Westerman celebrated for 40 years worth of accomplishment

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

With a career spanning over 40 years in teaching, research and Extension for Oklahoma State University’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Robert Westerman was recently recognized as a DASNR 2015 Distinguished Alumni.

Westerman of Stillwater, Oklahoma, received his bachelor’s degree in agricultural education and master’s degree in plant and soil sciences from OSU in 1961 and 1963, respectively. He joined the United States Army, where he was a helicopter pilot, before attending and graduating from the University of Illinois in 1969 with a Ph.D. in soil fertility.

After seven years on the faculty at the University of Arizona, Westerman joined OSU as an associate professor of soil fertility and plant nutrition. He quickly climbed the ranks in the department of agronomy, now known as plant and soil sciences, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses related to soil-plant relationships He was named a Regents professor and served as head of the department during his tenure.

“He's the perfect combination of a scientist and people person,” said Tom Coon, vice president, dean and director of DASNR. “His dedication to students and faculty is clear. I see him at the scholarship banquets in the spring, and he just thrives on that atmosphere of seeing support for students and support for the faculty who are teaching them.”

Westerman’s career then took him into service as the assistant director and interim associate director of the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station before serving as assistant vice president for agricultural programs within DASNR administration. He retired in 2013.

“There probably aren't a lot who can make the jump from scientist to administrator,” said Gordon Johnson, retired Regents professor in soil science. “But I think he was probably driven to do this because he saw how it could help the department and then later on how it could help the division, and ultimately help OSU and the people in Oklahoma.”

Westerman has a lengthy list of research accomplishments, many connected to his efforts on the development of practices to improve nitrogen-use efficiency in crop production. He was a major adviser to more than 40 graduate students, has written over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles, nine book chapters and a book of his own.

He is a Fellow in the American Society of Agronomy and a Fellow and recipient of the Agronomic Achievement Award in the Soil Science Society of America.

“I think it all comes back to this sense of dedication and commitment he has to serving the mission of the university, but really serving the students and the faculty,” Coon said.

Also recognized at DASNR Honors night as 2015 Distinguished Alumni were Minnie Lou Bradley and James Kennamer.