25 and Counting...
Today ODU Professor Mark Butler will be honored by Gov. Robert McDonnell as a recipient of SCHEV's Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award.
One of only 12 such honorees from among 106 nominations across the state, Butler continues the two-decades-long tradition of ODU faculty receiving the state's highest accolade for teaching excellence. He is ODU's 25th winner since sociologist Karen Polonko received the university's first award in 1991. In that timeframe, of the more than 60 Virginia public and private colleges and universities in contention, only the College of William and Mary has won more SCHEV awards. And as I like to joke, they had a 200-year head start on ODU.
A marine biologist, Butler leads multi-disciplinary teams in the study of marine diseases and the roles that species behavior, habitats and long-distance oceanographic transport of larvae play in disease dynamics. His more than 50 grants totaling nearly $8 million have been instrumental both locally and internationally in understanding the effects of over-fishing and climate change on blue crabs, and disease on lobster populations.
He is internationally recognized and admired by his peers for his expertise, and respected and valued by his students.
Lest you think that Butler's recognition comes from anything less, the most frequent term students used in their nomination letters was "demanding." As one student noted, "...that is part of his excellence, for he challenges his students to be better than they believe they are or can be."
One colleague from New Zealand wrote, "He works very actively with his students...fosters a strong team spirit...and is a wonderful model of how post-graduate supervision should be done."
As with most institutions, we have a set of brand drivers at Old Dominion that represent a handful of attributes that we believe set the institution apart and, together, provide students with a successful, rewarding and enriching college experience they can't get elsewhere. Among them are: nationally recognized faculty with real-world expertise; cutting-edge collaborative research; and innovative and engaging teaching.
I cannot think of a better example of those points coming together than Professor Mark Butler. Congratulations on a well-deserved honor!
Click here to see all of Old Dominion's Outstanding Faculty Award winners.