UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Gabriella Varga, Distinguished Professor Of Animal Science, Has Been Selected As The First Recipient Of The Arthur W. Nesbitt Faculty Program Development Award By Penn State's College Of Agricultural Sciences.

The award represents a $150,000 commitment by alumnus Nesbitt, who endowed this award to support faculty research, teaching or extension activities in agribusiness, dairy science or food science. The Nesbitt award also aims to attract additional funding for the selected faculty member’s program.

"I am extremely honored to have received this award," says Varga. "The Nesbitt Award will provide for many opportunities in my research program and will be especially helpful for my graduate students' ongoing research projects. I will also use part of this award to support undergraduate research, as we have so many talented students who could benefit from independent study projects."

Robert Steele, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, notes that he is "extremely pleased" that Varga is the first recipient of the award. "She has established a distinguished record of scholarship in teaching, research and extension," he says. "This very special award will provide funding to help her attract further external resources to support her innovative and relevant programs in our college.”

Varga has established an internationally recognized research program in dairy nutrition and has recently been investigating how livestock diets might affect gas emissions from dairy farms. "In addition to her professional achievements and the many contributions she makes to enhance the department, college and university, she is a remarkably considerate individual who always puts the good of the department ahead of her personal objectives," says Terry Etherton, head of the Department of Dairy and Animal Science. "She is a marvelous role model for our students and a strong proponent of women in science and agriculture."

Varga has published or co-authored 88 articles in 11 peer-reviewed scientific journals and 115 abstracts. In addition, she has presented 89 invited seminars in five countries and has mentored 23 graduate students. She has been a strong advocate of undergraduate research, mentoring many honor students.

Varga received her bachelor's degree in biology from Duquesne University, her master's degree in animal science from the University of Rhode Island and her doctorate in animal science from the University of Maryland. She was a postdoctoral fellow at West Virginia University.

Nesbitt graduated from Penn State in 1950 with a degree in agricultural economics. He has had a long career in the agricultural industry, including serving as chairman, president, chief executive officer and director of Nasco International, a distributor of teaching aids, agricultural supplies and laboratory sampling products.

Prior to joining Nasco he spent two years with Penn State Cooperative Extension in Clarion County and seven years as secretary of the Pennsylvania Holstein Association, which, under his guidance, became a model for other state associations. In addition, he was a director at Gehl Co., a manufacturer of agricultural and construction equipment.

Nesbitt served as a Penn State trustee from 1987 to 1988. A long-time supporter of the university since 1979, he also has been a volunteer leader in Penn State fund-raising activities, first for the Snider Agricultural Arena and then for the university’s first capital campaign, The Campaign for Penn State. He was named a distinguished alumnus in 1987, and an Alumni Fellow in the College of Agricultural Sciences in 1979. He currently is CEO of Awnward LLC and resides in Fort Atkinson, Wis.

###

EDITORS: Contact Gabriella Varga at 814-863-4195 or by e-mail at g1v@psu.edu.

Writer-Editor: Jeff MulhollemOffice 814-863-2719