Kelly Tian, marketing professor at New Mexico State University, will serve as the Robert O. Anderson distinguished professor at NMSU’s College of Business. (Courtesy photo)

Kelly Tian, a marketing professor at New Mexico State University, has been named the Robert O. Anderson distinguished professor at NMSU’s College of Business.

“I was thrilled to receive this professorship,” Tian said. “We have a well regarded program here at NMSU and this will certainly be a really exciting role.”

Tian currently teaches courses where students develop marketing strategies for nonprofit organizations and examine the effects of globalization on consumer culture. She is actively involved in shaping the college’s assessment of students’ learning outcomes and will work as the director of the marketing Ph.D. program.

The professorship is designed to promote service that benefits the College of Business. Tian said she is putting together an orientation program for marketing Ph.D. students that will familiarize them with the cultural values of academia, and aid their performance in the domains of service, teaching and publishing.

Robert O. Anderson was a noted New Mexico business leader, political activist and philanthropist who died in 2007. The distinguished professorship was made possible by a donation from Anderson to NMSU with matching funds from the New Mexico Legislature.

“Kelly Tian is central to our doctoral program and the kind of professor you look to for mentoring Ph.D. students,” said Garrey Carruthers, business dean and vice president for economic development.

Tian earned her Ph.D. at Georgia State University-Atlanta and previously taught at the University of Kentucky-Lexington before joining NMSU six years ago.

08/19/08: Left to right: August 2008 NMSU convocation award recipients Jean-Paul Vessel, Jason Ackleson, Harriet Linkin, Joseph Berning, Jesus Barquet, Spencer Fidler, David Boje, Jeffrey Brown, Lori McKee and Michelle Bernstein pose for a group portrait. (NMSU Photo)

New Mexico State University began the new school year by honoring outstanding faculty and staff during Fall Convocation Aug. 19.

Faculty members Joseph Berning and Jean-Paul Vessel were recognized with the Patricia Christmore Teaching Award. The award is named for Patricia Christmore, the former head of the accounting department. It is given to superior junior tenure-track faculty members for excellence in teaching. Each recipient is awarded $500.

Berning is an assistant professor in the physical education, recreation and dance department. His teaching and research area of expertise is exercise science and he is the National Strength and Conditioning Association Academic Program Director for the university.

Vessel is an assistant professor in the philosophy department. After arriving at NMSU in 2004, he initiated, as faculty sponsor, a university-sanctioned student philosophy club called Sophia.

Jason Ackelson and Elizabeth Horodowich were honored with the University Research Council Early Career Awards, while Jesus J. Barquet, David M. Boje and Harriet Kramer Linkin received the University Research Council Distinguished Career Awards. The awards are given for outstanding original research and creative and technical achievements.

Ackelson is an associate professor in the government department. He served as associate dean of the Honors College from 2003-2008 and is faculty advisor for NMSU’s award-winning Model United Nations program.

Horodowich is an assistant professor in the history department. She is the recipient of grants and fellowships from numerous organizations, and most recently was honored with a fellowship from Harvard University at the Villa I Tatti in Florence, Italy.

Barquet is a Spanish professor and has been at NMSU since 1991. He has published many articles and books as a literary critic and poet, and also has co-edited six anthologies of Hispanic and U.S.-Hispanic literature.

Boje is the Endowed Bank of America Professor in the management department and is a past holder of the Anderson Professorship. He has published more than 120 journal articles and serves on more than 14 editorial boards.

Linkin has been at NMSU since 1986 and served as English Department Head from 2004-2008. She also is the scholar of record for the influential Irish poet Mary Tighe.

Three university departments received Outcomes Assessment Awards. The Department of Art received the Academic Outcomes Assessment award for 2007, Housing and Residential Life received the Student Support Outcomes Assessment Award for 2007 and Student Health Services received the Student Support Outcomes Assessment Award for 2008.