4 UM professors receive achievement awards

ORONO – Four University of Maine professors were recognized for outstanding job performance at the recent UMaine Academic Honors Convocation.

The convocation is an annual event, scheduled for the day before commencement, at which faculty members and students are recognized for exceptional work. Along with the UMaine Alumni Association’s annual Distinguished Maine Professor Award, recognition is given for outstanding achievement in teaching, research and public service.

“The four professors who were honored today represent the outstanding work being done by our faculty members,” says UMaine President Peter Hoff. “They recognize the unique role they play as professors at a land-grant university, and work diligently to use their expertise in ways that benefit the people of Maine and beyond, while advancing knowledge in their fields of study.”

The 2004 University of Maine Distinguished Maine Professor is Eric Landis of the UMaine civil and environmental engineering department. A member of the UMaine faculty since 1994, Landis received UMaine’s Presidential Outstanding Teaching Award two years ago.

Landis studies the relationship between material microstructure and engineering properties of concrete and other materials. He has authored more than 75 scholarly publications and made more than 100 presentations at professional conferences. Landis has been recognized by his colleagues and his students numerous times in the past decade, with accolades for his scholarly activities and his teaching and mentoring of students.

Professor Kim McKeage of the marketing faculty in the Maine Business School was honored with UMaine’s Presidential Outstanding Teaching Award. Teaching in areas including consumer behavior, principles of marketing, sales management, retail management, services marketing, multicultural marketing, marketing management and market research, she has regularly been recognized by her students and her colleagues for dedication to teaching and advising. She has published research in the study of teaching methods, and has made presentations to UMaine faculty colleagues on teaching and teaching-related techniques. McKeage has been a member of the UMaine faculty since 1994.

This year’s Presidential Research and Creative Achievement Award was presented to Robert Lad, physics professor and director of UMaine’s Laboratory for Surface Science and Technology. A UMaine professor since 1988, Lad is involved in pioneering research work on the development of thin films and coatings for various applications. He has written more than 70 journal publications, has given more than 100 seminars and conference presentations, and has received more than 30 research grants totaling almost $23 million. He is the principal investigator for the largest research grant ever awarded to UMaine – a $10,269,523 multidisciplinary Department of Defense grant, “Advanced Development of Chemical and Biological Sensor Suites.”

Professor Todd Gabe of the resource economics and policy department faculty was recognized with UMaine’s Presidential Public Service Achievement Award. A UMaine professor since 1999, Gabe’s work is focused on improving economic conditions for people throughout Maine. His research in community and regional economic development, along with his work with citizen groups, businesses, and local and state agencies, is making a difference in people’s lives. His many current projects include work with Piscataquis County leaders to diversify the county’s economy by developing nature-based tourism and a project that is helping residents of Mount Desert Island and Hancock County plan for their economic future.