Distinguished Alum Award
This annual award was established in 1998 to honor alumni. The recipient is selected by the Department of Entomology from nominations of alumni to recognize their contributions to entomology. The recipient visits the department, interacts with students and faculty, presents a lecture, and receives a plaque with the designation “Distinguished Alum Award”.
2025 Award
Justin Talley
Professor and Head of Entomology & Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University. "Life of a Livestock Entomology and How KSU – Entomology Shaped my Path"
Recent Awardees
Dr. Lieceng Zhu
2024 (Ph.D. Alum, 2005)
- Professor of Biology and Forensic Science, Fayetteville State University. "Heat-Induced Loss of Wheat Resistance to Hessian Fly—A Student-Centered Research at Fayetteville State University"
Dr. Navdeep Mutti
2023, Ph.D. Alum 2006
- Technlogy Enablement Lead, Corteva. "Emerging New Technologies for Pest Management"
Dr. Tanjia McKay
2019, Ph.D. Alum 2002
- Professor of Entomology and Director of the Environmental Science Ph. D. Program, Arkansas State University. “Stored-Product Insects, Mosquitoes and Heartworms: Unraveling Complexities."
- tmckay@AState.edu
Dr. Rizana Mahroof
2018, Ph.D. Alum 2004
- National Program Leader, Division of Community and Education, USDA NIFA
- 2017, Dr. Marlin Rice, Product Biology Technical Manager, Syngenta. "Forty years of entomology: Perspectives from across the spectrum of graduate school, academia, industry and professional society"
- 2016, Dr. Kenneth Sorensen, Professor Emeritus, North Carolina State University. ""Honey bees, Buffalograss webworm and Sweetpotato weevil: Efforts over 50 Years"
- 2015, Dr. Kirby Stafford, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. "Ticks, Inquiries, and Insect Invasions"
- 2014, Dr. Mustapha El-Bouhssini, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. "Biodiversity and Integrated Gene Management Program, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)"
- 2013, Dr. Raul Guedes, Federal University of Viçosa. “Insecticides in insects: Too Much of a Good Thing ....?"
- 2012, Dr. Terry Mize, FMC Corporation, North America Product Development Manager. "An entomologist's journey in the commercial world: expectations and realities of choosing a career with a multi-national crop protection corporation"
- 2011, Dr. Sue Blodgett, Iowa State University, Department Chair of Department of Entomology
- 2010, Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze, International Fund for Agricultural Development (UN), President
- 2009, Dr. Gary Brewer, University of Nebraska, Department Head of Department of Entomology
- 2007, Dr. Robert A. Wirtz, Entomology Branch of the Centers for Disease Control
- 2006, Dr. Dennis Calvin, Pennsylvania State University. "Using high-resolution climatology and weather data for field crop pest management and forensic investigation"
- 2005, Dr. Jeffrey Stuart, Purdue University
- 2004, Dr. John Edman
- 2003, Dr. Aart van Schoonhoven
- 2002, Dr. Lee Halgren, Colorado State Colleges, Denver. "Bugs, Budgets and Bills - The unintentional and serendipitous journey of an entomologist"
- 2001, Dr. Larry Murdock, Purdue University. "An entomologist’s adventures in Africa: Simple technology for managing the cowpea weevil"
- 2000, Dr. James Webster, USDA-ARS-Stillwater. "32 years after KSU: Cereal leaf beetles, greenbugs, Russian wheat aphid, and the ARS"
- 1999, Dr. Perry Adkisson, Texas A&M University. "Beyond Kansas State University"
- 1998, Dr. E.A. Heinrichs, University of Nebraska "World food security. What can entomologists contribute?"