Davis College
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The Davis College?s Peer Review Committee selected two recipients for its 2008 Outstanding Teaching award. They are Kristen Matak, assistant professor of human nutrition and foods, and Todd West, assistant professor of horticulture.

Paul Lewis, director of the Davis College?s Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, describes Matak as ?a major player? who ?has contributed significantly in the revision and updates? for courses and curriculum in human nutrition and foods. She has earned excellent student evaluations in her courses, which include sections of the popular Human Nutrition and Foods 171, part of WVU?s General Education Curriculum. Matak joined the faculty of the Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences in January of 2005 after completing her Ph.D. in food science and technology at Virginia Tech. She also earned a Master of Science degree in that discipline from Tech; her Bachelor of Science degree in human nutrition and foods comes from WVU. Barton Baker, director of the Davis College?s Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, notes that West has taken on ?a wide array of teaching situations? and ?excelled in all of these teaching situations.? The creator of the wildly popular Vines to Wines course, Horticulture 293, West has also developed a new course in Plant Tissue Culture (HORT 493), taught General Horticulture (HORT 220), and developed a special Bonsai course in association with the Davis College?s Lyon Tower First-Year Experience program. He has been an active participant in the development of WVU?s horticulture program, including the crafting of a new emphasis in landscape management. West joined the faculty of the Division in 2003. He earned his Ph.D. in plant biology and Master of Science in horticulture from Southern Illinois University. He earned his Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Wisconsin ? Platteville.