While we (the Smith lab members) have been celebrating our success, Melinda has been racking up awards, new positions, and honors at CSU.
In most recent news, Mendy has been named a University Distinguished Professor! This title is “an honor based on the highest level of achievement in teaching, research and service, achievements that have been recognized nationally and internationally.” Mendy is now one of just 23 active Distinguished Professors at CSU, joining a distinguished group that includes Temple Grandin and Camille Dungy.
In other big news, Mendy is a Vice Provost! She has transitioned from her role as Chair of Faculty Council to her new role as VP of Faculty Affairs. In a recent Source article that describes Mendy as “An elite researcher and quintessential leader”, Dr. Eugene Kelly said:
“Mendy combines world-class scholarly distinction with a demonstrated record of building large, collaborative research communities and successfully managing complex, multi‑institutional research initiatives. She is the organizer and founding principal investigator of both NutNet and DroughtNet, which are two of the most highly successful internationally distributed ecological experiments in the world. And she is just a solid citizen in every aspect of her professional life.” — Dr. Eugene Kelly, professor of pedology in the Soil and Crop Sciences Department and director of the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station
Read more from CSU’s Source about Mendy’s leadership and her transition into the new role.
Next, Mendy was also awarded CSU’s Scholarship Impact Award for Career Achievement! This award is given to a singular CSU professor each year and recognizes major national and international impact. Congratulations Mendy!
We have one final notable event! Back during the 2023 Fall address, Mendy was honored as the mace bearer during the 2023 Fall Address. (Did ya’ll know that we had an official CSU mace? If it was a DnD weapon, it would grant +2 to intelligence)
We’re proud to be apart of your lab, Mendy!