Oklahoma State researcher receives international award
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Nutritional Sciences Regents Professor Barbara Stoecker is one of three recipients
of the 2010 Michael P. Malone International leadership award sponsored by the Association
of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). Established in 2000, the annual award
recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to international education
at public and land-grant institutions.
Stoecker worked in collaboration with faculty and students to develop the applied
human nutrition graduate program at Hawassa, including its curriculum, courses and
faculty recruitment. Stoecker’s work has not only made a big difference in building
the academic capacity of the university but has led to an infusion of much needed
research resources. She continues to serve as the link between students and an education
program designed to improve the country's food supply by bringing young and mid-career
staff from Hawassa to Oklahoma State University for advance training in the master
and doctorial programs.
“It is a special honor to be recognized with the Malone International Leadership Award,”
said Stoecker. “But most importantly, credit is also due to the faculty, students
and our international partners who collaborate to assure the success of the many projects
we have shared.”
As a Fulbright senior specialist at Hawassa University in Ethiopia, Stoecker not only
teaches courses on nutrition and metabolism to first year students in the master of
science program, her internationally recognized research on the connection between
child malnutrition and cognitive development is having a lasting impact in one of
Africa’s poorest countries.
“This is wonderful, said Stephan Wilson, dean of the College of Human Environmental
Sciences at Oklahoma State University. “We are so pleased and proud of Dr. Stoecker
– she embodies the modern land-grant faculty whose research, teaching and outreach
naturally flow from each other. In particular, the importance of the Human Sciences
lives on as more than a slogan through scholars such as her.”
“This year’s Malone Awards recipients have worked tirelessly to promote international
education and development,” said APLU President Peter McPherson. “Their focus on international
problems speaks well of America’s highly regarded university system and the willingness
of our scholars to promote higher education around the globe.”
Charles W. Steger of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia
Tech) and Robert J. Jones of the University of Minnesota were also selected to receive
the annual award named in honor of the late Michael P. Malone who served as president
of Montana State University from 1991-99.
Malone made many contributions to MSU and U.S. higher education through his work as
chair of APLU’s Commission on International Programs, where he focused the group’s
efforts on issues critical to international programs and increased its stature within
APLU and elsewhere.
The award will be presented during the summer meeting of the APLU Commission on International
Programs July 12-14, 2010 in Sedona, AZ.