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The Davis College’s Division of Plant and Soil Sciences has selected its outstanding faculty for the 2008-09 academic year.

Jeff Skousen, professor and extension reclamation specialist, has been recognized for outstanding teaching. In 2008, Skousen taught courses in Elements of Environmental Protection and Reclamation of Disturbed Soils, making major revisions to his lecture materials and student resources. He served as major professor for four master’s candidates and one doctoral candidate, and he also served on committees for nine additional graduate students. He has offered guest lectures and laboratory activities for other course, organized field trips for student organizations, and taught at workshops for Master Gardeners and Natural Resources Conservation Service personnel.

Skousen was also recognized for outstanding research. He manages a dynamic, effective, and well-funded research program that includes three ongoing projects, five new projects, and three that were concluded in 2008. The total grant value of these eleven projects was close to $4 million. His research efforts focus primarily on restoration and new uses for reclaimed mine sites. He is exploring reforestation practices on mountaintop surface mines in West Virginia, switchgrass as a potential biofuel crop on mine soils, and the re-introduction of the American chestnut on reclaimed surface mines. Skousen was the senior author on one and co-author on two refereed journal publications in 2008, and two other articles have been accepted for publication in 2009. He also served as editor of Reclamation Matters in 2008.

Alan Sexstone, professor of applied and environmental microbiology, has been recognized for outstanding service. During 2008, Sexstone spoke to students in advanced-placement biology courses at Morgantown High School. He served as a reviewer for the Journal of Microbiological Methods, the Journal of Environmental Quality, and Soil Science. He organized and hosted a research meeting for a multi-state project focused on bacterial source tracking, and he will serve as a peer review panelist for the Small Business Innovation Research initiative of the USDA. He has served on a number of division, college, and university committees, including the Faculty Senate Courses and Curriculum Committee and Classroom Technology Advisory Board. He also served as a peer reviewer for WVU’s Advanced Energy Initiative.