Congratulations to six A-State faculty members who were promoted to professor following recommendations from the administration and confirmation by the Board of Trustees during its meeting Thursday. Those promoted to professor and their academic disciplines are Dr. Jianfeng Xu, agriculture; Dr. Gauri Shankar Guha, economics; Dr. Ryan Kelly, reading; Dr. Kwangkook Jeong, mechanical engineering; Dr. Hong Zhou, statistics; and Dr. David F. Gilmore, environmental biology. The promotions take effect July 1.

Congratulations to the seven faculty members who have been approved for promotion to associate professor, as confirmed Thursday by the Board of Trustees. Those promoted and their academic disciplines are Dr. Jessica Curtis, psychology; Dr. Katerina Hill, marketing; Dr. Donghoon Kim, computer science; Jeff McLaughlin, theatre; Dr. Veronika Pribyslavska, exercise science; Dr. Eric Scudamore, exercise science; and Dr. Marcus Tribbett, English.

Ten faculty members will begin the next academic year with tenure, as determined through the PRT process and approved Thursday by the Board of Trustees. Newly tenured faculty are Dr. Sharon D. James, management; Dr. Matthew D. Hill, finance; Dr. Manu Bhandari, strategic communication; Dr. Kellie Buford, history; Dr. Joseph Rukus, sociology; Dr. Edward Salo, history; Shanon Brantley, communication disorders; Dr. Christina Akbari, communication disorders; Dr. Lisa Rice, mathematics education; and Dr. Brook Fluker, aquatic ecology.

Seven faculty members were promoted to associate professor, as approved Thursday by the Board of Trustees. Those promoted and their academic disciplines are Dr. Manu Bhandari, strategic communication; Dr. Kellie Buford, history; Dr. Joseph Rukus, sociology; Dr. Edward Salo, history; Dr. Christina Akbari, communication disorders; Dr. Lisa Rice, mathematics education; and Dr. Brook Fluker, aquatic ecology.

Dr. Kwangkook (David) Jeong, professor of mechanical engineering, has been elected to the grade of Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Selection begins with a formal nomination, which is reviewed by the Committee of ASME past presidents. Conferral of the grade of Fellow is based on the candidate's engineering achievements, along with his significant contributions to education and research. Details are online.

Dr. Brook Fluker, associate professor of aquatic ecology, co-authored an article in Conservation Genetics  with Brittany McCall, an environmental sciences Ph.D. researcher in his lab. This work, part of McCall’s research as a master's student in biology, describes genetic diversity of the Caddo Madtom, a species of catfish found only in the Ouachita River drainage in Arkansas. It is being considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act.