2009-10 Wilson H. Elkins Professorships Support Student Engagement, Public Service
Adelphi, Md. (Nov. 17, 2009) - The 2009-10 University System of Maryland (USM) Wilson H. Elkins Professorships offer undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to engage with selected faculty in advanced study of such fields as environmental sustainability, geographical mapping, physics and astronomy during the academic year.
The Elkins Professorships support professors and researchers who demonstrate exemplary ability to inspire students and whose professional work and scholarly endeavors make a positive impact beyond USM.
Candidates for the Elkins Professorship must possess a solid record of achievement in their academic or professional disciplines; demonstrate a desire and ability to lead and inspire undergraduate and graduate students; show significant achievement beyond their traditional disciplines; and demonstrate ability and intent to pursue scholarly or professional endeavors beyond USM.
This year's award winners are:
John Morgan, professor in the Towson University Department of Geography and Environmental Planning. Dr. Morgan is the recipient of an $80,000 award to support his proposal for developing a Google Maps-based emergency mapping system for the state of Maryland.
Steven Lev, associate professor in the Towson University Department of Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences. Dr. Lev is the recipient of a $52,000 award to enhance the profile of the Urban Environmental Biogeochemistry Laboratory by supporting four undergraduate research students. The funding will support curriculum revisions in the university's environmental science master's program.
Danny Ervin, associate professor in the Salisbury University Department of Finance. Dr. Ervin is the recipient of a $67,500 award to support the third year of the ShoreENERGY program, based in the Perdue School of Business, which facilitates practical and academic research on energy topics of concern to the Maryland Eastern Shore.
Michael Scott, associate professor in the Salisbury University Department of Geography and Geosciences. Dr. Scott has been awarded $80,000 to fund the development and distribution of geographic information system (GIS) toolkits for regional government, communities and non-profit organizations. Dr. Scott is also the director of the Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative.
The Professorship honors the late Wilson H. Elkins, who led the University of Maryland flagship campus to new levels of distinction as its president from 1954 to 1978. The Wilson H. Elkins Endowment Fund supports the professorship awards in combination with institutional and system resources. This endowment and others like it further USM's mission of teaching, research, and public service.
For more information, visit the Wilson H. Elkins Professorship web page.
Contact: Mike Lurie
Phone: 301.445.2719
Email: mlurie@usmd.edu