Hello to fellow Spartans out there. We have had a great year in 2016-2017 and looking into 2018. During the 2016-17 academic year, we graduated 56 BS students and 3 graduate students who we hope will be loyal Spartans in the future. Our faculty have been getting grants and leading MSU research efforts in the FEEH (Food, Energy, Environment, & Health) areas. Our new faculty are quickly becoming leaders around the state and in the world of research and extension as outlined in this issue. In addition senior faculty, Drs. Harrigan and Srivastava are doing great international research and outreach work with their USAID grant in Africa.
Dr. William (Bill) Stout, former chairman of MSU Agricultural Engineering, was recognized as the inaugural recipient of the Lalit and Aruna Verma Award for Excellence in Global Engagement from ASABE. Several of our graduate students have won professional awards and many of our undergraduates too. Our students continue their leadership in worldwide service being involved on the Engineers Without Borders team; in a capstone design project in Belize and other such projects within the states and around the world.
Two noteworthy dates for the future: Biosystems Engineering Showcase, April 26, 2018, and MSU College of Engineering Design Day, April 27, 2018; both of these are on MSU campus, let us know if you can attend, we would love to have you.
So, as you look through this issue please take note of the interest stories, what our faculty and alumni are doing. AND please take a minute and tell us what you are up to so that we can recognize you in a future newsletter. (Remember, w
e would like to include a "What's Up with our Alums....Alumni News" section in these quarterly e-newsletters, so drop us a line and let us know what you have been up to lately.)
The 2018 ASABE International Annual Meeting will be in Detroit this year at the Cobo Center. See www.asabemeetings.org for full details. If you have not attended an ASABE meeting in a while, now is the BEST time when it is in the shadow of your MSU Spartans. Come if you can!
Please let us know of any interest stories you might have. If you are in Michigan, please stop by Farrall Hall, or invite me to visit you, so that I can learn about you, your BAE past, present and future.
Thanks for the opportunity to serve,
Darrell W. Donahue
Professor and Chair
GO GREEN!