WVU’s Davis College names endowed professors

Two award-winning members of West Virginia University’s Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences have earned the designation of Davis-Michael Endowed Professor. Linda Butler is a professor of entomology and Robert Dailey is a professor of reproductive physiology.

"It’s truly a privilege and a pleasure to be able to name two such outstanding scholars and educators as Davis-Michael Professors," said Cameron Hackney, dean of the Davis College.

Professorships were endowed in each of the Davis College’s five academic divisions - Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Family and Consumer Sciences, Forestry, Plant and Soil Sciences, and Resource Management - as part of a $16.2 million bequest made to the college by Morgantown sisters Gladys Davis and Vivian Davis Michael in September 2001.

"I believe that Bob Dailey and Linda Butler are precisely the kind of educators these professorships were designed to recognize," Hackney said. "They are outstanding teachers, have strong research programs, and are profoundly committed to student success."

Dailey will become the Davis-Michael Professor for the Division of Animal and Veterinary Sciences. A WVU alumnus, he began histeaching career here in 1977. He was selected as a WVU Foundation Outstanding Teacher in 1997.

"Bob’s documented experience and productivity in all aspects of our mission -- teaching, research and outreach -- have been excellent throughout his tenure at WVU," said Paul Lewis, director of the Division of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.

Dailey will oversee another facet of the gift, the Davis-Michael Scholars Program in Pre-Veterinary Medicine. The program includes               Linda Butler                Bob Dailey

undergraduate scholarships, faculty development programs and enrichment, improvement of instructional facilities and support of internships and seminars for students.

Linda Butler will become the Davis-Michael Professor for the Division of Plant and Soil Sciences. She has taught at WVU for 34 years and was one of the 2001 Benedum Distinguished Scholars. Butler has taught all basic entomology courses and several specialized courses during her tenure in the department.

"Linda has established an outstanding reputation in her career as a scientist at West Virginia University," said Barton Baker, director of the Division of Plant and Soil Sciences. "Her work has contributed greatly to a better understanding of the relationships among species and the ecology of the whole forest rather than an isolated insect or tree, and she incorporates that understanding into her teaching."

Appointees to endowed positions must have a record of distinguished academic or professional work. A candidate’s suitability is judged in national terms, as compared with colleagues in peer institutions. The appointee must be verified at the departmental and college levels and confirmed by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs before a nomination is submitted to the President.

The selection process is currently underway for Davis-Michael Professors of Family and Consumer Sciences, Forestry and Resource Management.

The Gladys Davis and Vivian Davis Michael gifts were made to the WVU Foundation, a

private non-profit corporation that generates and provides support for West Virginia University.

The Foundation is in the midst of a $250 million Building Greatness Campaign on behalf of the University, which concludes Dec. 31, 2003.