Several faculty and staff in the Department of Animal Science were recognized during the College of Agriculture and Life Science’s 2014 Awards Ceremony.

Dr. Tom Welsh, Dr. Clare Gill and Grace Glenn each were recognized as recipients of the Dean’s Outstanding Achievement Award.

Welsh received the Dean’s Outstanding Achievement Award in the Faculty Mentoring category. As a professor of physiology of reproduction and an AgriLife Research Faculty Fellow in the Department of Animal Science for 31 years, Welsh has not only conducted meaningful research and excelled as a teacher but has followed a philosophy of teamwork and service to the benefit of other faculty.

As stated by a colleague, “the foundation of Dr. Welsh’s commitment to faculty mentoring is his philosophy that if we do our job correctly, then the contributions and accomplishments of the next generation of students and faculty will exceed ours.” Welsh is known for looking out for his mentees and more often than not, putting them ahead of himself. As a mentor, Welsh is “quick to identify opportunities for new faculty, to advocate for them, or simply to check in on how they’re doing.”

Gill, professor in animal genomics, received the Dean’s Outstanding Achievement Award in the Research category. Gill has been with the Department of Animal Science for 13 years and during this time she has been recognized nationally and internationally for her contributions to the field of bovine genomics and her efforts to identify genes that affect production efficiency in beef cattle. She was instrumental in securing $10 million to facilitate initiation of the $53 million bovine genome project in 2002. She has published 36 peer-reviewed publications and secured a patent and two licensed technologies.

Gill is well regarded by the scientific community and is a “sought-after presenter at conference and industry conventions.”

Grace Glenn

Glenn, senior administrative coordinator, received the Dean’s Outstanding Achievement Award in the Staff category. During her 16 years in this position, Glenn has contributed to the welfare of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences through exceptional service that goes beyond the expectations of her position. Glenn provides assistance to the administrators, faculty, staff and students in the department and does so with respect and care.

According to a nomination letter, Glenn’s colleagues are constantly impressed by her “dedication, loyalty and work ethic that she demonstrates on a daily basis.” In everything she does, Glenn does it with “class, style and dignity.”

In addition to the achievement awards, Dr. Gordon Carstens was recognized for his recent faculty promotion from associate professor to professor. Dr. Chad Paulk and Leslie Frenzel also were welcomed as new faculty.