MSU faculty, staff excel in state’s leading natural resources college

Contact: Vanessa Beeson

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State’s College of Forest Resources recently honored faculty and staff for their contributions to teaching, research and outreach, celebrating their impact on students and the environment.

Wes Burger, CFR dean and director of the university’s Forest and Wildlife Research Center, said during an end-of-year awards ceremony that the college experienced record enrollment, with an impressive research portfolio and extensive outreach efforts in 2024, thanks to its exemplary faculty and staff.

“It’s always an honor to recognize our outstanding faculty and staff who are making an impact on the lives of students and our environment. While we are one of the smaller units on campus, we are one of the most productive in the university, accounting for about five percent of the total MSU research portfolio,” he said. “We are the top choice in the Southeast for future natural resource professionals, which is a credit to our faculty who teach and mentor our students.”

Honorees include:

—Ray Iglay, CFR/FWRC Teaching Award: An associate professor in wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture, Iglay has mentored seven graduate students directly and served on 16 additional committees. He also has guided four postdoctoral associates and 11 undergraduate research students. Iglay extends his leadership through The Wildlife Society’s Leadership Institute Mentor Program.

—Krishna Poudel, CFR/FWRC Research Award: An associate professor in forestry, Poudel has published 42 peer-reviewed articles, with 20 of those in the last three years, and secured $4.6 million in extramural funding to advance forestry research.

—Adam Polinko, CFR/FWRC Service Award: An assistant professor in forestry, Polinko serves as faculty advisor to the award-winning MSU student chapter of the Society of American Foresters, organized the department’s first career fair and serves on several departmental committees. He also chairs the SAF Silviculture Working Group.

—Wes Neal, CFR/FWRC Extension/Outreach Award: An extension and research professor in wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture, Neal’s extension efforts in ponds and fisheries have impacted more than 800,000 surface acres of water, produced vital educational resources and secured $5.7 million in funding.

—Dana Morin, CFR/FWRC Early Career Achievement Award: An assistant professor in wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture, Morin chairs or cochairs seven graduate student committees, serves on three additional committees and has mentored four undergraduate research scholars and 12 graduate students, who have since graduated. Morin has published 46 peer-reviewed and popular articles, delivered more than 30 outreach-focused presentations or reports and secured more than $11.5 million in external funding.

—Kristine Evans, CFR/FWRC Faculty Excellence in Advising Award: An associate professor in wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture and associate director of the Geosystems Research Institute, Evans has mentored nearly 90 undergraduates and numerous graduate students. She coleads a collaborative research lab and serves on key MSU committees.

—Kevin Hunt, Regina and Glenn Doran Faculty Award for Excellence in Mentoring and Collaborative Practice: The Sharp Professor of Human Dimensions in wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture directs the MSU Human Dimensions and Conservation Law Enforcement Laboratory, has served as the department’s graduate coordinator for a decade and advises more than 30 students annually in the law enforcement concentration.

—Murry Burgess, CFR Inclusive Excellence Award: An assistant professor in wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture, Burgess is a 2024 Garden & Gun Champions of Conservation and cofounder/CEO of Field Inclusive, Inc., a nonprofit supporting marginalized and historically excluded field biologists. She is certified by The Inclusive STEM Teaching Project and serves on the CFR Diversity Council.

—Lanna Miller, Doris Lee Memorial Professional Staff Award: With 11 years as student services coordinator for the College of Forest Resources, Miller is praised for her exceptional advising, curriculum expertise and dedicated support, guiding students from orientation to graduation.

—Cade Booth, Beverly Smith Professional Staff Award: A research associate III in forestry with nearly 25 years at MSU, Booth is recognized for exceptional versatility, problem-solving expertise and unwavering commitment to research and student success.

—Angela Hill, Doris Lee Memorial Support Staff Award: An administrative assistant I in wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture, Hill is celebrated for her exceptional support, expertise and positive attitude.

—Susan Blanton, Beverly Smith Support Staff Award: An administrative assistant I in forestry, Blanton is praised as a dedicated and professional leader, providing invaluable support to her department.

Professorships and a fellowship include:

—Peter Allen, professor, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture: Dale H. Arner Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management;

—Brady Self, extension professor, Department of Forestry: George L. Switzer Professorship;

—El Barbary Hassan, professor, Department of Sustainable Bioproducts: Warren S. Thompson Professorship;

—Beth Stokes, associate professor, Department of Sustainable Bioproducts: Harold C. Lucas Fellowship.

For more on the College of Forest Resources, visit www.cfr.msstate.edu. Visit www.fwrc.msstate.edu for information about the Forest and Wildlife Research Center.

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