UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Gabriella Varga, Distinguished Professor of Animal Science, has been selected for the second consecutive year as the recipient of the Arthur W. Nesbitt Faculty Program Development Award in the 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 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 support for undergraduate research, as we have so many talented students who also could benefit from more independent study projects. In addition, it is important for our students to interact with producers and agribusiness. This support will be very helpful in providing those much needed outreach opportunities."

Robert Steele, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, believes Varga is deserving of the honor. "She has established a distinguished record of scholarship in teaching, research and extension that has always had the education of students at its core," he says. " This award will provide funding to help her attract further external resources to support her innovative and relevant programs." 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 undergraduate and graduate students, and is a strong advocate for women in science and agriculture."

Varga has published or co-authored 57 articles in 11 peer-reviewed scientific journals and 61 abstracts. In addition, she has presented 53 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 educational 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, 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.

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

Writer/Editor Jeff Mulollem Phone: 814-863-271p E-mail: jjm29@psu.edu