. Genome sequencing has progressed from completion of individual strains of the rickettsial pathogen Anaplasma marginale to examining large numbers of strains to better understand flow of strains under conditions of high transmission. His research is supported by the National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Agriculture, and the Wellcome Trust and has resulted in more than 180 refereed publications including manuscripts in Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, Infection and Immunity, Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Journal of Immunology, Journal of Virology, Molecular Microbiology, Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and Science.
Dr. Palmer was elected to membership in the National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine in 2006. His work has sustained a distinguished publication record and received national and international recognition.
Kenneth A. Struckmeyer
Associate Professor of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
and University Ombudsman
Sahlin Faculty Excellence Award for Leadership 2007-08
Mr. Kenneth A. Struckmeyer joined the Washington State University faculty in 1971. He is known across campus as an individual devoted to the success of the institution and to the people who define it. Mr. Struckmeyer’s leadership began almost immediately upon his arrival to campus. He quickly helped to establish Men’s Crew, working tirelessly and selflessly to build the funding base and infrastructure that ultimately yielded a national championship. Mr. Struckmeyer’s leadership was recognized by his peers—he was the first Pac-10 Coach of the Year in Crew. His impact on Washington State University is also evident through his dedication to University service, being twice elected Chair of the Faculty Senate (2005-06 and 2007-08) and serving as University Ombudsman since 1998. Among Mr. Struckmeyer’s many proud accomplishments is establishment of the Grade Appeal Board.
The first Sahlin Faculty Excellence Award for Leadership is given to Mr. Kenneth A. Struckmeyer in recognition of his continued dedication to the welfare of Washington State University faculty, staff, and students.