Jeffery Larkin,
professor of biology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, has been selected
as the 2018–19 Distinguished University Professor at IUP, based on his
demonstrated excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service since he joined the
IUP faculty in 2005.
The Office of the
President recognizes one faculty member each year with the Distinguished
University Professor Award, based on a record of outstanding teaching,
university service, and active and demonstrable engagement in
research/scholarly activity that advances his or her discipline or its
pedagogy. In addition to the lifetime title, the award earns recipients a grant
and a reduced teaching load for one year to allow more time for research and
scholarship.
“The
Distinguished University Professor award recognizes faculty who exemplify
excellence in teaching, service and scholarship,” IUP President Michael Driscoll
said.
“Dr.
Larkin is exceptionally successful in obtaining external funding for research,
and is known internationally for his expertise in wildlife conservation and
habitat management. His expertise and involvement with state and federal
agencies offers incredible research opportunities to IUP undergraduate and
graduate students, including meaningful field work and participation in
conferences at the regional, national and international levels.”
State, federal, and
international agencies have praised Larkin for his efforts to understand,
conserve, and restore imperiled wildlife and to develop adaptive management
programs. He has also built an internationally recognized educational program
at IUP that provides students with unique opportunities for experiential and
service learning.
“I am honored to
receive this award,” Larkin said. “My success at IUP is driven by my passion
for conservation and educating students, professionals, and the public about
the importance of conservation.
“There is no doubt
that my success is fueled by the support and enthusiasm of so many
individuals. I am particularly grateful
to the many dedicated undergraduate and graduate students with whom I have been
fortunate to mentor during my time at IUP….they are my inspiration.”
Larkin has a robust
history of grant awards. His more than 60 external awards have secured more
than $6 million for research focused on the habitat and ecology of threatened
wildlife species, specifically declining populations of ecologically sensitive
songbirds.
He and his student
coauthors have produced more than 50 publications and have provided important
insights into the effects of humans and their infrastructure on the
sustainability or restoration of these species.
Larkin’s work guides
the efforts of state and national wildlife management agencies and helps with
the recovery of declining wildlife species and their habitats. In addition to
the direct impact his research has on the ecosystem, the funding it brings
provides many opportunities and significant financial support for graduate and undergraduate
students and helps to attract high-quality students from across the nation to
IUP’s Biology/Ecology, Conservation, and Environmental Biology program.
As a nationally
recognized expert in the field of ecology and conservation of neotropical
songbirds, Larkin has—at the request of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, US
Department of Agriculture, US Forest Service, US Department of the
Interior, Pennsylvania Game Commission, and Pennsylvania Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources—presented his research and participated in
policy and management activities to promote the long-term viability of these
species.
In 2017, the USDA
presented Larkin with the Abraham Lincoln Award in recognition of his role as science
advisor for a federal conservation program. The Lincoln Award recognizes those
who have made outstanding contributions in support of the USDA’s mission and
goals.
During his tenure as
Distinguished University Professor, Larkin will complete data collection and
analysis for post-fledgling survival, resource selection, and migratory
connections to develop a full life-cycle approach to golden-winged warbler and
cerulean warbler conservation. He also will work on two research articles
summarizing wintering and breeding ecology and conservation efforts.
Additionally, Larkin
will continue to protect imperiled species of songbirds through professional
service to biologists from a variety of government agencies and conservation
organizations to promote science-based decisions about adaptive management
programs and conservation policies.