College of Science professors earn two of Weber State’s top awards for 2024
OGDEN, Utah — Faculty from Weber State University’s College of Science were honored with the John S. Hinckley Fellow Award and the Interdisciplinary Collaboration Award during a ceremony at the Ogden campus Oct. 22.
John S. Hinckley Fellow Award
Heather Root, associate professor of botany and plant ecology, was selected as the 2024 Hinckley Fellow for excellence in teaching, service and research.
“Being recognized in this way reminds me of how thankful I am to be grounded in a supportive community at Weber State and to have the ability to make a difference in the lives of my students,” Root said.
Root has connected with students through teaching and mentorship at Weber State since 2014. She has taught and developed nearly all curriculum for 16 courses and incorporates sustainability, course-based research experiences and community engaged learning into many of them. Her connections with the U.S. Geological Survey Moab Office and the Ogden Nature Center create opportunities for students to participate in real-world research and connect with professionals in the field.
Root served on the Faculty Senate Environmental Initiatives Committee, has mentored 18 students in individualized research and is currently the Faculty Fellow for the Sustainability Practices and Research Center. She also served on two advisory committees for Ogden City, the Urban Tree Advisory Board and the Ogden Natural Resource and Sustainability Committee.
Over the years, Root has earned a regional and national reputation with 44 peer-reviewed manuscripts, which have been cited 826 times. As an expert in lichenology, her research focuses on how lichen conservation contributes to ecosystem functions. She collaborates and co-authors papers with scientists from other universities and organizations such as the USGS, U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. Her research has received multiple recognitions including WSU Sustainability Awards, College of Science Endowed Scholar and funding from federal agencies.
Exemplary Interdisciplinary Collaboration Award
Professors Bridget Hilbig and James Cohen from the Department of Botany & Plant Ecology joined forces to improve undergraduate science, technology, engineering and mathematics education at Weber State through two projects, the BOTANY Scientists and the PROGRESS Postdoctoral Fellow programs.
“These are two individuals who have steadfastly, over time, worked on improving the STEM pipeline with their colleagues across departments,” said WSU Provost Ravi Krovi. “But more importantly, they have engaged and involved students in this process.”
The BOTANY Scientist Program focuses on increasing recruitment, retention and career readiness in botanists, which resulted in a 30.5% increase in full-time equivalent students in botany and a 30.7% increase in botany majors since spring 2023.
The PROGRESS Postdoctoral Fellow program is a collaboration between the College of Science and the Jerry & Vickie Moyes College of Education to improve postdoctoral training over a two-year tenure using a teacher-scholar model. Each postdoctoral scholar receives mentorship and specialized materials, along with funds to develop research projects with undergraduate students.
Over the past two years, these projects have helped increase recruitment to STEM programs at WSU. Both projects have been recognized by two National Science Foundation grants, resulting in $1.5 million in funds.
Erika Gonzalez Lara, Marketing & Communications
801-626-7948, erikagonzalezlara@weber.edu- Contact:
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