Davis College
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The Davis College’s Division of Resource Management has selected its outstanding faculty for the 2008-09 academic year.

Fonda Holehouse, visiting assistant professor of agricultural and resource economics, has been recognized for outstanding teaching. In 2008, Holehouse taught courses in Environmental Regulation, Enterprise Operation Law, Agricultural and Natural Resource Law, Rural Enterprise Development and Entrepreneurship, and Current Issues in Agriculture. She advises 14 undergraduate students and is on the committees of nine graduate students. Holehouse requires all students in her entrepreneurship course to enter the WVU Entrepreneurship Center’s Business Plan Competition. Mentoring close to 30 students through the entry process requires tremendous effort on Holehouse’s part. Holehouse also takes keen interest in helping students develop their writing skills, as all of her courses carry a significant writing component.

Alan Collins, professor of agricultural and resource economics, has been recognized for outstanding research. In 2008, Collins co-authored one refereed journal article and had four works accepted for publication. He was principal investigator for one $250,000 National Research Initiative grant and a $550,000 grant from the USDA. He is part of a new project funded by the Environmental Protection Agency through WVU’s Water Research Institute. His research focuses primarily on the economics of watershed protection. His USDA project examines reducing the environmental impact of West Virginia’s poultry industry through efficient waste management strategies.

Deborah Boone, assistant professor of agricultural and extension education, has been recognized for outstanding service. She served on the Extension Visiting Committee, designed to bring WVU teaching and research into closer contact with client groups throughout the state. Boone served on the West Virginia AgrAbility Project Steering Committee, helping farmers and their families deal with physical disabilities and illness. She has chaired a number of regional and national committees for the American Association of Agricultural Education. Boone has also played a key role with the annual Career Development Events, which bring over 900 middle and high school students to WVU’s Morgantown campus each year to compete in skill tests in 14 different agricultural and natural resource subject areas.