Contact: Dr. Urs Kreuter, 979-845-5583, urs@tamu.edu
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Urs Kreuter, a Texas A&M AgriLife Research rangeland scientist in College Station, received the Outstanding Achievement Award for Academia/Research at the 67th annual meeting of the Society for Range Management held recently in Orlando, Fla.
The Outstanding Achievement Award is presented by the Society for Range Management for outstanding achievement to members and other qualified individuals and groups working with rangelands.
Kreuter has been a bastion of rangeland science and management for over two decades, said Dr. William Fox, a Texas A&M AgriLife Research professor from Temple, in his nomination of Kreuter.
“Dr. Kreuter is the consummate rangeland professional, seeking to educate the next generation of rangeland managers, developing new knowledge for his peers in academia and natural resources management, and serving his profession generously with his time and talents,” Fox stated in the nomination.
Since 1998, Kreuter has been on the faculty at Texas A&M University where he offers one of the ecosystem science and management department’s capstone undergraduate courses, Ecosystem Management, which is primarily for renewable natural resources majors.
He also teaches a study abroad course in South Africa, which draws students from across the entire university. At the graduate level he teaches an eclectic course in Ecological Economics, which also has broad appeal.
“Dr. Kreuter is truly a vital member in spreading the efforts beyond the ‘choir’ to whom we usually preach,” Fox wrote.
During his time at Texas A&M, he has mentored 47 masters and doctorate students; 21 as major advisor. Two of his doctoral students received Distinguished Graduate Awards from the university in 2013.
Kreuter was recognized in 2013 for his outstanding contribution to the teaching mission of the university by the Association of Former Students with the Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching at the College Level.
Kreuter also is a prolific researcher, Fox stated. He has collaborated with many professional leaders in rangeland science and management, which speaks to the value these partners place on his participation in multidisciplinary research programs.
In the last two decades, Kreuter has contributed significantly to the art and science of rangeland management. His efforts in understanding the human dimensions of managing rangelands and integrating them with the economic and ecological components of ecosystems is, and will remain, invaluable to the continued evolution of our profession as it adopts a greater social-ecological systems emphasis, according to the nomination.
In recognition of the contribution of his research, Kreuter received the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean’s Award for Outstanding Achievement-Interdisciplinary Research Team and the Texas Section Society of Range Management Technical Publication Award for 2013.
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