Mumma Receives Faculty Mentoring Award

3-28-96
University Park, Pa. --- Dr. Ralph O. Mumma, distinguished professor of environmental quality in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, is the 1996 recipient of the Howard B. Palmer Faculty Mentoring Award. He will receive it at the Faculty/Staff Awards ceremony at 2 p.m. March 31, at the Nittany Lion Inn.

The Howard B. Palmer Faculty Mentoring Award was established in 1991 in honor of Dr. Palmer who served as senior associate dean of the Graduate School from 1985 to 1991. The award is given to the full-time faculty member who personally demonstrates effective mentoring through guiding and nurturing the collegial and professional development of junior faculty."

Dr. Mumma has been praised for his personal initiatives in mentoring junior faculty not only within his own department of entomology, but also outside the department and the college. According to a colleague, "he selflessly contributes time, equipment and even monetary resources to aiding new faculty to overcome barriers in establishing new research areas at Penn State. He jumps at the chance to collaborate on new projects or involve new faculty in his own research projects, if they are willing.

"To the majority of junior faculty in the Department of Entomology and other junior faculty at Penn State, his contributions to their research programs have made a major difference in their abilities to rapidly progress into productive research or extension programs."

Plus, his willingness to help train the students and technical staff of junior faculty also has benefited the development of those junior faculty and the research capacities of their labs.

In addition, Dr. Mumma is willing to offer advice on teaching skills and on the professional development of the junior faculty, as critique oral presentations, papers, grants and dossiers, said a colleague. In particular, he has taken special interest in the development of the careers of women and minorities at the University and has helped these faculty overcome barriers at Penn state, she added.

Another faculty member wrote, "In (Dr. Mumma), we see a commitment to science, both research and training, selflessness, loyal to his department, college and university, and dedication to a cooperative approach to solving problems."

During his 35 years as a faculty member, he has conducted a successful teaching and researcher career, and is recognized as an international leader in chemical pesticide detection and environmental quality. His research has led to new discoveries that have improved the assessment of environmental quality and are used by industry and regulatory agencies.

A native of Mechanicsburg, Pa., he received a B.S. degree from Juniata College and a Ph.D. from Penn State.

He has served on 81 Ph.D. or M.S. student committees from a variety of departments in the last 25 years, and has served on many department and college committees.

Other interests include serving on the board directors of Mount Nittany Conservancy, as vice chairman of Pennsylvania native Plant Society, and as a member of Clearwater Conservancy.

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