Two CANR faculty members recognized with William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award

May 10, 2018

Professors Rufus Isaacs and Frank Lupi were given the William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award in 2018.

Rufus Isaacs solves critical problems with insect pests while simultaneously transmitting knowledge to stakeholders and mentoring future scientists. He is internationally recognized for his research on berry crop pollination and insect pest management, which has saved fruit producers millions of dollars in lost revenue and led to effective means for controlling invasive insect pests of grapes, blueberries and other berry crops. His research on managing the invasive spotted wing drosophila has allowed growers to produce berry crops that meet market expectations while minimizing pesticide inputs. His research on pollination services has demonstrated that enhancing native pollinators can be a cost-effective means of sustaining production. He led a national project on integrated crop pollination, which changed the science community’s understanding of the current pollinator crisis. Dr. Isaacs is an outstanding teacher and mentor. His teaching style combines traditional elements of instruction with the use of technology and social media. He actively engages his students in the teaching process by coaching them to present information to a diverse set of stakeholders. His comprehensive mentoring has resulted in former students occupying positions of influence worldwide. His scholarship has global reach as measured by his many invited talks and presentations to international audiences. His publications have received more than 5,500 citations. Additionally, he has an exemplary record of service at international, national, regional and university levels. For his unparalleled record of research, outstanding mentoring and effective education of stakeholders, Rufus Isaacs is highly deserving of the Michigan State University William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award.

Frank Lupi is a leading authority in natural resource and environmental economics using nonmarket valuation methods to determine ecosystem service values – the economic values of fisheries, wildlife, outdoor recreation and other nature-related systems that benefit people. His significant advances include measuring the economic benefits of controlling sea lamprey in the Great Lakes and measuring the ecosystem service values from farming and various wetland attributes. He has developed a program of policy-relevant research on Great Lakes–region ecosystem service values. This focus is consistent with Dr. Lupi’s appointments with MSU Extension and the Partnership for Ecosystem Research and Management (PERM) program. As the sole economist in the PERM program, he works closely in an Extension capacity with the Fisheries and Wildlife divisions of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to bring insightful economic analysis to interdisciplinary teams to make natural resource management decisions. A $15.8 million multidisciplinary grants portfolio lies at the core of his highly integrated research-extension program, including the Center for Water Sciences, the Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, the Invasive Species Initiative, the National Science Foundation–funded Kellogg Biological Station Long-Term Ecological Research Program, the Environmental Science and Policy Program and the MSU campus sustainable stewardship initiative. Dr. Lupi’s teaching responsibilities are dominated by mentoring and advising. He is widely sought after to serve on guidance committees. For his research-based policy analysis, excellent instruction and mentoring, and leadership in academic governance, Frank Lupi deserves the Michigan State University William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award.